Weekend routine

If you follow my teacher's blog, you know that I've been back to school already. Well, during the week, I barely have time to breathe. You know what it's like, chaotic. But I love it. I get to rummage through all those ideas that I've found or bought and try to figure out HOW I'm going to fit it all in. 

Well, that means, that I'm back to making my weekends into a routine. Saturday's not really a routine. But we usually go to the pool, or do something fun. I can't always say it's as a family because my husband's schedule doesn't always allow for that, but we do what we can. 

Yesterday, we went to the pool with some friends, and then we came home and played in the backyard, where I got just hang with my girls...

and Pete. He's so pretty, isn't he??? He's about 10 years old though, and for big dogs, that's pretty old.

And Sundays are reserved for beach days and school planning. In the mornings, we go to the beach with some friends...ok. I just have to say. I don't know WHERE else I would ever live. I mean, I think I would be one depressed person if I couldn't go to the beach. Just looking outside and seeing the clear blue skies makes me want to be outside...but I have to be near the water. and pools are great, but there's something about the beach that just makes everything better.

When I was a kid, I remember being at the beach all the time, day and night. That's one thing I hope to pass on to my girls...so far so good.

I went to a new beach today. I pass it all the time to get to on of my other regular ones. I think I found my NEW beach. It's perfect. It has lifeguards (which I like because of my "no fear" girls), it has showers (again, for my sandmonster kids), and best of all?? It has a food shack! But it plays Jimmy Buffett music (LOVE) and it has some seriously yummy food with a really shaded area. I love it!

My girlfriend, that I usually go to the beach with, posted on her FB this morning with a hashtag of #saltwatertherapy

I love it. It's so true.  That's why this is one of my favorite sayings ever.

(p.s. that's MY picture..MY beach...and thank you to my talented friend for working her magic with the words! I'm totally turning this into a poster for my house!)

A BIG welcome cheer for the return of my weekend routine!!

Now...I must go plan for my week.

Girls Night: Painting

You know what's fun? a painting night!

We were all set to go to one of those Bottles and Brushes places, you know where you drink wine and paint pictures? Well, the one that they were going to paint that night wasn't something that we liked. SO, we decided to do our own. One of Jolyn's favorite artists is Peter Max. So we found one of his paintings that we liked and decided to try it on our own!

This is the one we were set out to do.

So to Jo-Ann's we went!  I had all the paints already, and paintbrushes, so we only needed to get the canvases. We found canvases, 2 for $13 and then they were 50% off of that! Sweet deal!

We stopped off at Publix to get some dinner...yep. Subs and Mimosas for dinner! haha!

We like to keep it classy. haha!

I printed off a picture for us both to use as a guide, and away we went!

Here's what we looked like most of the time...lol!

And ta-da!!  I actually REALLY like how they came out!! 

I think we're going to do it again...a different artist this time.

Happy Birthday!

I'm not going to lie. I was a little bummed when my birthday plans fell through. I'm always on a "grand" trip for my birthday. 

When I turned 16, I was in Costa Rica. 

When I was 18, I was in Europe...specially on my actual birthday, I was in Venice, riding a Gondola!

The year I turned 19, I was in Mexico...

 Last year, I went to the Keys. 

But this year, they fell through. That's ok. I still had a great birthday!

Where else does one go for their birthday?? It was a perfect beach day. 

Spent the day with my girl, Jolyn...drinks on the beach...not a bad day!

Then lunch at Cantinas Dos Amigos....yum!

Then, came home and was surprised by a cake...and song by my 3 year old.

And MORE dessert! This was a pastachiotta. Jolyn made it...from scratch. It's a classic Italian dessert. SO YUM!! I tried finding a recipe online, but I couldn't 

(I don't' think she spelled it right when she told me what it was...lol)

And how did I end the night??? With a little snuggle from B. I hope this never ends....

I still love when Autumn even comes into our bed and snuggles up with me. I know it won't last forever, so I am trying to enjoy it while it lasts!

Just another day in paradise!

You never know what kind of treasures you'll find when you go to the beach!

and after playing at the beach all morning, what's better than fish tacos and beer?!

That's my kind of day!!

T25: Week 2

I have been SO busy this week, I have TONS of pictures to update with, but for now I'll just share my stats with you for this week. Not much has changed. I blame how I've been in and out of town - and you know how hard it is to stay on course when you're out of town.

One of the things I've noticed that's changed the most, though, is that my body can't handle eating bad things anymore. Since I have literally changed how I eat, and especially how I eat Shakeology every day. We went to one of my favorite places where I grew up the other day, and when I was so sick after I ate. Not like food poisoning sick, but "my body can't handle this kind of food anymore." I will say that it's nice that my body rejects that kind of food.

And isn't it horrible that when we go on vacation now that I kind of cringe at what I know I'll be eating like? Why is it SO hard to eat right when you're not at home!? Why aren't there more variety of healthy foods out there??

Anyway, here are this week's stats. Not much change from last week, but still a change from the beginning!

Weight: 154.

Thighs – 22.5”

Butt – 39.5”

Waist (a.k.a Tire) – 36”

Arms – 10” 

I'll be back later to catch up on what we've been doing!

T25: Week 1

Today is day 7 of my T25 Challenge that I'm in. (check out my before pictures and post)

I don't have picture this week, because well, I thought it might be too soon for visual results, but, I will say there are some results! I took my measurements this morning...and I was surprised!

Weight: 153.6

Thighs – 23”

Butt – 39.5”

Waist (a.k.a Tire) – 36”

Arms – 10”

There are some differences in my inches and my weight!

One of our assignments this week was to post three positive affirmations to ourselves anywhere we wanted. I want to show you two of mine...

This one I really liked because I see it every morning. I took a dry erase marker and wrote myself a little "reminder" on my makeup mirror in the bathroom.

And then, I put a post it note on this picture.

This picture is from 8-9 years ago. I was at my heaviest, about 30 pounds heavier than what I am now. When I first lost all that weight, I lost about 40-50 pounds. Then, I had 2 kids. And while I'm not back to my lowest weight yet, I feel much better about where I am and where I came from. I essentially weighed the same in this picture that I did when I was 9 months pregnant...both times.

I keep this picture to remind myself that I used to be heavier. 

So, here's to my "Keep Going!" hopefully, by day 30, I'll be able to SHOW you how far I've come!

Water Babies

In case you don't know already, my children are definitely water babies. If they see any form of water, they are in it...be it a puddle, pool, ocean, lake.  And they don't care if they are fully clothed or not. Bathing suits not required. (which frustrates me more than anything because it just adds to the never ending mound of laundry.) Well, pool-time when you have two young ones, isn't the easiest.

But this summer, I feel a little bit of freedom. It's been a summer of growth, for sure.

Autumn has become quite the swimmer! She's a self-taught swimmer, like I was, and has started to grow so much. Now, her new thing is go diving for the diving rings. 

I'm actually thinking about looking into what age they start swimming teams. I think Autumn would love that!

and Brooklynn??? My little water baby is swimming all by herself with water rings on!

So now our pool days are much more relaxing and fun (for mama!).

Just a little "proud mama" moment.