Ok here is the next set of 20 on my way to 100 things I'm thankful for. There is so much! But let's be honest, 100 things is a pretty lofty goal. Like I said, toward the end some of these might be slightly superficial.
41. I'm thankful for the Intesrnet. Despite all the bad things that happen online it really is a great tool for research, keeping in tough with the latest news and networking (especially is you have a business or blog!)
42. Cellphones. My cell is a lifesaver! I love to text and it makes it so much easier to stay in contact with people. Caution! Caution! Don't text and drive! So many lives have been lost over a superficial text...don't do it!
43. Netflix. I am thankful for Netflix. We have completely done away with cable to save on our bills. Netflix is only like $16 a month and you get unlimited streaming movies and TV shows, plus check out dvds with no late fees. Late fees have always been killer for me, I'm so forgetful sometimes.
44. I'm thankful for small acts of kindness. When someone does something kind to me I try to pass it on. I've had people pay for my drinks at Starbucks, open doors for me, give up their seat and pay me thoughtful compliments. This one time I got the girls piggy banks at the dollar store and a sweet old lady gave them both a dollar to start off their savings. Stuff like that reminds me that although there are so many liars and cheaters and thieves there are still wonderful people in the world.
45. Haters. Yeah I'm thankful for haters. They drive me to push harder and work better. And of course the saying goes "Behind every successful person lies a pack of haters."
46. I'm thankful for makeup. It boosts self confidence. I love how excited people are over their how they look when I do makeup for a photoshoot. Their happiness makes my day. Plus it's super fun to play around with.
47. Parties. I'm thankful for parties where I get to know and meet new people, chat and usually laugh lots! (And no Holly I don't have crazy, drunk or immoral parties or go to them so STFU)
48. I'm thankful my Hubby knows how to iron. He has to iron all his uniforms and stuff and I hate ironing and I'm horrible at it so we make a great pair.
49. I'm thankful for that stranger you just happen to meet that makes your day one way or another and they might not even realize it. I had someone pass me by on the way to the post office on a particularly stressful day and say "Mam I just wanted to let you know you are the most fiercely gorgeous woman I have ever seen." Fiercely gorgeous? How about that for a compliment. Love it!
50. Physical Therapy. I'm back in PT after a few months off. OMG its painful but I can feel it working already.
51. I am thankful for Passion. I love seeing someone light up when they are talking about something they love whether it be their career, work hobby or children. I'm an extremely passionate person, sometimes bordering on the line of getting me into trouble but I am learning to focus that passion on fighting for injustice and evil in the world. Plus putting that passion into my writing, poetry and art.
52. Red Bulls. I know, I know how bad they are for you but they are my best friend during finals or when I'm working late.
53. The gift of learning. There is so much knowledge in the world, you couldn't learn everything in several lifetimes. I love learning about new topics from psychology to sociology to early child development to criminal justice to law. The list is endless.
54. Family time. I'm thankful to spend time with my family, one of the most precious gifts in the world. Nobody will love you like your family. (At least that is how it should be...some people don't get the importance of family)
55. I'm thankful for the time I get to spend with my boys, though short it may be. Their mom hates us so much that she limits the time they spend with us, but life is so short and time is so precious that in the end it is just plain cruelty. I'm thankful though, that the boys would rather spend quality time with us than go on the lavish vacations that are pretty much forced upon them.
56. Notebooks. I have an obsession with them. I write down so much stuff its crazy.
57. This is more a love thing than a thankful thing but that's about the same. I love how my husband has aged so gracefully. He is constantly mistaken for someone in their 20s. One time this really hot model was his seat mate on a flight to drop the boys off for visitation. When he got off the plane and went to pick up the luggage, the model said "I just have to say, you are a very attractive man." Funny part was she said this right in front of the hubby's ex haha!
58. Ok so this is trivial I know, but I'm thankful for Facebook games. They don't suck you in and force you to spend half your life away on them like World of Warcraft or Everquest. When you need a quick game fix you can play some solitare, candy crush or other short little game. They are my escape from homework occasionally...although they make me procrastinate more than I want to admit.
59. I am thankful for quiet mornings when the girls go out to play, I put on some music, cradle my coffee and get lost in a good book or work on writing another chapter in my own.
60. Thanksgiving! Definitely thankful for this holiday. Family, friends, food, games, laughter and of course I eat the desserts till they come out my ears!
Well that's all for this round! Only one more to go. Catch my previous thankful posts 2nd 20 Thankful Things 1st 20 Thankful Things
Got something you are thankful for? Comment below!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Product Review-Ozeri Digital Bath Scale
Ozeri contacted me to review their super cool digital scale. When I first saw it, I was struck by the really neat digital readout. It looks like the speedometer in a race car! When you step on it, it lights up and the dial slides to the weight. The weight number appears on the screen. The scale features StepOn technology so it might look like it is turned off, but as soon as you step on it, it begins to work. The scale platform is made with tempered glass, so don't step on it wet as it might be slippery, but it is super easy to clean. Another cool feature of this scale is that it has an alarm so you can remember to weigh yourself at the same time everyday.
Here is the in depth product description...
The Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale with Electro-Mechanical Weight Dial is the world's first weight scale to incorporate a synchronized electro-mechanical Dial and LCD that automatically illuminate and point to your weight in lbs and kg, for easy-to read results in all light conditions and from any angle. Boasting a visually arresting design, the Ozeri Rev scale features a huge 5.5 inch mechanical dial display with an integrated digital blue-backlit LCD, accented by stylish chrome to create a distinctive retro look, yet with the accuracy of modern technology. This professional quality scale features an oversized platform made of impact-resistant tempered glass with slip-resistant feet for ideal stability, and a new built-in alarm that reminds you to measure your weight at the same time each day. The Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale uses 4 high precision GX sensors that weigh up to 400 lbs (180 kg) in 0.2 lbs or 0.1 kg increments. Whether your goals are weight loss or muscle gain, the Ozeri Rev features the latest generation of StepOn technology to display your precise body weight upon stepping onto the scale, with no tapping required. The Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale is auto-calibrated and automatically turns off to conserve battery life. It runs on 3 AAA batteries (included) and features a Low Battery Indicator.
Buy it on Amazon!
Find more cool Ozeri products here!
A picture of my scale
Here is the scale in action. Isn't the speedometer thing so cool!? And yes that is my true weight. (I'm only 5'1" so don't tell me to go eat a burger haha!)
The bottom of the scale has nice non-skid pads.
Here is the in depth product description...
The Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale with Electro-Mechanical Weight Dial is the world's first weight scale to incorporate a synchronized electro-mechanical Dial and LCD that automatically illuminate and point to your weight in lbs and kg, for easy-to read results in all light conditions and from any angle. Boasting a visually arresting design, the Ozeri Rev scale features a huge 5.5 inch mechanical dial display with an integrated digital blue-backlit LCD, accented by stylish chrome to create a distinctive retro look, yet with the accuracy of modern technology. This professional quality scale features an oversized platform made of impact-resistant tempered glass with slip-resistant feet for ideal stability, and a new built-in alarm that reminds you to measure your weight at the same time each day. The Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale uses 4 high precision GX sensors that weigh up to 400 lbs (180 kg) in 0.2 lbs or 0.1 kg increments. Whether your goals are weight loss or muscle gain, the Ozeri Rev features the latest generation of StepOn technology to display your precise body weight upon stepping onto the scale, with no tapping required. The Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale is auto-calibrated and automatically turns off to conserve battery life. It runs on 3 AAA batteries (included) and features a Low Battery Indicator.
Buy it on Amazon!
Find more cool Ozeri products here!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Our Halloween 2013
Oops I'm way behind in posting for Halloween! I actually totally forgot about it, I thought I had already posted about it for some reason haha!
A few days before Halloween we went over to our friends Jesse and Stacy's house. They had a birthday party for their daughter MJ that doubled as a Halloween party also. There were a ton of kids but it was a lot of fun.
Fast forward a few days and Halloween night we took the girls trick-or-treating. We went early so we could come back and give out candy for a little while. (Of course going out early gets you the best candy and people give out more since they aren't close to running out yet. Hehe! Write that down in the book of Halloween knowledge) Plus of course we like to be at our house when its dark. We play loud, creepy Halloween music and dubstep and set out strobe lights. It's super fun scaring little kids!
A few days before Halloween we went over to our friends Jesse and Stacy's house. They had a birthday party for their daughter MJ that doubled as a Halloween party also. There were a ton of kids but it was a lot of fun.
The Thompson Family
The outside was decorated really well. They even had a fog machine.
Snack table
More snacks and MJ's cake.
Our Family Halloween Pic
(I just noticed it looks like I have 3 arms in this pic. Weird!)
I did Steven's costume for the most part. I think I did a pretty good job hehe! He looks scary!
This kid was already into the candy.
Haley, Serenity and the Thompson's daughter Luz. They are good friends.
Jesse and my hubby
These 2 are too hilarious for words!
All the kids at the party. Some of them had some awesome costumes. Like Lego man to the left.
Even Chloe got to wear a costume. Look at that face, is it not the cutest!!
I picked this sweater out kind of as a joke, I didn't think Steven would let me dress up the dog so girly. But surprisingly he loved it! He likes to act tough, but I think it's cute how he spoils the dog.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
A Stepmother's Journey-Dealing with Lies
Ok so this might look like a mini rant, but unfortunately it is something a lot of stepmother's and fathers themselves have to deal with on a regular basis. And my story isn't even half as bad as some that I hear. It's unfortunate that stuff like this happens, I wish people would realize that their efforts to make their ex and significant other miserable only ends up hurting the children in the situation who don't know how to overlook angry nonsense. They take everything a parent says to heart because they are naturally innocent and trusting and don't believe anyone close to them would lie to them. When kids do come to the realization that not everything is as perfect as they thought, it is a heart breaking and shocking time for them.
This is a section taken from the bill our lawyer sent to us. It says "Telephone call with opposing counsel staff regarding Petitioner claiming to have order that Respondent (us) has to agree with the physicians treatment plan." And the cost? $25. So the ex told a lie that she had court documents that didn't exist and it cost $25 to set her lie straight.
First, if you claim to be a Christian you should act like one. Proverbs 12:22 says "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful." Lying is not a very "Christian" thing to do. You apparently don't believe in what it takes to be a Christian so why put up a front? Faking to be a Christian just to make people think you are a good person and seem like a good mom gets old after a while. The mask is starting to crack and its only a matter of time before the real you starts seeping out.
Obviously this isn't the first lie that has ever been told in our case, but from now on I am not going to keep quiet about the injustice that is going on. I'm not crazy enough to think I can change the oppositions mind but I can speak out for the truth and demand justice. Exposing stuff like this is just another way to fight for the rights of my stepsons. I will never stop fighting and you will never shut me up.
And finally, the fact that we had to pay $25 just to expose her lie is bull crap. I think we should be reimbursed that money, don't you? I mean that's like a weeks worth of food for my girls, Christmas presents, could have gone into any of the kid's college fund...anything like that would have been so much better than ending up in the hands of a lawyer.
So tell me your story...when has someone else's lie cost you?
This is a section taken from the bill our lawyer sent to us. It says "Telephone call with opposing counsel staff regarding Petitioner claiming to have order that Respondent (us) has to agree with the physicians treatment plan." And the cost? $25. So the ex told a lie that she had court documents that didn't exist and it cost $25 to set her lie straight.
First, if you claim to be a Christian you should act like one. Proverbs 12:22 says "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful." Lying is not a very "Christian" thing to do. You apparently don't believe in what it takes to be a Christian so why put up a front? Faking to be a Christian just to make people think you are a good person and seem like a good mom gets old after a while. The mask is starting to crack and its only a matter of time before the real you starts seeping out.
Obviously this isn't the first lie that has ever been told in our case, but from now on I am not going to keep quiet about the injustice that is going on. I'm not crazy enough to think I can change the oppositions mind but I can speak out for the truth and demand justice. Exposing stuff like this is just another way to fight for the rights of my stepsons. I will never stop fighting and you will never shut me up.
And finally, the fact that we had to pay $25 just to expose her lie is bull crap. I think we should be reimbursed that money, don't you? I mean that's like a weeks worth of food for my girls, Christmas presents, could have gone into any of the kid's college fund...anything like that would have been so much better than ending up in the hands of a lawyer.
So tell me your story...when has someone else's lie cost you?
Friday, November 15, 2013
100 Things I'm Thankful For-2nd 20
Here is a continuation of my 100 Things I'm Thankful For. Catch my 1st 20.
21. I'm thankful for our 4bd house in a good neighbourhood. We are a 5 min walk to my daughter's school and there are 5 or 6 girls that all play together with my girls in our cul-de-sac. It's like a kid gang and it's so cut to watch them running around together.
22. Music. It lifts my mood or relaxes me or pumps me up during a workout. I would be so lost without music in my life.
23. I'm thankful my Mom taught me to cook at a young age. I've been experimenting and creating recipes since middle school. Another really good skill to know.
24. Thankful for all the benefits that come with being a military spouse. Free activities, great health and dental care and lots of discounts.
25. Shoes. I'm slightly obsessed. I love all shoes but stilettos and boots really rock my world.
26. Thankful for where we live. Close to the beach for surfing, tanning and beach volleyball and also close to the mountains for snowboarding and tubing.
27. Thankful for great health. My daughters rarely get sick and when they do it's only minor. They pretty much only go to the doctor 1x a year for their yearly check-up.
28. I'm thankful I have the opportunity to go to school. I can't say I love it but in the end my hard work and efforts will pay off. That Bach degree is so close. Who knows maybe I'll get my Masters if I change my mind about law school. (And let me say that going to college full time while working and taking care of 2 kids is hard work. Going to nursing school while mommy and daddy pay all your bills so you don't have to work, collect welfare and child support, let someone else raise your kids and clean your house is not hard work. It's actually pretty pathetic.)
29. Thankful for our military. The Marines especially. I come from a long line of Devil Dogs. My Grandaddy served, my Dad is a pilot in the Marines and my hubby is a badass infantry man in the Marines. (And this week my stepson is entering Marine bootcamp! So proud of him!)
30. My OCD. Well yeah I'm a little thankful for it. It makes me keep a spotless (and I mean spotless, like not even fingerprints on the wall) house. I can't leave dirty stuff around so my house is ready to walk into pretty much anytime. And let me tell you with a messy husband and two messy girls this is no easy task.
31. My involvement in I AM THAT GIRL or IATG. It's kind of like girlscouts for college girls. It's all about empowering girls, supporting each other and making a difference in the world. I love our heartfelt, deep talks.
32. I'm thankful there are groups out there like Fathers 4 Justice, that support fathers, despise alienators and help fight for fathers that are getting screwed over by the system. Father's rights is a cause I've become very involved in and my research has uncovered some shocking stuff about corruption in family court, the out of control Child Support system and Parental Alienation just to name a few.
33. This might be a little conceited but I'm thankful for perfect teeth. Teeth are one of the first things people notice about you and I love being able to grin and not be embarrassed. My husband's grandmother use to say to him "Find a women who can cook and has nice teeth." I think he finally followed her advice when it came to me hehe!
34. Books. Yes I'm thankful for books. As a youngster I read all the time since we weren't allowed to watch tv. I read for school but I mostly read for fun. I went for several years after high school not reading much but this past year I made it my goal to read more. I put Read 100 books on my Day Zero Project Goal list. I've read about 10 books over the past couple months. My husband laughs at me and calls me a nerd since I read so fast. I had almost forgotten how nice it is to get lost in a book!
35. The view from my bedroom windows. We are in a canyon and sort of on top of a ridge, so it looks like we are on top of a mountain kinda. We have this long window in our bedroom, and at night it is breath taking to see all the lights of the city twinkling below us. We don't have any houses behind us so the view is looovely!
36. Chocolate! I'm a total chocoholic! So thankful God created it.
37. Scary movies. I love cuddling up with the husband, turning off all the lights and watching something scary. Afterwards hubby and I try to sneak up on one another and scare each other like kids. He always jumps before I do haha!
38. I'm thankful my husband was able to get a smoker for free. In his divorce the only thing he got besides debt was his grill. It was a nice grill but it finally broke for good about a year ago. Since then we have been oogling over nice grills and dreaming of having a grill/smoker combination. We never had the money to spend on one but a buddy from his work was moving and gave us his grill/smoker. It's the exact one we were dreaming about! A good scrub and a coat of paint has it looking brand new. We cooked some steaks on it for the first time last week and they were sooo yummy! It makes me happy when good things happen for my husband. He really deserves it.
39. I'm thankful I got to travel a lot as a military brat. We lived in many different states and I got to see so many different places. Some people live in their own little bubble, like being born and then living their whole lives in the same town. I'm glad I got to experience the world and different cultures. Growing up like a gypsy gave me what I think they call "wanderlust". I don't like staying in the same place too long. I want to see the world!
40. And speaking of travel, I'm also thankful for GPS. I am super bad with directions although I can almost always get back to somewhere I've already been before. Before we got a GPS I would usually end up lost and panicking anytime I went somewhere new.
Well that's all for this round! Feel free to comment below with anything you are thankful for!
21. I'm thankful for our 4bd house in a good neighbourhood. We are a 5 min walk to my daughter's school and there are 5 or 6 girls that all play together with my girls in our cul-de-sac. It's like a kid gang and it's so cut to watch them running around together.
22. Music. It lifts my mood or relaxes me or pumps me up during a workout. I would be so lost without music in my life.
23. I'm thankful my Mom taught me to cook at a young age. I've been experimenting and creating recipes since middle school. Another really good skill to know.
24. Thankful for all the benefits that come with being a military spouse. Free activities, great health and dental care and lots of discounts.
25. Shoes. I'm slightly obsessed. I love all shoes but stilettos and boots really rock my world.
26. Thankful for where we live. Close to the beach for surfing, tanning and beach volleyball and also close to the mountains for snowboarding and tubing.
27. Thankful for great health. My daughters rarely get sick and when they do it's only minor. They pretty much only go to the doctor 1x a year for their yearly check-up.
28. I'm thankful I have the opportunity to go to school. I can't say I love it but in the end my hard work and efforts will pay off. That Bach degree is so close. Who knows maybe I'll get my Masters if I change my mind about law school. (And let me say that going to college full time while working and taking care of 2 kids is hard work. Going to nursing school while mommy and daddy pay all your bills so you don't have to work, collect welfare and child support, let someone else raise your kids and clean your house is not hard work. It's actually pretty pathetic.)
29. Thankful for our military. The Marines especially. I come from a long line of Devil Dogs. My Grandaddy served, my Dad is a pilot in the Marines and my hubby is a badass infantry man in the Marines. (And this week my stepson is entering Marine bootcamp! So proud of him!)
30. My OCD. Well yeah I'm a little thankful for it. It makes me keep a spotless (and I mean spotless, like not even fingerprints on the wall) house. I can't leave dirty stuff around so my house is ready to walk into pretty much anytime. And let me tell you with a messy husband and two messy girls this is no easy task.
31. My involvement in I AM THAT GIRL or IATG. It's kind of like girlscouts for college girls. It's all about empowering girls, supporting each other and making a difference in the world. I love our heartfelt, deep talks.
32. I'm thankful there are groups out there like Fathers 4 Justice, that support fathers, despise alienators and help fight for fathers that are getting screwed over by the system. Father's rights is a cause I've become very involved in and my research has uncovered some shocking stuff about corruption in family court, the out of control Child Support system and Parental Alienation just to name a few.
33. This might be a little conceited but I'm thankful for perfect teeth. Teeth are one of the first things people notice about you and I love being able to grin and not be embarrassed. My husband's grandmother use to say to him "Find a women who can cook and has nice teeth." I think he finally followed her advice when it came to me hehe!
34. Books. Yes I'm thankful for books. As a youngster I read all the time since we weren't allowed to watch tv. I read for school but I mostly read for fun. I went for several years after high school not reading much but this past year I made it my goal to read more. I put Read 100 books on my Day Zero Project Goal list. I've read about 10 books over the past couple months. My husband laughs at me and calls me a nerd since I read so fast. I had almost forgotten how nice it is to get lost in a book!
35. The view from my bedroom windows. We are in a canyon and sort of on top of a ridge, so it looks like we are on top of a mountain kinda. We have this long window in our bedroom, and at night it is breath taking to see all the lights of the city twinkling below us. We don't have any houses behind us so the view is looovely!
36. Chocolate! I'm a total chocoholic! So thankful God created it.
37. Scary movies. I love cuddling up with the husband, turning off all the lights and watching something scary. Afterwards hubby and I try to sneak up on one another and scare each other like kids. He always jumps before I do haha!
38. I'm thankful my husband was able to get a smoker for free. In his divorce the only thing he got besides debt was his grill. It was a nice grill but it finally broke for good about a year ago. Since then we have been oogling over nice grills and dreaming of having a grill/smoker combination. We never had the money to spend on one but a buddy from his work was moving and gave us his grill/smoker. It's the exact one we were dreaming about! A good scrub and a coat of paint has it looking brand new. We cooked some steaks on it for the first time last week and they were sooo yummy! It makes me happy when good things happen for my husband. He really deserves it.
39. I'm thankful I got to travel a lot as a military brat. We lived in many different states and I got to see so many different places. Some people live in their own little bubble, like being born and then living their whole lives in the same town. I'm glad I got to experience the world and different cultures. Growing up like a gypsy gave me what I think they call "wanderlust". I don't like staying in the same place too long. I want to see the world!
40. And speaking of travel, I'm also thankful for GPS. I am super bad with directions although I can almost always get back to somewhere I've already been before. Before we got a GPS I would usually end up lost and panicking anytime I went somewhere new.
Well that's all for this round! Feel free to comment below with anything you are thankful for!
Thursday, November 14, 2013
The Electric Run
This past weekend we went to this awesome Fun Run 5K. It's called The Electric Run. Last year we did Color Me Rad 5K. This run topped that by infinity! The run is mostly in the dark lit by glowing runners and well placed black lights, rainbow lights, floating lanterns and umbrellas. It was beautiful, trippy and magical all at the same time. The weather was perfect too. I wore my Fila running gear (compression running capris and thermal jacket with thumb holes to keep your hands warm) It was cool but once you started running the temperature was very nice.
Pre-race pics....
(Just a note to those people that like to sit on their computer all day and watch everything I post and obsess over everything I say...Just because we went to a rave doesn't mean we drank or did drugs. It was a family friendly event, there were kids there and if you plan on using this in court to say we went and did drugs at a rave you can stop right now and shove it where the sun don't shine)
Pre-race pics....
Matching glow bracelets...aww
Haha weirdo husband
I'm a glow fairy!
I stuck glowsticks in my shoes it was awesome!
Getting his glow on!
The starting line
Icicle lights!
Kissing on the rainbow wall
Kind of a bad pic but this was in the black light tunnel...so cool!
Glowing trees and lanterns
Hubs at the end
Me at the end of the race
The race ended in the stadium which was set up like a concert. The DJs were spinning and everyone was dancing. So after running 3.1 miles we danced for 2 hours! My body was hating me the next day but it was sooo worth it! We had the best time and definitely doing it next year!(Just a note to those people that like to sit on their computer all day and watch everything I post and obsess over everything I say...Just because we went to a rave doesn't mean we drank or did drugs. It was a family friendly event, there were kids there and if you plan on using this in court to say we went and did drugs at a rave you can stop right now and shove it where the sun don't shine)
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
100 Things I'm thankful for- 1st 20
I love seeing all these thankful posts on facebook lately. There is a thing going around called 30 days of thankful, where you post something you are thankful for everyday of the month of November.
I'm going to do something slightly different, since on my Day Zero project I have to make a list of 100 things I'm thankful for. I'm going to do them in sets of 20 so I don't overload you guys. And what better month than Thanksgiving month to do it in? The first ones are going to be pretty deep, but don't laugh if towards the end of this project I start saying things like I'm thankful for bubbles or something haha!
So here are my 1st set of 20...I'm thankful for
1. How God has blessed our family and been there even in the toughest of times.
2. A husband that treats me like a princess, is a good daddy and just a wonderful person to all who know him.
3. For a close relationship with my family. My parents are always there for me and even when I'm wrong they help instead of judge.
4. For smart, kind siblings. They would never abandon or hurt me like my husband's sister has done to him.
5. A God-loving, caring extended family who is always interested and keeps up with my life. I can always find encouragement in them.
6. A great relationship with my in-laws. They make me feel like a daughter. I know a lot of people who hate their in-laws so it is very special to me that I have amazing ones.
7. Friend that have my back and I know I can count on.
8. Starbucks! Or coffee in general. It saves my life in the mornings...and probably other people's too haha!
9. My red hair. It's unique and wild and I wouldn't change it for the world. Hairdressers say people pay a lot of money to get my natural color.
10. My oldest stepson Bryan. We have become close and after all the women in his life screwed him over, including his mom, I feel privileged that he loves and cares for me and that he has let me be a big part of his life.
11. My great metabolism. I do workout and eat fairly healthy but I always stay a good weight even when I'm lazy and eat like a fatty.
12. My wonderful, smart girls. People compliment on how beautiful they are all the time. They make me smile and laugh everyday.
13. My mustang. I always wanted one growing up. There is nothing like driving around with the windows down and a great sound system and pumping subwoofer turned up while you shift around town like a street racer.
14. My amazing stepsons. They are so strong and courageous after everything they have been put through. Despite lies and manipulations, they believe what they see with their own eyes. I'm thankful for this because we have and amazing relationship. It is such a good feeling to be told how much they love me, admire me and look up to me. It's also a huge responsibility to be the kind of person they can look up to.
15. Thankful God has blessed me with a good mind. I've been able to make awesome grades even with my busy schedule, moving 5 times and attending 3 different colleges.
16. Thankful God has also blessed me with creativity. I love painting, designing and all things artsy.
17. Thankful my Mom made me take piano for years. Now that I'm older I appreciate it a lot more, and be able to read music is such a great skill to have.
18. The success of my photography. It started as a hobby with a little point and shoot camera. It grew with lots of positive reinforcement from my husband and family. 4 years later I have a top notch pro camera and many satisfied clients. I've been published in magazines, brochures, calendars and have met some B-list celebrities.
19. Thankful for the success of my blog. It also started as a hobby to keep far away friends and family up to date on our activities and how the kids are growing. I gradually added more categories like recipes and tips&advice. Soon companies started contacting me to review their stuff or do giveaways. Now I get a bunch of free stuff to try out and it's awesome!
20. My dog Chloe. I adopted her for free from a lady who had too many pets. She is a red heeeler and has been the best dog ever. She is super smart and well behaved and acts like a babysitter for my girls. She is in the process of getting certified as my "emotional support animal". Don't laugh! This means I can take her where ever I go even into stores and restaurants.
Well there is my 20 for this week! Feel free to add some stuff you are thankful for in the comments section below. Look for next week's 20!
I'm going to do something slightly different, since on my Day Zero project I have to make a list of 100 things I'm thankful for. I'm going to do them in sets of 20 so I don't overload you guys. And what better month than Thanksgiving month to do it in? The first ones are going to be pretty deep, but don't laugh if towards the end of this project I start saying things like I'm thankful for bubbles or something haha!
So here are my 1st set of 20...I'm thankful for
1. How God has blessed our family and been there even in the toughest of times.
2. A husband that treats me like a princess, is a good daddy and just a wonderful person to all who know him.
3. For a close relationship with my family. My parents are always there for me and even when I'm wrong they help instead of judge.
4. For smart, kind siblings. They would never abandon or hurt me like my husband's sister has done to him.
5. A God-loving, caring extended family who is always interested and keeps up with my life. I can always find encouragement in them.
6. A great relationship with my in-laws. They make me feel like a daughter. I know a lot of people who hate their in-laws so it is very special to me that I have amazing ones.
7. Friend that have my back and I know I can count on.
8. Starbucks! Or coffee in general. It saves my life in the mornings...and probably other people's too haha!
9. My red hair. It's unique and wild and I wouldn't change it for the world. Hairdressers say people pay a lot of money to get my natural color.
10. My oldest stepson Bryan. We have become close and after all the women in his life screwed him over, including his mom, I feel privileged that he loves and cares for me and that he has let me be a big part of his life.
11. My great metabolism. I do workout and eat fairly healthy but I always stay a good weight even when I'm lazy and eat like a fatty.
12. My wonderful, smart girls. People compliment on how beautiful they are all the time. They make me smile and laugh everyday.
13. My mustang. I always wanted one growing up. There is nothing like driving around with the windows down and a great sound system and pumping subwoofer turned up while you shift around town like a street racer.
14. My amazing stepsons. They are so strong and courageous after everything they have been put through. Despite lies and manipulations, they believe what they see with their own eyes. I'm thankful for this because we have and amazing relationship. It is such a good feeling to be told how much they love me, admire me and look up to me. It's also a huge responsibility to be the kind of person they can look up to.
15. Thankful God has blessed me with a good mind. I've been able to make awesome grades even with my busy schedule, moving 5 times and attending 3 different colleges.
16. Thankful God has also blessed me with creativity. I love painting, designing and all things artsy.
17. Thankful my Mom made me take piano for years. Now that I'm older I appreciate it a lot more, and be able to read music is such a great skill to have.
18. The success of my photography. It started as a hobby with a little point and shoot camera. It grew with lots of positive reinforcement from my husband and family. 4 years later I have a top notch pro camera and many satisfied clients. I've been published in magazines, brochures, calendars and have met some B-list celebrities.
19. Thankful for the success of my blog. It also started as a hobby to keep far away friends and family up to date on our activities and how the kids are growing. I gradually added more categories like recipes and tips&advice. Soon companies started contacting me to review their stuff or do giveaways. Now I get a bunch of free stuff to try out and it's awesome!
20. My dog Chloe. I adopted her for free from a lady who had too many pets. She is a red heeeler and has been the best dog ever. She is super smart and well behaved and acts like a babysitter for my girls. She is in the process of getting certified as my "emotional support animal". Don't laugh! This means I can take her where ever I go even into stores and restaurants.
Well there is my 20 for this week! Feel free to add some stuff you are thankful for in the comments section below. Look for next week's 20!
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Product Review-Personalized Decals
I was contacted by Kidecals to do a review of their awesome decals. These decals are neat because they "stick to any surface – including clothes – and are waterproof, dishwasher & washing machine safe! Stick these personalized kids name labels & kids name tags on easily lost items such as water bottles and mittens so they get quickly returned! With over 80 decal and label designs to meet trends and interests, there is a style of personalized labels for everyone – even grownups! "
They are PVC free and can be removed or repositioned. I really love their Computer keyboard stickers they make a laptop more personalized and just so much more fun!
They have awesome designs for boys, girls, kids and even adults!
These are the ones I had made for our family. I chose the surf theme since it's my husband's favourite hobby and can be used by the girls and boys in our family. The big ones are about 2" and the smaller ones are 1". (I blurred the number out so strange people don't call me lol)
My husband was pretty excited and put a small one right on his surfboard. The cool thing is they are waterproof so it will stay on there a good long while.
They are PVC free and can be removed or repositioned. I really love their Computer keyboard stickers they make a laptop more personalized and just so much more fun!
They have awesome designs for boys, girls, kids and even adults!
These are the ones I had made for our family. I chose the surf theme since it's my husband's favourite hobby and can be used by the girls and boys in our family. The big ones are about 2" and the smaller ones are 1". (I blurred the number out so strange people don't call me lol)
My husband was pretty excited and put a small one right on his surfboard. The cool thing is they are waterproof so it will stay on there a good long while.
Want to check out this neat company?
Website: www.kidecals.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidecals
Did you know they have free shipping? That's right FREE! And the company has graciously extended a coupon code for all Yours, Mine and Ours readers. Just type in kidecals15 at checkout to receive 15% of your order. Great deal so take advantage of it!!
Friday, November 1, 2013
Creamy Sausage Mac 'n Cheese
This was a super easy thing to throw together. And it tastes sooo much better than boxed macaroni!
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb smoked turkey sausage, sliced
1 tablespoons minced garlic
1 cup diced onions
2 cups chicken broth (may need to add a tad more or less depending on the size of your noodles)
1 can diced tomatoes (optional, we don't like tomatoes so I didn't add this)
1/2 cup heavy cream (use fat free milk to cut down on calories)
8 oz dry pasta, any shape bowtie, twirls ect.
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1. Heat olive oil over medium/high heat. Sautee onions and sausage until lightly browned. Add in garlic and cook for 1 minute, make sure not to overcook the garlic.
2. Add chicken broth, noodles, seasonings, cream (and tomatoes if you wish). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until noodles are tender.
3. Remove from heat and add shredded cheese. Top with green onions.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb smoked turkey sausage, sliced
1 tablespoons minced garlic
1 cup diced onions
2 cups chicken broth (may need to add a tad more or less depending on the size of your noodles)
1 can diced tomatoes (optional, we don't like tomatoes so I didn't add this)
1/2 cup heavy cream (use fat free milk to cut down on calories)
8 oz dry pasta, any shape bowtie, twirls ect.
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup chopped green onions
2. Add chicken broth, noodles, seasonings, cream (and tomatoes if you wish). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until noodles are tender.
