tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53049618742286666832024-03-13T23:00:51.940-07:00Tune My HeartAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-38291526640771561662015-05-04T17:07:00.001-07:002015-05-04T17:07:08.722-07:00Its a ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BOY! A beautiful baby boy! I knew it all along. Just Kidding. But really I kind of did. Everyone I asked(besides my grandma, the only one who thought girl) thought it was a boy and I had several dream fairly early on that it was a boy. One where I gave birth in the boy clothing department at Target (that's right) and one where I took HIM to the grocery store and he desperately wanted an $11 box of popsicles and I capitulated stick out in particular. I truly believe that God confirmed in my heart that he was a he to prepare me. I had always thought that I'd want a girl when the time came, mainly because there are no boys in my family and the thought of raising a boy terrified me. Having those dreams got me seriously thinking about raising a little boy and the more I thought the less terrified I became. In fact I started to plan things as though I already knew it was a boy. I started pinning boy nursery ideas and mainly blue shower ideas. I kept telling people that if it wasn't a boy I wasn't going to be disappointed by any means but I would be extremely shocked.<br />
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So when the day came me and Josh excitedly got ready (me in a blue shirt which I totally didn't notice until Josh pointed it out later) and hopped in the car making last minute guesses. It was so funny, when I laid down on the table the ultrasound tech told me to pull up my shirt which ended up taking much longer than it should have because I kept subconsciously pulling it back down! She kept saying pull it up and I would say ok while pulling it back down half a second later! I had to eventually tuck it into my bra and put my hands down. She was like you better get used to it because a lot more than your stomach is going to be showing in a couple months! Thanks for the reminder. Anyway, it seemed like forever as she measured every little part of him before getting to the *ahem* area, but I made sure not to jump the gun and ask beforehand because I'm sure she gets that all the time. FINALLY she said 'Its a boy!" and I said "IT IS?!?" and looked at Josh with the biggest smile ever. She asked me if I had secretly wanted a boy and I said no I just knew it was ;) Josh was excited too because he actually HAD wanted a boy and when the tech made the announcement he said "are you sure?" and she then confirmed it with a very clear picture. Ha. After that we got a couple sweet profile shots of him, my favorite being the one above because he had been moving his little arm like he was waving. It was so amazing to feel him kick or punch and seeing it on the screen at the same time. They weren't able to get the last shot they needed so we are scheduled to go back in a couple weeks for another ultrasound and I'm super excited that we get to see him again so soon.<br />
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Both of our families were chomping at the bit to find out. A lot of my family lives out of state so we decided not to do the whole gender reveal party thing and just call everyone to share the news ASAP. It was so sweet, as soon as we got into the parking lot my grandparents were there waiting. My grandma got out of the car to hug me and we made them guess one more time before telling. She stuck to her guns about girl and when we announced boy she said "oh no its the first time I've ever been wrong!" and my grandpa started fist pumping in excitement all over the place. I showed my grandma the ultrasound pictures and my grandpa was reaching through the car window shouting let me see! It made it even more of a special day to have them right there to share in the excitement. After that we face-timed my mom and sister in Wisconsin and my mama cried happy tears. We called my dad and he was just beyond thrilled. We visited Josh's family after grabbing something to eat and they were all so happy. His dad and our brother-in-law were especially excited about him being a him and bonus! His due date is my father-n-laws birthday! <br />
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SO, we are both very excited and I'm planning things full force now which has been a lot of fun. We started our registry a couple days after finding out, which was fun for like the first hour but when we were still in the same little section after almost two we decided to give it a rest and come back later. Which we still haven't done. Ha. Oh the other thing that I was really happy about was that we found out the sex before the big garage sales started. I went with my grandma (the garage saleing queen) this past weekend and we got a brand new baby carrier and bouncy seat and snagged a $3 car/wagon thing. Good stuff. I'm so excited to be visiting my mom and sisters in WI this coming weekend. My one sister probably wont be able to make it to the shower so I'm happy to spend some time with her while pregnant since I probably wont see her until little boy makes his appearance. I have high hopes of shower planning, lots of laughs, pedicures, and my mamas cooking. I can't wait! Well that's all for now! <br />
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Brittainy<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-75065292617066259682015-04-19T09:47:00.002-07:002015-04-19T09:47:29.430-07:00The Big Long First Trimester Post Plus a Little More
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’re having a baby! I figured that was a pretty good reason
to get back to blogging after a year’s hiatus. If you can call it a hiatus when
you only really blogged for a few months to begin with. Whatever. Anyway, I
wanted to start this up again if for no other reason than to record this new
stage in our lives. It’s been a very joyful, queasy, and exciting ride thus
far! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll start at the beginning. Let me rewind to this past
Christmas. My mom and sister were in town for the holidays and all was well
until I contracted a nasty bout of bronchitis which rendered me useless for the
last half of their stay. After they had gone home I continued to convalesce and
ended up having to take prilosec for the first time ever. The antibiotics I was
on had done a real number on my stomach. WELL I ended up with every side effect
listed on the stupid box. Who even thinks of side effects with prilosec?! Its
so common I didn’t even think there were any. Anyway, queue the migraines,
nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fatigue. I remember thinking, as I was bent
over the toilet for the first time since I was like twelve, this is making me
really glad I’m not pregnant right now. Oh, the foreshadowing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fast forward a few
weeks, the medicine is finally leaving my system and I’m beginning to feel like
a human being again and it’s my husband’s birthday. I’m ten days late but
honestly think nothing of it because I’ve been known to skip whenever there’s a
change in the norm, sickness and medication having been culprits. Anyway, I
tell my husband and we decide to pick up a test just to rule it out. So into
the bathroom I go just POSITIVE that we just wasted 16 bucks and I’m about to
see a single line when BAM! No faint lines about it, there before me lies a
bold as can be plus sign! My jaw literally dropped. It was getting to the point
where we weren’t even sure if it was possible so to say that I was shocked is
an understatement. I grabbed it and ran out of the bathroom panting ‘oh my gosh
oh my gosh”, Josh sat bolt upright on the couch and said “what?!’, his eyes big
as dinner plates and I just nodded my head yes and said “Happy Birthday!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the shock wore off we promptly called our families and
told them the good news, all of the creative and pinterest-y announcement ideas
out the window. I was just too excited! A few days later we went to the doctor
for confirmation and got out first ultrasound of baby bean at 6 weeks. I was so
ready for this! I resolved right away to start eating as healthy as possible
and to start treadmilling it up after work and I did…for 2 days. And then it
hit me; the soul crushing, life draining, horribly named “morning sickness”. I
kid you not it was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure (I know
labor and breast feeding are coming so I’ll check back later to let you know if
that changes). I think the hardest part was how unprepared I was. I mean, I
would hear morning sickness and think ‘oh yeah I might get nauseous every once
in a while but it’ll pass, it’s just part of this beautiful thing called
pregnancy! After all, my mom didn’t have ANY morning sickness at all with any
of us! I’ll be fine”. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Um no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
literally nauseous 24/7 and puking upwards of 10 times a day for 10 weeks.
There was no break and no relief during that entire time. And you know what’s
funny? Even now writing this where others might happen to read it makes me feel
like I should be ashamed for “complaining” about it. The thing is, I want to be
honest about how I felt because 1) it’s just true and it’s my story and 2) On
the slim chance some poor girl googles “coping with morning sickness” like I
did multiple times to save my sanity, she will see that she is not alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">SO, there I was 6 weeks pregnant with what I knew was a
precious gift growing inside of me and yet all I could think about was
survival. It was so hard to comprehend that it was possible to be that sick for
weeks or months. I remember lying on my bed thinking “how am I going to do
this? “ I could barely walk down the hall without having to throw up. I
seriously became a pro. I remember telling my boss at one point that I could
basically throw up on command and that it was just a matter of holding off as
long as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every smell in the
house was suddenly repulsive, even good ones. I had to change deodereant, hand
soaps, and my shampoo because yes, I did puke in the shower. Cooking ANYTHING
became off limits, even pillows and blankets suddenly had a smell. My poor dog
had to maintain a 5 foot radius around me at all times and I lived on crackers,
grapes, tortillas, and applesauce. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ended up having to reduce my work schedule and honestly
didn’t see anyone other than my husband and coworkers until around week 10 when
my friend insisted on coming over to binge watch Netflix with me and hold my
hair back. I would literally cry to my husband every day and by cry I mean SOB
sometimes uncontrollably. We would joke that it was the hormones but honestly I
think it had a lot more to do with the fact that every day felt like too much
and I just couldn’t handle it and the only way to keep going was to let it out.
Coworkers and friends would ask me almost daily how I was feeling and I started
to dread it because I felt bad saying “like death” every time. I just wanted to
scream “this isn’t a cold! I’m not going to feel better in a week in fact I
might very well be feeling like this for another 7 months!’ I knew people were
being nice but it felt like I was disappointing everyone. People want to
rejoice with you when they find out you’re pregnant and I simply couldn’t do
it. When people asked me if I was excited I would plaster the smile on and say
yes! So excited! But in reality I just wasn’t and I felt SO GUILTY. I began to
google prenatal depression, fearing that it was a real possibility. I remember
calling my mom and saying “this isn’t me!” I had waited my entire life to
become a mom! Being a stay at home wife and mother had been my dream from a
very young age and I just couldn’t believe that it had finally happened and I
couldn’t muster up the excitement that I knew I should be feeling! My baby
board on pinterest was bursting at the seams but now, nothing. I had no
interest in picking name, decorating a nursery, planning a shower, or
researching baby gear, all things that I thought I would be thrilled to do an d
the guilt was overwhelming. My husband (who was an absolute angel/ superman
through this whole thing), my mom, and anyone I confided in all told me that
what I was feeling was completely normal for what I was going through and that
once I started to feel better physically the rest would follow. During that
time feeling better seemed so far away but I clung to the promise that it would
pass, even if it wasn’t until that little babe was in my arms, it WOULD pass.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Around 12 weeks the puking dwindled down to 2 times a day (although
the nausea persisted) and I felt hope. Week 14 brought my sister-in-law’s baby
shower for her first (due in May!) and it kindled that excitement that I had
been longing for. I started to plan my own shower and even took a little trip
to Babies R Us a few days later. On the first day of week 16 I woke up and just
laid there in disbelief. It was GONE. Just gone! As though someone had flipped
a switch! I went to work that day and without me saying anything I had people
coming up to me asking if I felt better and telling me I looked great! It was
amazing. I am 19.5 weeks as I write this and I have woken up every morning for
the past three and a half weeks praising Jesus and thanking Him for blessing me
with every sick free day that goes by. I am back to eating healthy, in fact I
am STARVING approximately every 2 hours. I’ve started stashing Kind bars in my
purse, car, and desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the great
things about the timing of my feeling better is that it coincided with some of
the first real spring like days we’ve had. This Easter was especially
significant because I truly felt like I had experienced new life in more ways
than one. I had survived the dark days of winter and entered into this new
season with joy and LIFE! I’m looking out of my window right now at the sun
shining and a glorious 73 degrees wind blowing and I am loving the fact that I
can go take a nice walk, take a deep breath, and NOT PUKE. Ha.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In other news, I felt the baby kick for the first time last
weekend as we were sitting in a Bob Evan’s waiting for our food and it was just
as amazing as everyone says it is. It didn’t feel like butterfly wings though,
more like bubbles popping. So cool. Also, apparently my stomach finally decided
to pop right around that time too which I am so excited about! I finally look
pregnant and not like I just gained ten pounds. I LOVE it. Oooo our gender
reveal ultrasound is happening this week and I can’t wait! I have had a few
dreams that it is a boy and have been planning everything in my head as if it
is. The funny thing is that I always thought that when the time came that I
would want a girl but ever since having those dreams and really thinking about
having a little boy I can honestly say I’m going to be thrilled either way! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s all for now!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-13664725883320353622014-05-28T10:35:00.001-07:002014-05-28T11:26:10.464-07:00Weekend Things<div>I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> have had a great couple of weekends! I'm sure that is partly due to the gorgeous weather we've been having (it's been perfect. I'm talking Toy Story style clouds in the sky and everything) And partly lots of husband time and seeing friends for the first time in like 2 months. A recap:</span></div><div><br></div><div>• Me and Josh went for a picnic! We haven't done that in almost 3 years amd neither of us can figure out why. It was so nice. We were just sitting in the couch trying to decide what to do for lunch when the though popped into my mind. I asked josh what he though and he was all about it. We didn't have much in the way of sandwich fixins so I threw some fruit and pop chips into our basket ( an actual picnic basket if picked up a garage sale!) and headed to subway for sandwiches. Kind of cheating but oh well. We went to the park where we met and spread our blanket up on a hill and under a tree. It was glorious. We ate, people watched, napped, and talked. The perfect date in my opinion. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d7fGV9c6PK0/U4Ydw_GMV5I/AAAAAAAAAOM/Yev7YJrSJOc/s640/blogger-image-1292940059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d7fGV9c6PK0/U4Ydw_GMV5I/AAAAAAAAAOM/Yev7YJrSJOc/s640/blogger-image-1292940059.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o-f7ub557gY/U4Ydul8yUCI/AAAAAAAAAN0/N-Mi7DG9g90/s640/blogger-image-1883898755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o-f7ub557gY/U4Ydul8yUCI/AAAAAAAAAN0/N-Mi7DG9g90/s640/blogger-image-1883898755.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div>• We went to see the new X-man movie with a group of friends and then headed to STEAK N' SHAKE afterwards. For those of you that don't know, Steak N' Shake is open until like 3 am and is therefore teenage central. We were severely outnumbered but it was fun in a nostalgic kind of way. It made this 26 year old feel young and reallyyyyy old at the same time. Hey, it was nice being out past 10 pm. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UDafGesUPQw/U4Yd2VB62zI/AAAAAAAAAO0/AG3Ak1EibpE/s640/blogger-image--994448160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UDafGesUPQw/U4Yd2VB62zI/AAAAAAAAAO0/AG3Ak1EibpE/s640/blogger-image--994448160.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>• One of our friends informed is that there would be a huge meteor shower happening Saturday night so me and Josh decided to sit on the roof and watch. He had me go up first and told me he'd be right back. He came out with blankets and candles. So cute. We only saw one shooting star but that was enough for me *swoon*</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-al_cZAR5isA/U4YdvSLqJRI/AAAAAAAAAN8/yZAXzJkcVIM/s640/blogger-image--133721452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-al_cZAR5isA/U4YdvSLqJRI/AAAAAAAAAN8/yZAXzJkcVIM/s640/blogger-image--133721452.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>• We had a bonfire at our house. I love doing this. I get all the food ready while Josh cuts the grass and sets out all the chairs and whatnot. It was just a few of out closest which makes it so comfortable and easy. I purposely left my phone in the house so I could thoroughly enjoy the stars and the friendship surrounding me. It was wonderful. After everyone left me and Josh put down a blanket by the fire and and just talked. It was one of those dream talks. The kind where you just spill your heart and soul and all your aspirations for the future. Loved it.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dFouppj4Vpg/U4Yd0OLtbjI/AAAAAAAAAOk/9iuZ_upwpUE/s640/blogger-image--1816802083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dFouppj4Vpg/U4Yd0OLtbjI/AAAAAAAAAOk/9iuZ_upwpUE/s640/blogger-image--1816802083.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">• I made lots of time for zee physical fitness this weekend. Me and my friend hit the fitness track at 6:30 on Friday morning and it was so much better jogging while watching the sunrise as opposed to the ab circuit at PF. I mean, I still love my gym membership but this was refreshing. I ran outside two more times which is something I'm working on. I can run like the energizer bunny on a treadmill but I really want to be able to run a 5k by the end of the summer. Josh even got on board! He went for a late night run and it was actually pretty romantic. It was so quiet, just the frogs, our footsteps, and breathing. And this amazing cloud that lit up the entire time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jiv4mVgC0fE/U4YdwKcojvI/AAAAAAAAAOE/azmW4wbTY5c/s640/blogger-image--1187693166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jiv4mVgC0fE/U4YdwKcojvI/AAAAAAAAAOE/azmW4wbTY5c/s640/blogger-image--1187693166.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HIqrjKEf5kk/U4Yd1IzggbI/AAAAAAAAAOs/YiZIF1_U6JE/s640/blogger-image-800489656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HIqrjKEf5kk/U4Yd1IzggbI/AAAAAAAAAOs/YiZIF1_U6JE/s640/blogger-image-800489656.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">• I've started painting and I have found it to be remarkably therapeutic! Me and a friend had a crafting afternoon and I had had painting at the back of my mind so I went to Michaels, bought ALL the Martha Stewart colors, and went to town. It makes me happy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Nxbe4gJ3ins/U4Ydx0qb1cI/AAAAAAAAAOU/NaS_8y05kus/s640/blogger-image--671768400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Nxbe4gJ3ins/U4Ydx0qb1cI/AAAAAAAAAOU/NaS_8y05kus/s640/blogger-image--671768400.jpg"></a></div><br></div>• I finished the Divergent series. I can't even...</div><div><br></div><div>• My husband and I and a couple friends decided to visit a new local church and we loved it! It's very small but very personal which is something we've been sorely lacking at our current church. I'm extremely shy and I need people to want to get to know me or else it doesn't happen. I'm trying to work on that but as it was the people at this church were coming to me, and I really appreciated it. Also, there's a fantastic BBQ joint right next door and this happened. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s2B8ITuofkg/U4YeanwWjYI/AAAAAAAAAO8/w2VecOsznW4/s640/blogger-image-2008004396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s2B8ITuofkg/U4YeanwWjYI/AAAAAAAAAO8/w2VecOsznW4/s640/blogger-image-2008004396.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>• I went on bike ride with a friend that turned out to be like finding treasure! We rode up to a familiar park only to find that they had created the most magical 13 mile bike path behind it! It was all trees, sunset, and wildflowers. Gorgeous. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2jjp_LDbQN0/U4YqP0BSCFI/AAAAAAAAAPM/o5D4Dv0x5gg/s640/blogger-image-1610793243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2jjp_LDbQN0/U4YqP0BSCFI/AAAAAAAAAPM/o5D4Dv0x5gg/s640/blogger-image-1610793243.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div>• Memorial Day! We didn't have plans until late so we slept in, got lunch, walked around a park then went to my grandparents for a little cookout where my dad joined us. He was in the Air Force and is now in the National Guard so we like to make it special for him. Although, he is on the verge of taking his fit test soon so I brought roasted veggies and those healthy brownie bites made from dates which he dubbed downies. After that we went to a friends for the second bonfire that weekend. A perfect ending. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PX6qB8qDnEU/U4YdysUeNHI/AAAAAAAAAOc/kEPbbFfyXX4/s640/blogger-image-484046383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PX6qB8qDnEU/U4YdysUeNHI/AAAAAAAAAOc/kEPbbFfyXX4/s640/blogger-image-484046383.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And now it's Wednesday. And it's raining. Welcome back real life. Here's hoping for another great weekend! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-86791133669469815172014-05-20T11:01:00.001-07:002014-05-20T11:01:13.619-07:00Catch upLife had been pretty good lately! Here's a bit about what's been filling my days. <div><br></div><div>1) Garage saling. I live for garage sales. It has been deeply ingrained in me by my mother and grandmother to the worriment of my husband. There are a few sales that we wait for every year and it's quite the event. Well, for old ladies like me that is. I went with my friend this year and we bumped into my nana a couple times during the hunt ;) I took home a purse, 3 dvd's, a shirt, 6 books, Christmas and fall decorations, and a galvanized tub for $22! It's wonderful I tell you. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pxrdid2Q-2g/U3uYY4itzMI/AAAAAAAAAM0/xEwQsGMykVc/s640/blogger-image--837039983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pxrdid2Q-2g/U3uYY4itzMI/AAAAAAAAAM0/xEwQsGMykVc/s640/blogger-image--837039983.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2) I started a 31 day scripture challenge on Instagram hosted by the lovely Kristin Schmucker. Everyday you take a picture and write about what you've been reading. I've loved being encouraged by all the other photos I see as well as being held accountable to be in His word everyday. It's been quite a blessing thus far. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YrqCiuO8ENY/U3uYW6GVadI/AAAAAAAAAMk/ysxDP3U-o6c/s640/blogger-image-1716222167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YrqCiuO8ENY/U3uYW6GVadI/AAAAAAAAAMk/ysxDP3U-o6c/s640/blogger-image-1716222167.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3) I started an herb garden and I just love it. It has satisfied my gardening bug enough to last me until the weather really warms up. I plan on doing a vegetable garden this year and have already planted 5 raspberry bushes, a bing cherry tree, and have a random strawberry patch coming in nicely. My little planter is already looking a little wild so I need to start actual using the herbs instead of just smelling them ;)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cdbDlk7AG0k/U3uYX2zZXQI/AAAAAAAAAMo/WQczbiAC7fI/s640/blogger-image-1845784016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cdbDlk7AG0k/U3uYX2zZXQI/AAAAAAAAAMo/WQczbiAC7fI/s640/blogger-image-1845784016.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4) I made homemade whipped cream to put on my strawberries on a whim. It was wonderful. That is all. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U04-owPDSA8/U3uYS8QvXJI/AAAAAAAAAMU/UHUujJSI-z8/s640/blogger-image-909096114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U04-owPDSA8/U3uYS8QvXJI/AAAAAAAAAMU/UHUujJSI-z8/s640/blogger-image-909096114.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">5) We got to babysit my in-laws beagle, Sophie. I call her little watermelon because, well, she is very reminiscent of one. She's as sweet as can be and was a joy to have around the house even for a few hours. We went for a walk and she just snuggled on down with us until it was time for her to leave. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LYAIddFoAwI/U3uYQc0mteI/AAAAAAAAAMM/sc41txyhR2A/s640/blogger-image--1924734910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LYAIddFoAwI/U3uYQc0mteI/AAAAAAAAAMM/sc41txyhR2A/s640/blogger-image--1924734910.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">6) My friend and I went to Royal Oak to have lunch and do a little browsing. We ended up at a great restaurant called Pronto and we both ordered the vegetarian farmers market sandwich and it was fantastic! Herbed cream cheese. Mmmm. We also hit up trader joes (my first time!) and I spent way to much money...a comom issue with customers, I hear. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lt2LkbSiW28/U3uYUuPdzlI/AAAAAAAAAMc/fmoBNH7bNjY/s640/blogger-image--1015000554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lt2LkbSiW28/U3uYUuPdzlI/AAAAAAAAAMc/fmoBNH7bNjY/s640/blogger-image--1015000554.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Until next time!</div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-89020406276615116802014-05-09T07:28:00.001-07:002014-05-09T09:37:07.552-07:00Sugar is the Devil<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nKDIIC54iOo/U20EMXWwx_I/AAAAAAAAAL8/FzYkg8cRHFs/s640/blogger-image--615746095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nKDIIC54iOo/U20EMXWwx_I/AAAAAAAAAL8/FzYkg8cRHFs/s640/blogger-image--615746095.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div>So I've been doing pretty good about my new way of eating. I went 4 weeks with absolutely NO sugar. Vegetables, meat (organic), eggs (organic), and fruit (only low sugar, so basically berries). It was amazing. My skin was clearer, I wasn't bloated, and I could wake up at 5:30 to hit the gym with no problem. All good. Fast forward to last Sunday. My dad was coming for a visit so I decided to make him a good dinner: lasagna and chocolate cake. I ate well all day and was feeling fine. We had dinner around 7 and I had a small helping of both. No big deal! I was still feeling good and knew I'd be right back on track the next day. NOT SO MUCH. I woke up the next morning feeling like I got hit by a truck. I was exhausted, light headed, nauseous, had a runny nose, and my contacts felt like they were super glued to my eyes all day long. Not to mention the loooovely mood it put me in. I mean all the above sypmtoms plus 11 hours of preschool are enough to make any person crabby but it was more that. I just felt like crying. I got home and just crashed. The only perk was that it got me a bunch of extra foot rubbing and arm tickling from Josh. <div><br></div><div>You would think I would have earned my lesson right? Well not I. The lasagna/cake incident occurred on Monday and on Wednesday I got a couple very sweet teacher appreciation gifts, one being a planter filled with Hershey kisses. One of my weaknesses to be sure. This will demonstrate the depth of my will power which is none. None will power. I mean c'mon! I'm a good teacher darn it! And a hungry one at that. I deserve theseeeeee. I did have smarts enough to pass the candy around the daycare first so that I wasn't left with 5lbs of chocolate but still. 10 kisses later and I was out. It happened quite a bit faster this time and right in the middle of my shift. Exhaustion, runny nose and eyes, nausea, and just a general fuzziness. To be honest, I don't really know what to call it. I don't know if it's just an intolerance to sugar? An allergy? Whatever it is it's not good and I don't want to feel like that anytime soon, ESPECIALLY since it's mostly under my control. </div><div><br></div><div>That being said it's still really hard. I'm supposed to be getting a laparoscopy soon to see if I have endometriosis. Regardless I know that I have PCOS. Right now those two things to be the most bothersome. Last night even though I'd been feeling a little better (recovering from the sugar come) I started to get some pretty bad pelvic pain out of no where and just started to cry. It wasn't that it hurt that bad, it was that it feels like there's always something. I NEVER feel good and Its very disconcerting to know that even my hormones are being effected and there may not be much I can do about it. I know that by eating better and living a healthy lifestyle I can go control a lot of what's going on with me and I know it's true. When I was doing really well I felt a lot better, but it wasn't completely gone. Whatever is giving me issues besides the PCOS is making things difficult. Maybe it's endometriosis maybe it isn't but whatever it is, it's making me feel like it's getting in the way of my progress with PCOS and fibromyalgia and all the other sugar related issues I have. Ugh. This was quite the rant but I feel better having got it off my chest. I know that I can do better and I know my Jesus will get me through the difficult days. He already has. And even though I just listed off all the negative from the last few days, there has been plenty of joy mixed in and plenty of love as well. I've been back on track the past two days and am feeling better already. I'm gonna keep it up! I know this will be a long road but I've got a wonderful family, friends, and great God to her me though! </div><div><br></div><div>Love & Prayers,</div><div>Brittainy</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-68280601749025326112014-05-05T11:58:00.001-07:002014-05-05T11:58:26.990-07:00The Hillary TripMy little sister is all grown up! At least it feels that way now. She just rented her very first apartment and it is adorable! She found a little studio above a deli in the downtown area where she lives and oh my goodness. It's just so cute. Not only is the apartment great but the area is too! There's a great deli and bakery right beneath her, a coffee house a 2 minute walk away, tons of little boutiques, and a quaint little park within walking distance. <div><br></div><div>A little background: me and my sister are extremely close. Like we have out own sister language kinda close. So, consequently, when she moved 7 hours away last year it was a big adjustment. We went from seeing each other practically everyday to 4 times a year. Boo. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-efb24jL4boM/U2ffA9-uSBI/AAAAAAAAAJg/fyyP0WMSC2I/s640/blogger-image-35221028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-efb24jL4boM/U2ffA9-uSBI/AAAAAAAAAJg/fyyP0WMSC2I/s640/blogger-image-35221028.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Thus, the long awaited Hillary Trip. I was beyond excited to not only see my sweet seester, gorge on all the good food, watch Sherlock together ( which I still haven't finished so shhhh 😉), but to see what she had done with her new place. When me and my husband moved into our house I consulted her on pretty much every decorating decision and with good reason. She has a wonderful eye for decorating and is able to do so on a limited budget. I knew she would do the same in her new home and she did! </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-D2wK4xsBspg/U2fe-hjbxGI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/guyqYOUh-YI/s640/blogger-image-1109354178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-D2wK4xsBspg/U2fe-hjbxGI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/guyqYOUh-YI/s640/blogger-image-1109354178.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--YdvzZhHqOM/U2ffSjLjncI/AAAAAAAAALg/lriwMmJw8kw/s640/blogger-image-1420659363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--YdvzZhHqOM/U2ffSjLjncI/AAAAAAAAALg/lriwMmJw8kw/s640/blogger-image-1420659363.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fyuSJammnbE/U2fXtbANMQI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/pTlireiwafA/s640/blogger-image-1720992079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fyuSJammnbE/U2fXtbANMQI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/pTlireiwafA/s640/blogger-image-1720992079.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-la6gzJ1e7s4/U2fe9j1ihfI/AAAAAAAAAJI/8CUeWATYI0w/s640/blogger-image--165443874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-la6gzJ1e7s4/U2fe9j1ihfI/AAAAAAAAAJI/8CUeWATYI0w/s640/blogger-image--165443874.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--3e6jO1jX5k/U2ffP2EJO9I/AAAAAAAAALI/NxuoB913jP8/s640/blogger-image--1932567502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--3e6jO1jX5k/U2ffP2EJO9I/AAAAAAAAALI/NxuoB913jP8/s640/blogger-image--1932567502.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xnFWf5IT4Ew/U2ffQpY2n0I/AAAAAAAAALQ/qmwokUj80Eo/s640/blogger-image-1372667178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xnFWf5IT4Ew/U2ffQpY2n0I/AAAAAAAAALQ/qmwokUj80Eo/s640/blogger-image-1372667178.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We started for WI on Friday. I drove there with my dad and it was so nice having some quality daddy/daughter time to catch up. When we arrived she was standing in front of her place waiting to welcome us. She took us up right away to 147 1/2 {platform 9 3/4 anyone?}, up the poky stair case, and into her little home. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ahdSLAQ0-y8/U2fXuRQAW8I/AAAAAAAAAIY/PiaavgoAnww/s640/blogger-image-901014575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ahdSLAQ0-y8/U2fXuRQAW8I/AAAAAAAAAIY/PiaavgoAnww/s640/blogger-image-901014575.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YPA2CAL-iVg/U2ffEq8OsLI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/jYwUQwpBO90/s640/blogger-image--1183998544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YPA2CAL-iVg/U2ffEq8OsLI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/jYwUQwpBO90/s640/blogger-image--1183998544.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div><div>Once we unloaded all out luggage we headed downstairs to grab lunch at the Deli, which was fantastic. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ejSL7-Xgkwk/U2ffHB1X3KI/AAAAAAAAAKI/nJQOWkkYwMs/s640/blogger-image-1829685486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ejSL7-Xgkwk/U2ffHB1X3KI/AAAAAAAAAKI/nJQOWkkYwMs/s640/blogger-image-1829685486.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9cJ5j151rOM/U2ffMSy8IrI/AAAAAAAAAKw/Edd7JFAbMJA/s640/blogger-image--819933814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9cJ5j151rOM/U2ffMSy8IrI/AAAAAAAAAKw/Edd7JFAbMJA/s640/blogger-image--819933814.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qfzFU4YrKP0/U2ffNXMoRII/AAAAAAAAAK4/wVhrSDQEJBs/s640/blogger-image--533029152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qfzFU4YrKP0/U2ffNXMoRII/AAAAAAAAAK4/wVhrSDQEJBs/s640/blogger-image--533029152.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Afterwards we decided to explore the city and ended up at a cozy little coffee house and stayed long enough to finish our 3 cafe au laits. From there we circled around to the bakery by her apartment and ordered strawberry rhubarb bars, turtle brownies, and bread pudding to go.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z6C9LXBuke4/U2ffLZkNmdI/AAAAAAAAAKo/o0a3AWVUi6Q/s640/blogger-image-1640317388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z6C9LXBuke4/U2ffLZkNmdI/AAAAAAAAAKo/o0a3AWVUi6Q/s640/blogger-image-1640317388.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IO4q4c_VBVw/U2fe672s3NI/AAAAAAAAAI4/K-VGq01Xgt0/s640/blogger-image-111718789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IO4q4c_VBVw/U2fe672s3NI/AAAAAAAAAI4/K-VGq01Xgt0/s640/blogger-image-111718789.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vLXazCzLR5o/U2fXvm48_mI/AAAAAAAAAIg/dK_G3raiETg/s640/blogger-image--1402189567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vLXazCzLR5o/U2fXvm48_mI/AAAAAAAAAIg/dK_G3raiETg/s640/blogger-image--1402189567.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></span></div></div></div><div>We took out goodies back upstairs and relaxed for awhile before me and Hillary decided to hit up a couple of stores and pay a visit to my mom. Pier 1 was our first stop and I was able to buy her the house warming gift I had planned on and found it on clearance to boot! It was a little hanging pot rack, perfect for her kitchen. After we saw my mom and my baby sister Bliss, we ran to the store to grab snacks and did some good ole' fashion boy watching ;) When we got home we decided to make a couple Pinterest recipes for dinner. We made million dollar spaghetti and dole whips, both of which were delicious. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5OnqhkO8xG0/U2fe_i2nSbI/AAAAAAAAAJY/86Kk7yswakQ/s640/blogger-image--669302797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5OnqhkO8xG0/U2fe_i2nSbI/AAAAAAAAAJY/86Kk7yswakQ/s640/blogger-image--669302797.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y55GCGrEgY8/U2fXrhcyZoI/AAAAAAAAAII/3J0OJ3puIpQ/s640/blogger-image--904396008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y55GCGrEgY8/U2fXrhcyZoI/AAAAAAAAAII/3J0OJ3puIpQ/s640/blogger-image--904396008.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We ended the night by watching the firrst episode of Sherlock. Getting ready for bed was quite a feat. The daybed, trundle, and cot made for a very cozy sleeping arrangement but that was part of the fun. </div><div><br></div><div>The next day my sister had to work and my dad went around doing dad things. He bought her an adorable little bistro set for her kitchen and put it together then went to work on her car. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EG52V8luuaY/U2ffJW04fFI/AAAAAAAAAKU/mTBBV_dk8Tw/s640/blogger-image--570365477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EG52V8luuaY/U2ffJW04fFI/AAAAAAAAAKU/mTBBV_dk8Tw/s640/blogger-image--570365477.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I took that time to spend time with my mom and little sister. We had a lovely afternoon just relaxing and enjoying each other's company. That evening we drove to my aunts house to meet her newly adopted daughter from Haiti! I was so thrilled to meet Anaika. We have been praying for this little gis arrival for three years and it was such a blessing to finally meet her. She is a precious, happy, playful 6 year old who spreads joy wherever she goes. How appropriate that her middle name is Joy :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E_XnsuCmYsg/U2ffFhL4q4I/AAAAAAAAAKA/JSjXuRd8bFE/s640/blogger-image--1753659543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E_XnsuCmYsg/U2ffFhL4q4I/AAAAAAAAAKA/JSjXuRd8bFE/s640/blogger-image--1753659543.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">One of my moms nicknames for me is </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Gita. She called me that one time over dinner and it stuck. Anika loved it and giggled every time she said it. Since then she keeps asking when Gita is coming over and I can't wait to see her again! In the mean time I decide to send her a sticker book and mail her different stickers each month. I loved having a sticker book (and loved putting it together probably more than I should have) and I hope she will too! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-m7HEDrBA9KI/U2ffDplYbYI/AAAAAAAAAJw/5XkxN3n0UFQ/s640/blogger-image-404174137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-m7HEDrBA9KI/U2ffDplYbYI/AAAAAAAAAJw/5XkxN3n0UFQ/s640/blogger-image-404174137.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">That evening me and Hill stayed up into the wee hours just talking and laughing while dad snored on his cot. The next day me, Hill, and dad went to a really interesting little cafe calls the Cafe de Art. The building was so pretty and the food was fantastic. I got the Mediterranean breakfast sandwich, dad got the European, and my sister got the home-made yogurt with granola. All the meals came with a lovely salad topped with oranges and pepper rubbed apples and huge cups of coffee. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XeSjdv3xfSI/U2ffR-ODrNI/AAAAAAAAALY/umQArOnMd4Y/s640/blogger-image--108274917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XeSjdv3xfSI/U2ffR-ODrNI/AAAAAAAAALY/umQArOnMd4Y/s640/blogger-image--108274917.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7i4H_nQjIgA/U2ffT3QkpfI/AAAAAAAAALo/Bu-18bK4BVU/s640/blogger-image-195248044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7i4H_nQjIgA/U2ffT3QkpfI/AAAAAAAAALo/Bu-18bK4BVU/s640/blogger-image-195248044.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NsMQlCNmdl0/U2ffIA0nB_I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/K07EOYb2uhE/s640/blogger-image-1736247469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NsMQlCNmdl0/U2ffIA0nB_I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/K07EOYb2uhE/s640/blogger-image-1736247469.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FBCFcN4nomQ/U2ffKWMI-bI/AAAAAAAAAKg/fNNc6tHRKSE/s640/blogger-image-203744178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FBCFcN4nomQ/U2ffKWMI-bI/AAAAAAAAAKg/fNNc6tHRKSE/s640/blogger-image-203744178.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The whole time we were there my dad kept asking "is that a hipster?" He find the whole culture fascinating but is very confused as to what makes a person a hipster. We had fun filling him in ;) Later that day my dad went back to car/ apartment maintenance (what a sweet dad!) and I went with my mom and sister. We did a Target run and some shoe shopping and that evening everyone met up for dinner at Panera. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RZcbl5sF2YU/U2fYbdpGpYI/AAAAAAAAAIo/SUr1XT2OEZ8/s640/blogger-image-1403471419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RZcbl5sF2YU/U2fYbdpGpYI/AAAAAAAAAIo/SUr1XT2OEZ8/s640/blogger-image-1403471419.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The next morning my dad went shopping and me and Hill slept in and had a late breakfast of waffles as we sat at her new breakfast nook by the window. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A-sBs3DXi1A/U2ffOp438oI/AAAAAAAAALA/pwVeFoSgeQk/s640/blogger-image--631638234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A-sBs3DXi1A/U2ffOp438oI/AAAAAAAAALA/pwVeFoSgeQk/s640/blogger-image--631638234.jpg"></a></div><i> (The Broughton girls first thing in the morning. She would be so upset</i> 😂😱)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We eventually got ready, cleaned up the place, and added a few finishing touches. We hung a few pictures together, and she drew a pretty flower border above the sink ( the landlord actually thought to use chalkboard paint which we thought was very Pinteresty for a 40 year old man).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LuvDbu6NU68/U2ffB2Va4gI/AAAAAAAAAJo/aYn3B47Zsjg/s640/blogger-image-1070070147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LuvDbu6NU68/U2ffB2Va4gI/AAAAAAAAAJo/aYn3B47Zsjg/s640/blogger-image-1070070147.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0l0aF6zYbFE/U2fe8jIt2vI/AAAAAAAAAJA/53nn5MC6uyc/s640/blogger-image-1938284622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0l0aF6zYbFE/U2fe8jIt2vI/AAAAAAAAAJA/53nn5MC6uyc/s640/blogger-image-1938284622.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> We were able to take her to work and said our goodbyes there. I had a wonderful trip and can't wait to see her again this summer! Until then we'll just have to continue communication through our preferred method...memes ;)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-15143576547914518052014-05-02T17:31:00.001-07:002014-05-03T11:23:35.490-07:00It's Friday!<div>1) I came down with some kind of cold or virus this week and had a pretty bad sore throat. I desperately wanted something cold ( sore throats are the WORST in my opinion. I'd actually take throwing up to a sore throat and I'm a complete baby about it) and I'd normally run to the store and grab a box of popsicles BUT I wanted to stay on track with my healthy eating SO...I made some! They we'd so easy. All I did was purée different. Fruits and pour them into Popsicle molds. And yes those are piggy and kitty Popsicle molds. Young at heart ;) I did strawberry, pineapple, kiwi, and raspberry. Delicious. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nnWG0q790w0/U2Q4vfzwEzI/AAAAAAAAAHw/kdPiCLlx6tM/s640/blogger-image--2019352822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nnWG0q790w0/U2Q4vfzwEzI/AAAAAAAAAHw/kdPiCLlx6tM/s640/blogger-image--2019352822.jpg"></a></div><br></div>2) Me and my friend Lindsay grabbed a couple passion iced teas from starbucks and went to a local park to walk, talk, and just catch up. As we made our way around we noticed all these machines stationed around the park. They installed outdoor exercise equipment! I love it! There's about 10 different machines working everything from abs to arms and there's even a elliptical-esque type thing as well. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r0u9ipJ1-Uk/U2Q4ppqoazI/AAAAAAAAAHo/RHTIw8psHtw/s640/blogger-image-80474077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r0u9ipJ1-Uk/U2Q4ppqoazI/AAAAAAAAAHo/RHTIw8psHtw/s640/blogger-image-80474077.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3) I haven't mentioned this on the blog yet but I'm an Ambassador for Noonday Collection. Noonday provides pathways out of poverty for artisans all over the world by providing dignified jobs at livable wages, emergency assistance, scholarship programs and more. They do this by creating a market place for the beautiful jewlery and accesories the artisans create.<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This company began as a fundraiser for an adoption (and continues to be used as such) and has grown into so much more and is truly doing a great amount of good around the world! I became an ambassador last year but due to some unforeseen circumstances was not able to devote as much time to it as I'd planned. I'm happy to say that I'm back in the game and ready to tell these artisan's stories! My samples came in this week and I've partnered with some wonderful women who truly have a heart for what Noonday is doing and want to spread the word by hosting shows in their home. I'm so excited!!! To learn more about Noonday please click on the link below :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">http://brittainytanner.noondaycollection.com</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EiNARUBkBQ0/U2Q4hJq7wDI/AAAAAAAAAHY/3Q0J5N0uGSo/s640/blogger-image-823745924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EiNARUBkBQ0/U2Q4hJq7wDI/AAAAAAAAAHY/3Q0J5N0uGSo/s640/blogger-image-823745924.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4) I have been really inspired by Carrie Grace on IG @carolinegshop lately. Her mission is to POUR out the love on people and she does it so well! She's one of those people who <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">you can just see that her whole heart is in it and I want to be like that. I've been praying for God to open my eyes to the opportunities all around me to show love to people and praise Jesus, He has! I don't say this to toot my own horn but to just tell you how amazing it feels to know that you brightened someone's day, that you made it a little easier TODAY. It may not be big and it really doesn't have to be but it can mean so much to that person. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Me and my husband saw someone we knew today and asked them how they were doing expecting to hear the usual "oh fine" but instead the sweet lady just poured out the burdens she was carrying and I could see the weariness in her eyes. I could feel the spirit say, this is it! DO something. We gave her a hug and said our </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">goodbys and promptly set out to create a cheer up package. We found Godiva chocolates, a candle, pretty hand lotions, and a Chapstick and packaged it up pretty. I had found a flower on the ground while we were shopping for plants and stuck it in the bag as well. We grabbed a diet coke (her favorite) and headed back to the store to drop it off. We she saw us come in, with </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">bag in</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> hand, and her face just lit up. It was just wonderful. I never want to get so occupied with my own life and problems that I forget to look for the hurting around me and make it a priority to do something, even if it's just a smile or a hug. Let them know you care. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7so2Nf-N4nk/U2Q4mhrt1JI/AAAAAAAAAHg/uZN5Y1K71Uw/s640/blogger-image--601065811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7so2Nf-N4nk/U2Q4mhrt1JI/AAAAAAAAAHg/uZN5Y1K71Uw/s640/blogger-image--601065811.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">5) I started a 31 day scripture challenge on IG yesterday and I'm so excited to see where the month of May will lead me! It was amazing what God revealed to my heart in just one day let alone 31! I hope this will create the habit of spending time in God's word everyday, even if it's only for five minutes. If you want to follow along, the hashtag is #lampandlight and was created by @kristinschmucker. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9eOHbOSvp_Y/U2Q4xKkx9oI/AAAAAAAAAH4/syFaRoTWGZU/s640/blogger-image--1491823840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9eOHbOSvp_Y/U2Q4xKkx9oI/AAAAAAAAAH4/syFaRoTWGZU/s640/blogger-image--1491823840.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hope you all had a wonderful week! I'd love to hear about them :)</div><br></span></div><br></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-13324144630236575812014-04-25T15:56:00.001-07:002014-04-27T19:22:54.024-07:00High Five For Friday1) My Polar FT4 heart rate monitor came in! Ahahahahaha I'm so excited! I've been making progress with my health goals by eating clean and just recently started working out at Planet Fitness with my friend. We've been going at 6 in the morning. This is an amazing feat for me because I am definitely NOT a morning person and I am convinced that it is due to the eating clean. I mean I pop out of bed at 5:20 am with nary a sigh whereas before it was hard for me to wake up at my normal 7am. My first time working out I ran 2 miles right off the bat. It just blows my mind what healthy eating can do. ANYWAY, I really wanted to have an accurate reading of how many calories I was burning and when/if I was in my fat burning zone and this really does the job! It's just one more thing keeping me motivated and I can use all the motivation I can get!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rTLoHxk2tkw/U1rn-TDxjDI/AAAAAAAAAG0/Rm2BvIXQfnc/s640/blogger-image-1660718856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rTLoHxk2tkw/U1rn-TDxjDI/AAAAAAAAAG0/Rm2BvIXQfnc/s640/blogger-image-1660718856.jpg"></a></div><br><div>2) It was a good mail week and also a testament to my spending this month (yikes!) but anyway my Jamberry order arrived this week as well! I've seen a lot of pictures on IG lately showing off peoples "jamicures" and I was itching to try them. I was invited to an online party by a friend who started selling them and promptly put my order in (it was a sign right? Hmmm). The thing I'm most excited about is using them on my toes. I can never keep up with my toe nail polish and I hate when it looks all chipped but it's the last thing I ever feel like doing. These are supposed to last up to 6 weeks on your toes so I'm set for the entire summer! </div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iT45LXOF_3Q/U1roCmqPkjI/AAAAAAAAAHE/yCpzPx3327o/s640/blogger-image-1358034098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iT45LXOF_3Q/U1roCmqPkjI/AAAAAAAAAHE/yCpzPx3327o/s640/blogger-image-1358034098.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3) I'm wanting to finally make our backyard a place I want to spend time in. It's not terrible but it's just...not done. It's been on the back burner since we moved here and I'm in DO mode! I've recently organized the hall shelf, purged and cleaned the basement, and cleaned out my closet donating 12 bags of stuff. Time to tackle the outside! We raked all of the leftover leaves this week for a start and I've been planning a few changes as well. I really wanna focus on gardening this year so were wanting to make a few raised beds, plant a cherry tree ( we planted a peach two years ago), plant a few raspberry bushes and just do some minor pretty-ing. Nothing major just little touches. I'm excited that we finally got started!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4) Me and hubby had a lovely spur of the moment date night this week! I got sent home early this week from work and we decided to make the most of it. I donned my new $5 sandals (oh yeah!), we went to our favorite mexican restaurant, meandered around Barnes & Noble, and grabbed yogurt town afterwards. Lovely, lovely. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EiZ1HEFmag4/U1roAaY9p4I/AAAAAAAAAG8/JMT8y6w4wDU/s640/blogger-image--2038901608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EiZ1HEFmag4/U1roAaY9p4I/AAAAAAAAAG8/JMT8y6w4wDU/s640/blogger-image--2038901608.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">5) My friend loaned me Divergent and I'm probably more excited than I should be. That is all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hope you had a great week!</div><br></div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-75360749424714882392014-04-25T14:50:00.001-07:002014-04-27T05:59:18.726-07:00EasterI<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> had a wonderful Easter! My family were all in Wisconsin this year to see my baby sister Bliss' church program so me and my husband spent the day with his family. The day started with me working nursery for our church's first service then me and Josh enjoying the second one together. I am so thankful for the time to truly reflect and rejoice in what Christ has done for us and to remember that no matter what season of life we are in, that we are blessed because we are His! Hallelujah! </span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4hczrByT7Sc/U1rYrf_dklI/AAAAAAAAAGk/ajIET5eiixY/s640/blogger-image-572124043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4hczrByT7Sc/U1rYrf_dklI/AAAAAAAAAGk/ajIET5eiixY/s640/blogger-image-572124043.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">From there we went home to finish cooking and preparing the food we were taking to Mama Kay and Papa Eddie's (my in laws). His mama was feeling a little bit under the weather so my sister in law and I decided to make everything and bring it to her home. I made the ham, a green bean casserole, and this AMAZING lemon pie. It's definitely on my top 10 favorite desserts. I'm one of those chocolate is the only worth while dessert kind of people so that's saying something. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8of-pVBCTIE/U1rYoif0rJI/AAAAAAAAAGU/9Hh6uxUqebU/s640/blogger-image--1346270914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8of-pVBCTIE/U1rYoif0rJI/AAAAAAAAAGU/9Hh6uxUqebU/s640/blogger-image--1346270914.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Aaaaanyway, we had a lovely day together just laughing and enjoying each other's company. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0D7L27iszAo/U1rYp3go3RI/AAAAAAAAAGc/m6I9I_tM8eE/s640/blogger-image-273846687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0D7L27iszAo/U1rYp3go3RI/AAAAAAAAAGc/m6I9I_tM8eE/s640/blogger-image-273846687.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Later that evening me and Josh had leftovers, ate goodies out of the Easter basket we made for ourselves (that's right, the cadburys come but once a year), and watched the Easter Parade. Perfection. Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!</span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bzfefkooFN8/U1rYnKUCN4I/AAAAAAAAAGM/AYr-HHHPROM/s640/blogger-image-1948579160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bzfefkooFN8/U1rYnKUCN4I/AAAAAAAAAGM/AYr-HHHPROM/s640/blogger-image-1948579160.jpg"></a></div><br></font><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-83728662815577834982014-04-22T18:20:00.002-07:002014-04-25T06:30:17.333-07:00Health & Hope
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This post is a kinda-sorta follow up to my last. At the risk
of sounding like an 80 year old lady, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
going into detail on a lot of the health issues that I’ve been dealing with. I
do this in the hopes of encouraging others in their journey to a healthier lifestyle
and to simply say that you are not alone. As you can see in my previous post,
the road to diagnosis can be a scary one. I am thankful for the opportunity to
share my story and to turn fear into hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have had chronic back pain since the age of 9. I can remember
sitting in my 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> grade classroom rubbing my upper back to ease the
pain that resulted from (I'm assuming) the unusually small chairs we had to
use. We were using a preschool room at this point because my very small school
had to utilize the space it had. I can remember going to the pediatrician but
not receiving an answer other than growing pains. The pain continued and got
worse and worse as time went by. I still have it today. The only way I can
describe it is this: Imagine an intense aching and tightness throughout your
upper back and shoulders and neck. You go to rub it to ease the pain but you
can’t. The skin and muscle that surrounds this area is numb. You have to pinch
until your fingers shake to feel and relief and that is short lived because your
hands ache from trying. And there it is. Over the years I have identified what
makes it flare up or worsen and have adjusted accordingly. It’s still there but
I can control it to an extent. What I’ve been describing is fibromyalgia. I was
diagnosed when I was 19 although I knew from around age 14 I’d say. Both my mom
and grandma have it so it was pretty easy to diagnose. I’ve noticed it had
worsened this year. I now have what feels like a tooth ache on both my hips if
I sit for more than 10 minutes. </span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other health issue I’ve been struggling with has been a Candida
overgrowth. It started about 3 years ago. A Candida overgrowth occurs when the
good bacteria in your body loses to the bad. This can be the result of too many
antibiotics which wipe out the good bacteria along with the bad as well as just
an imbalance in your gut due to diet. Candida feeds on sugar and I have definitely
not been abstaining from it. When Candida takes over your gut It’s not pretty.
I’ve dealt with psoriasis, chronic yeast infections, and an overall feeling of
lethargy on a regular basis for quite a while now. </span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The way this ties in to my previous post is the diagnosis I
was given. PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), Insulin resistance, and Hidradenitis
Suppurativa (infected lymph nodes). A lot of the symptoms that I was
experiencing from these conditions were what pointed me to breast cancer. Now
that I know that this is not the case I am both relieved and determined. I
found out from my doctor that the sugar levels in my body were messing with my
hormones, causing the PCOS. My sugar levels were obviously causing my insulin
resistance as well, which causes its own round of symptoms. High sugar levels
can also contribute to the frequency of hidradenitis suppurativa because of the
havoc it reeks with the hormones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since finding out about the PCOS I’ve been on two prescriptions.
The first cause so much damage to my stomach that I am no won medications for
acid reflux disease. YA THINK I SHOULD QUIT THE SUGAR?!?!?!Doesn’t take much to
figure out huh? But it’s hard. Like HARD. At least for me it is. I eat and love
a lot of healthy foods but I’ve always had a sweet tooth. But…so what? SO
WHAT?! I mean look at the damage I’ve allowed to happen to my body in the name
of satiating a sweet tooth! I’m 26 and have more wrong with me than some people
twice my age. Enough is enough! </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BSJhS4bMzSE/U1cUjFxPnTI/AAAAAAAAAF4/3xjQH55ZvYU/s1600/fe3840c1aa46130a05a6a6bbae828b7f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BSJhS4bMzSE/U1cUjFxPnTI/AAAAAAAAAF4/3xjQH55ZvYU/s1600/fe3840c1aa46130a05a6a6bbae828b7f.jpg" height="320" width="228"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know what I need to do, honestly I’ve known for a while.
My grandma and mom have practically begged me to clean up my diet, both having
experienced firsthand the terrible results. Whole foods, no sugar. That’s what
I need to do. But saying and doing are two very different things. Prayers would
be appreciated as I start this journey to better health. Honestly, I don’t know
everything about my health issues and I suppose some things could be out of my
control but I want to take control of what I can and not be run by my emotions.
My body is a temple of the Holy Ghost and I need to start treating it as such.
I know this is something that God wants me to do and that He will give me the
strength to accomplish. I will be documenting my progress on Instagram <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>@brittainytanner using the hashtag
#brittainygetsfit if you want to follow along. And please don’t hesitate to ask
questions, share your story, etc.! Do you have any of the same health hang ups
as me? Are you on a health journey of your own? I’d love to hear about it! </span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love & Prayers,</span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brittainy</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-9219751502043034082014-03-15T18:15:00.000-07:002014-04-26T07:32:08.184-07:00Faith Over Fear
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, I want to share something<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that has been a big part of my life for the
past couple of months and that is the battle between fear and faith. As you can
read in my about me page, I have a personal relationship with Jesus. He has
been the one to carry me through and to provide for me at exactly the right
moments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone experiences fear at some point in their life. This
is a revelation to no one. But there are certainly different levels, and that
is something I’ve been learning to deal with lately. I have never considered myself
to be an abnormally fearful person. Shyness has always been a part of me, from
my earliest memories, but not fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
least not the all-consuming kind. The thing is I tend to lower my guard against
attacks that I’m not accustomed to and start to think that I am somehow above
them if I haven’t yet faced them. I have learned how foolish that is. I have
friends and family that struggle with fear on a fairly regular basis and have
told me about their experiences. I never felt that I was better than them for
not having that struggle. I have plenty of my own for sure and just never
bothered to think that I might need to guard my heart against that as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because we all know ourselves
completely at the age of 26 (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">insert eye roll
here)</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, this all started a couple months ago. I started to
notice some changes that caused me to wonder about breast cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a Wednesday morning while I was
getting ready for work. I had noticed the changes while I was in the shower and
was now drying my hair, panic running through my brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept thinking “how am I going to get
through my 10 hour work day with this weighing on me?” And then I knew. I got up,
walked to the side of the bed and knelt down. I feel like I always
underestimate the power of actually getting down on your knees. I don’t think I
ever consciously thought “I’m not going to do this” or “I don’t need to”, I
just don’t really do it. But the Spirit in me spoke to my heart that I NEEDED
to that morning. And I did. It felt much more intentional than a hurried prayer
out the door, with everything from my damp sweater pulled from the dryer to my
burnt eggs distracting me as I go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That morning I truly surrendered everything to
Jesus. My fear, anxiety, dread, whatever the outcome may be if my suspicions
were true, everthing. I got through the rest of that day just fine. I told my
husband that evening what I had saw and what I was feeling, and other than that
it was out of my mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next morning I missed my alarm and had to eat breakfast
and put my makeup on in the car only to hit a 2 HOUR DELAY due to a jack knifed
semi. I did try to pray in the car during the delay but was feeling distracted
and my heart wasn’t as in it as it had been the day before. I made it to nap
time and then I did the stupidest thing anyone can do in this situation and
started Googling my symptoms. Well there was no doubt in my mind that it was
cancer and 15 minutes before the kids were supposed to wake up I started
SOBBING and COULD NOT STOP. I mean full blown panic, and at the same time
worried that the kids were gonna wake up or my boss would walk in.</span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As it happened, my co-worker walked in to ask me to cover
her room at the exact moment I threw my head down in my arms, the sobs barley
muffled. AND I AM SO GLAD SHE DID. She immediately came over to ask what was
the matter and I just poured out all the feelings, both embarrassed and
relieved. She asked me questions, gave reassurance, offered suggestions, and
told me that she wanted to pray with me after work. Do I have the best
co-workers or what? It was enough o get me back on track and reminded me that
God provides and loves on us even when we put our trust in Google instead of
Him.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xYwEMRGHNMI/UyT6fpxVUEI/AAAAAAAAAFs/frK_fpvKS14/s1600/73fd5455826fade9b49ab372fe1d0a0a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xYwEMRGHNMI/UyT6fpxVUEI/AAAAAAAAAFs/frK_fpvKS14/s1600/73fd5455826fade9b49ab372fe1d0a0a.jpg" height="320" width="252"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had been able to get a doctors appointment scheduled fairly
quickly and by this point had told my parents and grandparents (who live 30
seconds around the corner from us) what was going on. As me and my husband
pulled into the parking lot we saw that my grandparents had showed up for
support. It melted my heart to have my grandpa walking into the OBGYN with me.
Just precious. As we sat down, I could sense everybody’s anxiousness. I just
wanted an answer and so did they. I needed to KNOW something, just a starting
point. I had all these fears piling up from the unknown, from Google and I
hated that they were feeling that way too. I am so incredibly loved and I have
been so blessed by my husband and family that to think that they were feeling
that fear for me, the same I would have for them if the situation were reversed, killed me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then I just happened to look up, and framed on the wall
was a print of this verse:</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those
who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted
by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
abounds through Christ. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And my heart had peace. I quickly pointed out the verse to
them and I could feel the peace that passes all understanding wash over them as
well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We came out of that appointment with two more appointments
scheduled for that day, which was both comforting and terrifying. By the time
we got home we were exhausted. We had 2 doctors who were unsure to the point
where they ordered tests but said that their opinion was that I was fine and an
ultra sound tech who denied me a mammogram because of my age.</span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I received a very reluctant ultrasound during which (I
learned later from a second ultrasound with a different radiologist) she pushed
much harder on my sore lymph nodes than she needed to (the second one got a
perfectly good reading without me flinching once) and she didn’t even bother to
label it so that when I actually did get my mammogram and had to show
them my results, they had to redo the whole thing. The only information I was
left with was to try changing my deodorant or detergent. Both things I had
already told them I’d done. I felt dejected, unheard, and embarrassed. </span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day after the first ultrasound was hard. The first half
of the day I kept really busy. My husband and I cleaned the house extensively
which kept my mind occupied but as soon as we slowed down the tears came. I was
frustrated, scared, and depressed. Thoughts of "what if the worst
happens?" kept running through my head. I sat down with Josh, and as we
talked I could see my fear was infectious. We were both in a pretty dark place
when suddenly my phone rang. It was my nana. She said she felt like she needed
to check on me and asked how I was doing. I could barely choke out "not
good". She told me to come over immediately. We wiped our tears and headed
over. We were greeted with hugs and cups of tea. They held our hands and
prayed over us. We stayed there for the rest of the day, soaking in the love,
encouragement, and wisdom and went home that evening renewed for the week
ahead.</span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ended up with a clean mammogram but still no answers as to
what was going on with me. I was frustrated and simply afraid of the unknown.
Why didn't anyone have an answer?! I tried to keep up a positive attitude but
it was hard. I wasn't myself. I would do pretty well at work with the kids to
keep me busy, it was the evenings that were the worst. My mind wondered so
easily. I eventually made one more appointment, hopeful that they would give me
answers and it didn't disappoint. I'll write more about that later because 1)
this post is already massive and 2) I would really like to go into more detail
eventually, in the hopes of encouraging others through these issues and maybe
offering help and answers as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was absolutely blown away by the love, and encouragement
shown to me during this time. I received beautiful, encouraging cards, texts
from friends who I hadn't heard from in years, constant calls to check in on
how I was dealing with things day by day, prayers in staff meetings, and my
sister and brother in law even made a special trip to deliver a book on fear,
worry, and anxiety. The lessons I've learned through this experience are
invaluable:</span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1) My nana has used this analogy before but I've never
needed it more. She told me to imagine whatever burden I was carrying, in this
case fear, as a heavy load on my back. Then imagine God's throne and imagine
yourself kneeling down at his feet and letting that load slide off your back,
over your head, and disappearing. You stand up strong and free and full of love
and thankfulness towards your savior and ready to continue your journey. The
thing is, this is not a onetime thing. We tend to keep going back for that
burden, knowing even now how horrible it felt. She told me to imagine this
scenario as many times as you need to be it once a week, a day, or in my case a
few times a day. A hundred if need be, if it is what gets you to surrender that
burden to Jesus and be filled with His peace. I remind myself of this often.</span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2) Don't go through it alone. I tried to keep my concerns
bottled up, afraid to worry others and afraid I'd sound like a hypochondriac and
it did nothing but hurt me. I truly found out the depth of support that was
around me and experienced how it felt to be the one lifted up in prayer,
encouraged, loved on, listened to, and taken care of. I NEEDED it and they so
badly wanted to provide it. The people who truly love you want to share in the
good AND the bad. Let them.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3) Jesus shows up big when you let Him. As I think back on
the whole experience I can see God providing for me each step of the way. A
friends support and prayer, family calling at just the right time, a Bible
verse popping into my head at exactly the right moment, a card, a smile, a
shoulder to cry on. Whatever I needed, God knew and he gave. </span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you for taking the time to read this long post. I feel
that my experience is trivial compared to the sufferings of others but God was
able to use it to teach me so much, and I share my story hoping to help someone
else. My love and prayers go out to anyone who is experiencing fear right now,
It is a heavy, debilitating burden and I pray you would let Jesus take it off
your shoulders, He WANTS to.</span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have any questions regarding my experience or how I'm
learning to manage fear please don't hesitate to email me. I'd love to help! </span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love, Brittainy</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-56240818566815266642014-03-14T11:27:00.000-07:002014-03-14T11:27:07.608-07:00High Five For Friday
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just stopping in to share the highlights of my week. It's
been a big mix of exciting and terrifying. I'll list the good stuff but I also
would like to share a couple prayer requests. My mother-in-law has had issue
with blood clots ever since her heart attack about 10 years ago. This past
Tuesday she went to the ER and they found a small on in her right leg. They put
her on blood thinners and she is ok now but please pray for healing and
strength to get her through. She has a hard time walking as it is and uses a
cane because of a clot in her left leg so it's going to be yet another
hindrance on her mobility. But God is good and he will get her through. ON THE
SAME DAY my grandma called me crying saying she was going to pick me up with
papa. Me and my husband jumped in their car not knowing what was going on,
terrified. She had been sick with what she thought was a sinus infection for
about a week but wasn't getting better with antibiotics. In the car she could
barely say two words together. She was so weak and out of breath and apparently
it happened all of the sudden. SO to the ER we went. She was there for about 6
hours and by the end was feeling a little better but with no answers as to what
caused her fatigue. She is going to her follow up today and all prayers would
be appreciated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WHEW! now on to the fun
stuff:</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1) Me and my friend go to go see Casablanca at a 3 story
theater in downtown Birmingham this week! Apparently it was Turner Classic
Movie's 20th anniversary and to celebrate they decided to do a special showing
of Casablanca. They chose 8 theaters around the country and thankfully one was
only an hour away! I'm a huge fan of all things 40's and we grew up on old
movies so it was especially cool to see it on the big screen. And it was fun to
drive around Birmingham afterwards too, I definitely want to go back and
explore.</span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHJ4qwwG6c4/UyNJLBgH7xI/AAAAAAAAAE4/giSPaiYnub8/s1600/gsfhdhedh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHJ4qwwG6c4/UyNJLBgH7xI/AAAAAAAAAE4/giSPaiYnub8/s1600/gsfhdhedh.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2) I put my Easter decorations up! I love decorating for all
seasons and create little traditions to go with the decorating to make it extra
special. For Halloween it's cinnamon bread and watching the nightmare before
Christmas or Young Frankenstein, Christmas is hot chocolate and the Muppet
Christmas Carol, and Easter is all about Cadbury eggs and Easter Parade. Also,
I love throwing back the curtains and opening the windows to get a real taste
of spring time and was thinking that would definitely be out of the question
this year BUT lo and behold it was 50 degrees! Bam. Perfect Easter decorating
weather.</span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_80Tq0eDwc/UyNJVvi2rRI/AAAAAAAAAFA/5WxHduidH14/s1600/ghslgjehg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_80Tq0eDwc/UyNJVvi2rRI/AAAAAAAAAFA/5WxHduidH14/s1600/ghslgjehg.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3) Tea! I found this awesome tea at Homegoods and it just
makes me happy. Me and my nana always drink tea when we're visiting so I'm
excited to see what she thinks of it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MyFO-Hkvnr4/UyNJexxPdTI/AAAAAAAAAFI/q1A5FnPS_8Y/s1600/djkdrhe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MyFO-Hkvnr4/UyNJexxPdTI/AAAAAAAAAFI/q1A5FnPS_8Y/s1600/djkdrhe.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4) My mom's in town!!! She planned a surprise trip up here
with my little sister Bliss to visit my grandma after her ordeal earlier this
week and I'm so excited! I haven't seen her since Christmas and I'm looking
forward to some quality mommy time this weekend. This pic was taken when she
got in last night at 10:30 pm. Needless to say we were all in prime condition
;)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQnJ6xFiKO0/UyNJnkyOyzI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/Zc3DGk1GOBk/s1600/hehehey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQnJ6xFiKO0/UyNJnkyOyzI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/Zc3DGk1GOBk/s1600/hehehey.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5) PI DAY IS TODIZZLE! I'm throwing a Pi day party (3/14,
get it?) today in potluck fashion where all the guests bring a different pie.
And were having pizza pie. so excited. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kAA89UG8fao/UyNJyhqq1KI/AAAAAAAAAFY/Q4ibt5TKYeE/s1600/wrthwjgwjg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kAA89UG8fao/UyNJyhqq1KI/AAAAAAAAAFY/Q4ibt5TKYeE/s1600/wrthwjgwjg.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy weekend!!!</span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-82789338503898486902014-03-12T13:56:00.005-07:002014-03-13T19:58:43.641-07:00Snow Day<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I was on my way to work yesterday morning when this happened:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d-uiTGi41t8/UyDH2sIq5KI/AAAAAAAAAEE/OF34hX7bXUE/s1600/hgjwsgkuwahgujwr.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d-uiTGi41t8/UyDH2sIq5KI/AAAAAAAAAEE/OF34hX7bXUE/s1600/hgjwsgkuwahgujwr.PNG" height="320" width="227" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The TOW TRUCK got stuck. It was blocking the on ramp to the
freeway so I snapped this picture and sent it to my boss and she told me to
just turn around and go home. Best boss ever and snow day for me! So without
further a due, here is a list of the wildly unproductive things I did with it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.1pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Took a bubble bath, candles and all. I want to
find an actual BUBBLE bath though. I always just squeeze some body wash under
the running water but that equals approximately 3 bubbles. BUT I did have this
wonderful lavender-coconut oil sugar scrub my friend made me as a gift and that
totally made it! But I do think it's time to bring Mr. Bubbles.</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.1pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Snuggled down with the hubby and watched Selena.
Odd choice you say? Well I’m a quarter Mexican {My mom being half and my
grandma all} and in my family you WILL love this movie. I spotted it at Target
for $5 last week and snapped it up because I just couldn’t not and since we
literally had nothing better to do {shoveling snow doesn’t count} we watched
it. And I cried. Like I do every time.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.1pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Started Rainbow Rowell’s Attachments and so far
I really like it. I’ll do a review when I’m finished. And yes those are
spaghettios in that cup. Apparently this weather is severely impairing my food
judgment. It was a delicious 50 degrees yesterday and I could practically smell
burgers in the air and promptly went and got one for myself. I didn’t even have
the presence of mind to grab my husband something. Nope. Just me. And the
bleezard today somehow had me grabbing a can of spaghettios off the shelf. I’m
filled with shame and at the same time so so satisfied.</span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o88SOaQWA_4/UyDIBZFKpgI/AAAAAAAAAEM/AO4rf5eADzg/s1600/sjhgjshgs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o88SOaQWA_4/UyDIBZFKpgI/AAAAAAAAAEM/AO4rf5eADzg/s1600/sjhgjshgs.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a><!--[endif]--></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Went to dinner with a friend and just enjoyed
some quality girl time while our hesrbernds were out.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XnKpHw40t1Q/UyDJaG-KzyI/AAAAAAAAAEk/HmUaWP5PTak/s1600/gdhyi.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XnKpHw40t1Q/UyDJaG-KzyI/AAAAAAAAAEk/HmUaWP5PTak/s1600/gdhyi.PNG" height="315" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A perfectly relaxing day that I am so thankful for! Hope you
got a snow day too!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-78658955979063362492014-03-09T14:33:00.001-07:002014-03-09T14:34:53.688-07:00Tibby & Pearl<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FacTBvmPQQM/Uxzby7Z6nwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/5YFdj3gB7Go/s1600/1525235_10202559034278278_728677462_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FacTBvmPQQM/Uxzby7Z6nwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/5YFdj3gB7Go/s1600/1525235_10202559034278278_728677462_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Pearl on the left, Tibby on the right</em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hello! I'd like to introduce you to my two little kitty
babies. Their names are Tibby and Pearl. Or as I affectionately call them,
fluffy butt and little girl. These cats. They are my little rays of sunshine
and never fail to crack me up. They have quite the love hate relationship. One
minute they're performing circus-level acrobatics chasing each other around the
house and the next they're snuggled next to each other napping. I've always
been a cat person, maybe because I grew up with cats (with the exception of a
dachshund and a few carnival-won goldfish along the way). I don't know but regardless,
I love these two and their ridiculous ways and want to share them with
you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zi37dPurF5Y/UxzeCTgATaI/AAAAAAAAAD0/lnQddiDO47s/s1600/1374788_10202075890479985_452360671_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zi37dPurF5Y/UxzeCTgATaI/AAAAAAAAAD0/lnQddiDO47s/s1600/1374788_10202075890479985_452360671_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tibby is just delightful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Me and my husband adopted him only a couple months after we got married.
I call him puppy cat because of all his friendly dog-like qualities. He loves
company and being snuggled, he is basically a rag doll. I can literally lay him
around my neck and walk around and he's totally cool with it. Oh and he is THE
most talkative cat I've ever come in contact with. His dog-likeness even
extends into his meow. When he gets really intense there is a distinct MOW-WOW
sound that he makes and he even holds it out longer than normal.</span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-79dhgHNfdzo/UxzcvpI9d0I/AAAAAAAAADc/eHG1jrPY574/s1600/1920327_10202982266178811_557335867_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-79dhgHNfdzo/UxzcvpI9d0I/AAAAAAAAADc/eHG1jrPY574/s1600/1920327_10202982266178811_557335867_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then there's Pearl. She's fairly new around here; my friend
found her wandering around her neighborhood looking starved to death and knew
I'd take her in, being the crazy cat lady that I am. And we did! She is just
precious. She has totally adjusted to the life of an indoor cat and hasn't
tried to get out once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is very mild
mannered and loves cuddling in her own way. We call her the mountain goat. She
will literally find the smallest surface on your body and settle down. Like,
the end of your knee or when you lay on your side, she will go up and lay on
your hip. She also likes to camp out in the middle of my back if I'm on my
stomach. She doesn't want to be picked up but she DOES want to be wherever you
are which is just the cutest. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EqqooQfrObU/UxzcXtXIEzI/AAAAAAAAADY/ntSdw9-dQao/s1600/photo2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EqqooQfrObU/UxzcXtXIEzI/AAAAAAAAADY/ntSdw9-dQao/s1600/photo2.PNG" height="312" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So there they are my little dumplins'. I'm sure you'll see a
lot more of them around here. Any other crazy cat ladies out there? I feel ya.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1MBvVyxybOI/UxzdZ2MmiUI/AAAAAAAAADk/1mGczijzNaE/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1MBvVyxybOI/UxzdZ2MmiUI/AAAAAAAAADk/1mGczijzNaE/s1600/photo.PNG" height="307" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-45523870269593878892014-03-09T13:58:00.002-07:002014-03-09T14:10:17.683-07:00The Sunday Currently Vol. 1<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">READING: The Morning & Evening App and I absolutely love
it. I'd seen quotes by Spurgeon on Pinterest before and really appreciated the
wisdom they held. When I heard about this app I downloaded it immediately. Some
people might not appreciate the old timey language but I feel that it's a part
of what gives the devotionals<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>their<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>impact. The words he uses are just beautiful
and convey his passion for Jesus perfectly. It is what its name implies, there
is a devotional posted in the morning and one in the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They're a joy to read and I look forward to
them each day.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">WRITING: A list for things I need for the Pi day party we're
hosting this Friday! I'm so excited. SO MUCH PIE. Also, I'm compiling a list of
food from my board on Pinterest to make with my sister when I visit her in two
weeks. I've noticed a definite trend: Chocolate, cheese, and mushrooms. YUS.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">LISTENING: To Heros Season one. It's been two years since we
finished the series and it's been awesome going through it again. We've
forgotten enough so that it keeps us on the edge of our seats all over again!</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">THINKING: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About how
thankful I am that Dr. Suess week is over! I know that makes me sound like a
scrooge. Hear me out. It was fun and the kids had a BLAST. I thoroughly enjoyed
crazy hair day and watching their little faces while I read the stories. I feel
like they really were able to derive the lessons intended from the stories too.
I was so proud! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT I was not thrilled
that I was forced to entertain a room full of three year olds with only
worksheets and circle time after they consumed copious amounts of sugar because
of the Suess themed snacks for THREE HOURS without time that they normally had
to run off that energy because of the special activities planned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whew! It was great but I'm craving our
routine.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxOUrBA3rRQ/UxzWvw3CXdI/AAAAAAAAACs/2eFLoutye6Q/s1600/1511456_10203118385781716_1472843937_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxOUrBA3rRQ/UxzWvw3CXdI/AAAAAAAAACs/2eFLoutye6Q/s1600/1511456_10203118385781716_1472843937_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Crazy hair day. Garden theme. Oh yeah.</em></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">SMELLING: My mocha coconut coffee. OH YES. And drinking it
out of my Tervis cup! Which I've been searching tirelessly for the past two
weeks and found...under my car seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first place most would search for their missing to-go cup but not I.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">WISHING: That I had bacon for tomorrow's<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>breakfast and that I had the motivation to go
to the store and get it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICrRlGDKYKo/UxzVsERUhrI/AAAAAAAAACk/HNg13FwIWew/s1600/b8abc821bbd20245cef9b1926d7aeb5e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICrRlGDKYKo/UxzVsERUhrI/AAAAAAAAACk/HNg13FwIWew/s1600/b8abc821bbd20245cef9b1926d7aeb5e.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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v<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/14496030021824243/"><em>ia</em></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">HOPING: This 40 degree weather sticks! GAH. Its' been
gloriousssss. The birds<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have been
chirping outside my windows and I even got a car wash this week! Yes, this is
the first time I've washed my car all winter. Whatevs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">WEARING:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A LOT of
dresses, leggings ,boots<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and cardigans.
Like, pretty much that's all I've been wearing. It's so easy and I feel put
together every day. Plus, me and my husband just watched the first two seasons
of New Girl which is just further <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>feeding my dress/cardi combo obsession.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bCiR6kWYjtA/UxzURoNIVOI/AAAAAAAAACc/g5GN0SyiCk8/s1600/0d3cb40bd2962708b6af6b20686dbd8d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bCiR6kWYjtA/UxzURoNIVOI/AAAAAAAAACc/g5GN0SyiCk8/s1600/0d3cb40bd2962708b6af6b20686dbd8d.jpg" height="116" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/201254677069425065/"><em>via</em></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">LOVING: Fajitas! I've made them approximately 15 times this
month.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">WANTING: One of those Polar heart
rate monitors! I've been doing a lot of home workouts lately and I'd love to be
getting an idea of how many calories I'm actually burning during Tae Bo. BILLY
BLANKS 4 LYFE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">NEEDING: A basket for my bike. SPRING FEVAH!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">FEELING: Like taking a leisurely Sunday nap and at the same
time in the mood to bake. Bring it on 3/14!!!</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></o:p> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304961874228666683.post-56767539894273212012014-03-01T14:25:00.000-08:002014-03-01T14:26:06.565-08:00About Me<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o2ZC2PfPjuw/UxJWN-DgtLI/AAAAAAAAABk/881B--En5oc/s1600/1535719_10202669626803022_1841783821_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o2ZC2PfPjuw/UxJWN-DgtLI/AAAAAAAAABk/881B--En5oc/s1600/1535719_10202669626803022_1841783821_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>New Years Eve 2013</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hello, my
name is Brittainy. First thing you should know about me is that I’m a daughter
of Christ, a sinner saved by grace. I love me some Jesus. He is my everything
and has been my rock and light throughout my 26 years. The name of my blog
comes from my favorite hymn “Come Thou Fount”. I feel like this perfectly describes
my life right now, but really it should never stop. I want to always be in the
process of letting God tune my heart to be more like His! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L2lZXj--_No/UxJbH4bOVpI/AAAAAAAAAB8/qVKCxrYEgVE/s1600/198289_1002114494329_1307_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L2lZXj--_No/UxJbH4bOVpI/AAAAAAAAAB8/qVKCxrYEgVE/s1600/198289_1002114494329_1307_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<em>2007</em></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been
happily married to a wonderful man and my best friend for 3 years. We met
through MySpace. That’s right MYSPACE. Come to find out that not only did we
have a few friends in common but we lived a mere 5 minutes from each other! We
met up at a Dairy Queen in July of 2007 after a week of talking online and that
was it. We saw each other every day for a whole year and have only really been
apart maybe ten days since. We are pretty big homebodies and most of our
evenings consist of snuggling down to watch our favorite shows with our two
cats. And I like it that way.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XEh9UDBn0ao/UxJYbeCiP5I/AAAAAAAAABw/uRC3FIF0MNI/s1600/photoMMA922GW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XEh9UDBn0ao/UxJYbeCiP5I/AAAAAAAAABw/uRC3FIF0MNI/s1600/photoMMA922GW.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<em>My Classroom</em></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m a
pre-school teacher which means I get to sing, play with glitter, and use a
plethora of stickers on a daily basis and this makes me SO HAPPY. But it is SO
much more than that. I love these babies so much and shed a tear at the end of
each year. They play with my hair, show me their karate moves, make me
invisible coffee, and draw me pictures. They compliment some part of my outfit
on a daily if not hourly basis and give me spontaneous hugs throughout the day.
I walk in the room and hear “MISS BRITTAINY!!!” and my love and patience (because
let’s be honest, I need it) are renewed each morning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I count myself blessed to have this job and to
be a part of their little lives. I LOVE what I do. And I’m like the shyest
person I Know so working with little children all day and NOT having to make
small talk on a regular basis totally suits me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N_E3feWnDCs/UxJdEPnCBYI/AAAAAAAAACI/M5dhHIB9fEM/s1600/a9d5afd7abc172b3d3ae9f4bbd5c9027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N_E3feWnDCs/UxJdEPnCBYI/AAAAAAAAACI/M5dhHIB9fEM/s1600/a9d5afd7abc172b3d3ae9f4bbd5c9027.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aside from
Jesus, my marriage, my job, and my cats, a few other things you’ll read about
here are books that I read, recipes I try, crafts that I…craft, my love for all
things vintage, and all the other beautiful little things that make up my life.
So glad you’re here! Let’s be friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604961594968358761noreply@blogger.com2