self love

It's been months and months since I've blogged, and I'm excited to get back to it.  This post is about a topic very near and dear to my heart- self love.  Sometimes we forget to treat ourselves well, and to know that we are enough.  Right now, as we are.  I am one of those people that has the tendency to get too attached to a hope, goal or dream, and then think, "I will be somebody when...".  I need to learn to live in the now, and appreciate what I have and who I am at this very moment.  If I fill my head with negative thoughts today, then what does that promise for the future?  It's sad to realize that I have learned to become comfortable in a negative personal image because of difficult situations I've had to deal with in the past.  I don't like feeling defeated.  It is tiring and heavy, but it is easy because I don't have to do anything.  How can I change my self image?  The obvious answer would be to simply love myself, but if I haven't loved myself for a very long long time, then how??  Habits.  Leaving the housework, abusing food, and over sleeping have never. ever. made me feel good.  Replacing bad habits with good ones will help me feel better about myself for sure.  Waking up early, going on walks, reading, organizing, eating healthy, journaling, cleaning, unplugged family time, dressing up, drinking water, date nights, exploring, meditating, painting.....these are the types of (real, tangible) things I can do to naturally feel positive.  I have a LOT to be grateful for, and I really do love love love my life.  It's hard to explain how I can be happy with my life and proud of my morals and general ethic, yet disappointed because I know I can do better.  My kids, my boyfriend, my pets, my job, my house, my car, my hobbies and all of that are all golden.  It's me.  I'm a kind, generous, loving, thoughtful, artistic, intelligent, and beautiful person.  Most of the time I believe that.  Actions speak louder than words.

images found on Pinterest.

2012

I love a fresh new year.  It's the perfect time for reflection and goal setting.  It's always exciting to set aside some time during the last few days or the first few days of the year to dream up some fun resolutions.  Of course there are things that end up on the list year after year and I always say, "this is the year" with the good intention of following through.  It's taken me a little while but I've come to realize that if you want change to happen, you have to do things differently.  A simple concept really, but it's easier said than done.  Things don't get done when you come home after a long hard day (every day??) and order take-out and watch Netflix all night.  It takes determination, planning, and action to get results.  It also helps if your goals are fun and realistic.  After reading through my list, and talking about 2012 with KC, we realized that making over our house, getting in shape, saving money, and getting married in December would be a bit much.  So, this year we plan to focus on the first two, while saving the money and marriage thing for 2013.  We want to get all our ducks in a row before we get hitched so we can enjoy the newlywed experience fairly stress free.  This year our family really wants to focus on getting into regular routines (with meals, chores, and earlier bedtimes), fixing up or house (organization, repairs, painting, and decorating), getting healthy (walking, moving, and cooking more), and forming stronger relationships (spending more time with friends, more date nights, and a weekly family game night).  Everyone around here is really excited to actually DO things in 2012.....we're ready to make it happen!!  What are your new years resolutions?

I'm still here.

It seems like forever and a day ago since I last posted.  A lot of changes have happened in my life.  A new job, and college has pretty much taken over ALL my free time.  But that's ok.  Because I'm really extra incredibly happy.  I'm just a really busy girl.  It's taken a while to get used to the new routine, which is easier & a lot more zen, even though I have a million things going on all the time.  I have a little reading stack to get through, pen-pals to write, lots of lonely journals and art supplies, and blogs calling my name. That's just the icing on the cake though.  I cut off a huge slice of cake that I'm slowly working through one bite at a time.  I'll get there.  I know this post is really vague, and I plan on explaining things in greater detail soon.......I just wanted to jot a little note down to let you all know that I haven't forgotten about my little blog.  I'll be back soon friends.

oatmeal banana walnut chocolate chip cookies

It's time to go back to school.  It's the perfect excuse to add a new cookie recipe to your baking list.  You gotta have an after school snack while you're doing (or helping) with homework, and what's a better snack than milk & cookies?!  These cookies are actually kind of healthy too, with the bananas & walnuts and all. So here you go.....

I actually based these cookies off of this oatmeal raisin cookie recipe, which you can usually find on your container of oats.  Easy peasy.  Heres what I did different:

-slice a ripe banana into the butter/sugar mixture
-add walnuts & chocolate chips instead of raisins (about a handful of walnuts and a whole bunch of chocolate chips)



I hope you like them as much as we did!  enjoy.        :)

pencil me in

*all photos borrowed from Pinterest

It's back to school week around here.  Have you picked up your school supplies?  I love pencils.  Of all the school supplies, the pencil is at the tippy top of my list.  Did you know that pencils don't actually contain lead?  You can read all about the history of the pencil here , if you're a school supply nerd like me.  School supplies are one of my very favorite things.  I buy them every year, even when I'm not going to school.  Nothing feels quite as fresh (besides a shower of course) as a brand new notebook.  Words cannot describe how it feels to open up a box of new crayons, the nostalgic smell & pretty colors sitting so patiently, waiting to make a dull page brilliant.  Speaking of crayons, do you remember this?

I love how Mr.Rogers was such a calm kid show. We need more of those calm shows for today's children.  So, what's your favorite school supply?

p.s. if you want links to the above images (like where you can buy the neat-o "cheat sheet" pencils) just click on the Pinterest link, which will take you to my "pencils" board, where you can find links to more info.

quick & healthy quiche

Hey all.  I wanted to share a really simple quiche recipe I sort of figured out when making my own a few days ago.  Isn't that how all recipes come about.....from altering a few things here and there to make it work for what you want to do?  Mine was made with red bell peppers, carrots, & pepperjack cheese, but obviously you can throw in whatever awesome ingredients you happen to have on hand.  It's easy, and so so good.  Ours vanished in a flash! Here you go.....



See?  Easy as pie! ;)

The Goodbyn Lunchbox

images found here

 Have you started to think about back to school shopping yet??  It's time to order what you'll want your little kiddos to have from the internet world now.  We just purchased 3 of these Goodbyn lunchboxes, and we're so excited!  I think these lunch boxes are great, because they eliminate the need for plastic baggies and countless tupperware containers that you can never find lids for.  The whole thing seals up with one lid.  You can just throw it in the dishwasher every evening, and it's good to go for the next day.  I love the bento type style of box (and the food doesn't have to touch!) that is portion controlled to promote healthy eating.  I also love the idea of using the water bottle most days, and saving milk for a special once in a while treat......think of the money that will be saved!  Of course I got these for the girls, but I had to get myself one too.  I can't stop thinking about the cute healthy lunch ideas that you can put together so easily with this.  You should definitely check this company out.  If anyone knows any great lunch post links, please share!!  I'll probably post lunch box peeks on here when we get them.....I'm sure it'll be way too cute not to.  Also, if you do want to get one of these lunchboxes, you should check out this post from bleubirdvintage (where the above pics came from), to get a 15% off discount code!

Summer Traditions

I think it's super important to create (and continue ones you've already established and still love) your own family traditions.  You will be so thankful that you took the time to create fun, silly, and unique memories for you and yours to look back on for years to come!  "They grow up fast" is so cliche, but it really is true.  I can't believe I have a 10 year old that is going into 5th grade this year.....sheesh!  Sometimes I worry about making sure we do things now so that the kids will have something to look back on.  It is easy to skip something if kids are mis-behaving or money is tight or it's too hot, or whatever.  It's really all about capturing those magic moments and savoring the little things.  Sometimes traditions come without trying (it's mostly all about stuff you love doing anyway).  Here's what we do.....

our summer traditions

swimming

picnics

bbq

catching fireflies

the Devil's icebox (a local cave)

the zoo

evening ice cream trips

comic book movies

carnivals

staying up late (like family sleepover nights)

watching thunderstorms

eating buckets of strawberries

a water park/ theme park

video games

gardening

reading in the air conditioning

I feel like we should have more, but that list proves that we do stuff.  What do you guys do?  I really wanna add getting sno-cones and going to the drive-in. :)  Fun stuff!

d.i.y. shelving

*the images that aren't linked can be found on my pinterest.

1. salvaged cabinet shelving found here
2. wooden corner unit found here
3. honeycomb shelving found here
4. long simple shelving found here
5. magazine holder shelves found here
6. metal piping shelves 
7. unit built around reclaimed drawers made by Rupert Blanchard
8. how neat is this tetris looking unit?!
9. wooden square shelving found here

We've been talking about fixing up our home a lot lately.  I can't get enough pretty home decor images....love them!!  I love to look at apartment therapy, design sponge, and various home decor magazines like dwell & readymade.  Where is your favorite place to find inspiring home ideas??  I'm a d.i.y. kinda girl for sure, because of cost & the personal satisfaction that comes from handmade projects.  I can't wait!!

p.s. that honeycomb shelving is my favorite favorite! ;)

What is the Happiness Project?

I started reading this book called The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin.  While randomly strolling through Target lingering in the book & magazine aisle, I was drawn instantly to this book.  I recognized the look & the title because I had come across her blog about the subject probably about a year and a half ago.  I thought it was interesting and read the blog a bit at the time, but I was so new to the world of blogging I must have passed it by because I was opening myself up to a lot of magical exciting bloggy goodness for the first time ever.  I'm glad to come back to this happiness project thing.  Having a tangible book feels really good, and it simply has all the important stuff in one spot.  

So what is this happiness project anyway?  The author described a feeling of not really being depressed, but unhappy.  She felt like she had a pretty good life, but wasn't fully appreciating and enjoying it like she should.   This is her journey to happiness.  I've read the first chapter so far, and I'm really inspired to do my own happiness project.  I can really relate to Gretchen when she talks about how she feels about her life.  Overall pretty happy with it, but frustrated, stressed, and cranky.  So why, and what can we do about it?

I thought it would be fun to start my own year long happiness project (why not start in July?!), and document my own progress here about once a month or so.  Does anyone want to do this with me?  I'm constantly reading about some type of "self help" type thing, and this seems really fun.  You can find out more about the Happiness Project here.

Foods for Energy

all images found here

Things to look for when snacking for energy.....
-B vitamins
-vitamin C
-a little bit of healthy fat
-whole grain carbs
-potassium
-protein

If your goal is more energy, it is essential to get proper rest. According to the National Sleep Foundation, an adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep per night. It's hard to get that much sleep. Our lives have us so busy & stressed, that you actually have to make time to take care of yourself. You have to remember though that sleep is not selfish. It actually makes you recharged and refreshed, so you can feel and be your best self for you & everyone around you. I don't know about you but I get pretty cranky if I don't eat or don't sleep. It is also important to stay hydrated. You should always have a drink nearby. It is also important to snack on small "meals" throughout the day. You should have breakfast, a mid-day snack, lunch, an afternoon snack, dinner, and a bedtime snack (if you are going to stay up late and you are still hungry). These snacks shouldn't be heavy though. A small 200 calorie healthy snack is perfect.

My favorite energy snacks:
-luna, lara, or kashi bars
-fruit & cheese
-corn chips with guacamole
-organic chocolate milk with graham crackers
-apple & peanut butter
-greek yogurt with honey
-a small whole wheat bagel with peanut butter (actually I like this for breakfast with coffee, followed by a banana for a mid-day snack)
-raw almonds & dried fruit (and dark chocolate!)
-frozen yogurt with fruit & granola
-a healthy (low sugar, low fat, add things like fruit-nuts-oatmeal-flax) homemade cookie with low fat organic milk
-spicy hummus with veggie sticks

Fruits & veggies are awesome snacks, but combining them with protein, carbs, and a little healthy fat will make you feel full for longer. This is all stuff I am learning along the way, so please feel free to correct me if I am wrong about something. I just know that if I try to follow a plan like this, I have a lot more energy throughout the day. I also think it helps a lot to add 20-30 minutes of exercise a day. It's like a natural anti-depressant. Even just going out for a walk does the trick....it's amazing how your body responds to those feel good endorphins. I hope these healthy food images inspire you to "eat well to feel well". I think that diet is so important when it comes to our overall health. It's so easy to manipulate how our body feels/responds with food (like dieting/getting drunk/overeating or eating all junk food). Being truly healthy takes effort. I like to think of it as taking as much care of yourself as you would your children. You wouldn't let your kids eat too much sugar or caffeine or grease right? So why should you? You would make them go to bed on time & floss their teeth & go outside and play to balance out screen time, so why shouldn't you? It's nice being a grown up and doing whatever we want, but at some point you have to realize that you have to take care of yourself. I think it's all about balance.

What do you think? And what are some of your favorite high energy snacks?

Running Errands in the Rain....

I had a little fun with Polyvore today. I just love this color combination, and imagined a cute little style to run around in. It's great mama style (comfortable, wearable, functional items)......

Errands in the Rain by NCoffin featuring bootcut jeans

Haider Ackermann green top
€485 - shopmrsh.com

Old Navy jersey tank top
$15 - oldnavy.gap.com

Genetic Denim bootcut jeans
$79 - bluefly.com

Lanvin ballet flat
£305 - women.fashionbeans.com

Fossil handbag
$78 - forzieri.com

Casio watch
$99 - nordstrom.com

JouJou resin jewelry
£33 - johnlewis.com

Kendra Scott 14k earrings
$100 - maxandchloe.com

Dorothy Perkins turquoise jewelry
£9.50 - dorothyperkins.com

American Apparel umbrella
$24 - americanapparel.net

East Brewton-9001 Full Glasses, Eyeglasses Frame
$30 - glassesshop.com

plant display ideas

I'm kind of obsessing over plants right now.  These are some of my favorites.......

This really cute coffee can plant holder d.i.y. idea.  Just paint saved coffee cans!  I love the colors they chose.

This cinder block plant wall has been floating around the web for a while, but I wanted to share it here as part of this grouping, because I love it so much.  Such a simple idea, but it looks so neat.

And if you haven't picked up one of these, you really should.  They are the cutest plant holders ever!!!

I'm really drawn to this plant wall display, and it may or may not be because I like the girls style.  Tutorial found here.

I'm pretty sure this is my favorite plant picture right now.  I adore how the light blue paint color & the raw wood shelving showcase the mesmerizing houseplants here.  I drool.  If you want to know more about the plant specifics, go here.

This is such a simple and beautiful plant display that anyone can do.  I love the naked window and the bare walls.

Succulents are hands down my favorite plant.  I could do an entire post about them, and I probably will.  They are the prettiest things.  What is your favorite plant?