You're My Obsession

My son may look like me, but his personality is a lot like his dad. One thing they have in common is that they are both very passionate. They find something they are interested in and then become obsessed with it. 

Right now for my husband it is Windows-based phones and

 Riley's interest is the new Skylander Giants.

They read everything they can get their hands on and then talk incessantly about it. While this can be annoying, I also find myself getting a little jealous. I don't have anything I'm that passionate about.  I wish I did.

Maybe it's just not in my personality. Or maybe I just haven't found the right thing yet. But when I find my obsession, I'll be sure to let you know.

Do you have anything you are passionate about?

I Saw The Sign

I'm very forgetful. I tend to lose my train of thought midsentence or walk into a room and have no idea why I was there. I also tend to forget I'm fat. As I've said before I don't feel overweight, so in the past my weight loss efforts would start strong, then I'd forget and the next thing you know I've eaten an entire row of Oreos. (That is the recommended serving size right? An entire row of Oreos?)

 

 So I knew when I started my journey to a healthier me I was going to need reminders. I did NOT want anything negative, anything that would make me feel bad about myself, or anything that used the word "thinspiration". *shudder*

 

I wanted reminders of why my health is important. Why I can't give up. And what I'm working for. So I found some things on Pinterest, printed them out and put them in my home! (I have tried hard to find the original source for the images, but I can't seem to find some of them on Pinterest anymore. I apologize! If you know where they came from, let me know and I'll happily update!)

The post-it is a nugget of wisdom from Joyce Meyer. The sign can be found here.

 By the window in front of my kitchen sink. I see it approximately 1.6 million times a day.
 

Find this here.

On my bulletin board where I stick important papers and things to remember.

 



This is on the mirror in our Master Bathroom. I see it first thing in the morning. 

 

Find this here.

This is on the mirror in our second bathroom.

 

I can't find the source for this!

This is on my fridge right at eye level. I wanted something powerful there because

 I'm constantly in the fridge (for the kids! not me!) (Plus the picture of the cutest stinker ever!)

Find this here and  here.

My view from the treadmill.

 

I plan on replacing these periodically to keep me motivated. What do you do to keep motivated?

{Follow my Goals Board on Pinterest!}

Doppleganger

Sometime last month my sister posted this meme on Facebook:

Hilarious, right? There are numerous other memes with this funny gal. But sadly the girl resembles me. Don't believe me? Check out this picture from Jeff's company picnic in 2011. I KNEW they were taking a picture. What on Earth made me make this face?



Worst. Picture-taker. Ever.

 

Ermahgerd indeed.

A Grace-full Monday

Saturday night, Grace woke up with a 103 degree fever. I gave her some ibuprofen and rocked her back to sleep hoping it would all be gone in the morning. The next day she still had her fever, was lethargic and irritable. With all of the germs the kids bring home from school, I knew it was probably just a virus. But I also knew that these were the signs of a shunt malfunction.

 After a visit to our pediatrician didn't find anything major, we were advised by our neurosurgeon's office to go to the emergency room. A CT scan didn't find anything wrong with her shunt, but her neurosurgeon admitted her for observation.

To make a very long story short, we spend the night at the hospital. Grace got fluids, antibiotics and lots of rest.

It turns out she was hospitalized for just an ear infection. I felt so silly when they determined that there wasn't anything serious wrong. But from the very beginning of her life, I promised myself that if that tiny voice says, "It could be her shunt", then I will listen to that voice. An ear infection can be cured with a simple antibiotic. Shunt malfunction can mean major surgery.

I'm so thankful it was nothing serious this time!

Thank you, Pinterest

I can't stand the word "thinspiration". It may motivate some, but to me it seems to glorify being skinny. I don't want to be "skinny". I want to be healthy, strong and fierce.

(For the record, I also can't stand the saying, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.")

I was writing another blog post about getting healthy and did a search on Pinterest for "thinspiration". My intent was to find some of the images of scrawny girls that are so awful for our self-esteem. Instead I found this...

"Eating disorders are not lifestyle choices, they are mental disorders that if left untreated can cause serious health problems or could even be life-threatening.

For treatment referrals, information, and support, you can always contact the National Eating Disorders Association Helpline at 1-800-931-2237 or www.nationaleatingdisorders.org"

I was surprised and touched. Obviously I'm not the only one concerned with the images that I saw.

Well done, Pinterest. Well done.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

My husband is fortunate enough to work for a company that really seems to care about their employees. For this year's employee picnic, we were treated to dinner and a baseball game at our local minor league stadium! We got t-shirts, batting helmets, baseball caps...they spoiled us. It was incredibly hot and our little ones didn't last long before having meltdowns, so we didn't stick around for the game. But we had a good time!


Riley and Swoop! Brenna was TERRIFIED of him!



I swear we were all there. But Riley is the only one who would let me take a picture!

And the Silverhawks have an amazing stadium now. I'd highly recommend a visit to the Cove!

Hey! It's Okay Tuesday!

It's Okay to...

see a wide open space and want to do a running round-off back handspring.

have no idea how to do a back handspring.

have never watched an episode of Grey's Anatomy, Big Bang Theory or How I Met Your Mother.

be jealous of the cute and cozy sweatshirt/pants combos that Grace got for her birthday. Unfortunately, sweatpants are not as cute on an overweight 30-something as they are on a toddler.

be super happy that my friend Carmen is blogging again. Check her out here. She's very smart and funny! (Sometimes I have to look up the meaning of the words she uses - so I get a laugh and an education! It's a win-win!)

Head over to Airing My Dirty Laundry to see what else is okay!