Blast from the Past

We were playing Apples to Apples tonight and Loney started singing this song.  I was cracking up thinking of all the times we played this tape as our FHE activity growing up.
 



Good Times!!

Busy Month

I know I've been terrible about blogging more then once a month.  I'm a slacker and I hope I'll get past whatever it is, and post more often.

Simple Girl Scraps has been busy creating kits for the iScrap Celebration over at ScrapDelicious.  They are celebrating their 1 year anniversary with a huge freebie hunt, and lots of goings on in the forum.

Link

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Be sure to check out Theresa's 31 days of Photography.  I'm hoping to be able to post my pictures for the challenge to help make up for the lack of posts so far this year.

I do have a freebie for you though.  Simple Girl Scraps aka Theresa created a mini kit for DigiScrap Drive-In called Just Be Happy.

link

It's a free with $5 purchase at DigiScrap Drive-in.  Here's the layout I created with the kit:

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 I decided to make my layout into a Quick Page Freebie.

Download

 

 

Feel free to check out all the fantastic designs created by Simple Girl Scraps.  Her kits are so fun, bright, and fantastic!  You won't be disappointed!!

Spring Awakenings

As the temperature is rising, I look around to the renewal of spring and the birth of new beginnings.

I also reflect on the journey I've been on this past year.  Taking that first step towards a healthier me was a very hard decision. I look at the me a year ago, and I'm appalled that I even thought I was happy.  I was anything but happy with myself and the situation I had put myself in. I was destroying myself from the inside out, spiraling out of control without breaks.

Although I wish I could have been closer to my goals, I'm happy with the progress I've made.  I've got tons of demons I still need to face head on though. Those voices that tell me I'm not progressing so I should just give up.  Or if I make a poor choice with what I eat, I beat my self up and say that's it..may as well keep going.  I've tried really hard to keep those demons at bay, but it's been a little hard lately.

Though it's still a few week until it's officially been one year since starting on my journey, I'm recommitting to ME!  I can do this and no negative thoughts, temptations, guilt, etc will stand in my way.  How can I when I've come this far?

Adieu to February

Tomorrow is the last day of February and I can't wait for it to be over.  I had quite a few highs during the month:

Jordan's 7th Birthday

Valentine's Day spent with the kids

Jordan lost his 3rd tooth

 

 

I finished my second round of P90X!

As I celebrate these highs, I look back and realize I let the month slip past with not much accomplished towards my goals.

No dates with Loney, though he did get me some beautiful flowers for Valentines day. 

Organizing was out the window.  I hardly did anything that would even come close to organizing.  Just upkeep, and I didn't do very well with that either.

My eating was atrocious this month.  I know when I do my weigh in and measurements, if I haven't gained I'll be very surprised.  

Needless to say, I'll be coming into March with renewed vigor.  I start INSANITY with a fit test tomorrow, then 60 days of intense cardio.  I'm also going to refocus my eating and have it be as clean as I can.  Get rid of the junk in the house that's been my bane this month.

Tackle my house with pride in making it a home and sanctuary it should be.  Work up a plan of attack instead of just saying I'm going to get organized.

As far as the dates with Loney, we'll take that one day at a time.  Even if it means taking the family out together, at least we are doing something in strengthening our relationship.

Another thing I hope to start in March is journaling my feelings and happenings.  Whether it be on my blog or keeping it private, I haven't decided.  Finding out why I had such a rough month personally, moving on from it, and starting anew.  

Sketch Participation

I'm taking part in My Sketch World's 5th Anniversary Sketch a Thon.  I'm coming into it a little late, but luckily I have until March 3rd to post the layouts and/or cards to the gallery.  Here's what I've done so far:

Here's the Sketch

Here's the Sketch

Here's the Sketch

There are going to be 20 sketches all together.  That last card was day 17, so I'm a little behind.  I'm hoping to get all of them done, but if not...at least half.  That would be cool.  If you scrap and would like to play along, here's the link to the Party and you could win one of several fabulous prizes!! 

It's a me.....Mario!

Having all of our birthday's so close together is fun, but kind of hectic all at the same time.  They start in October with Melody, then we hit the holidays just before mine in December.  Loney's is a month after that, then 6 days is Jordan's.  At least we get to relax the rest of the year I suppose.

Anyway, for Jordan and Loney's birthdays I asked them what they wanted their cakes to be decorated like.  Jordan kept going back and forth for a while, but ultimately decided on a Mario cake.  I thought, 'ok, I can do that.'  I figured though that Loney needed a cake all his own, since we kinda celebrate them together.  I ask him what he wanted.  He thought for a moment then said, "a Bullet Bill cake."  I figured I had some skill as a cake decorator that I might be able to pull it off.  Well, I did!!

 

I was so nervous making it at first.  I didn't have enough black fondant, so I had to mix it with some extra white. But it did turn out, and Loney was super happy with it.

Next came Jordan's cake.  I bought Mario and Luigi keychain toys from Fry's Electronics because I KNEW I would not be able to make those two characters.

 

 I made all of the mushrooms, turtle shells, bullet bill, goombas and Lakita out of fondant.  I'm truely amazed how with a little imagination and a whole lot of luck, I can put together a cake.

I wonder if I actually would be good at this for a living....NAH!  Too much stress.

Back to the Basics

I am in no means a person who wants to be Au Natural.  But since starting my journey to good health last year, I've been studying and reading a lot of labels.  Not only food, but the products I use everyday.

I've already started making my own laundry detergent, and I LOVE it!  So quick and easy to make, and it really does work without all of the fillers commercial detergent have.

The next step is making my own lotion.  I have combination skin.  My face gets really oily, but my hands and the rest of me gets really dry.  Probably because I shower in too hot of water...but I digress.  

Most lotions contain chemicals which could cause more harm then good to your skin.  

I found this book while searching for homemade lotion recipes

I can't wait to get my dry, cracked little hands on this book.  Perhaps some birthday gifts in the making???

Do you have any homemade beauty secrets?