Two for Tuesday

(Yes, I know I just posted Monday's blog post this morning, which included Sunday's blog post in it.  Three days in one.  Rock on.)

Why I Gained Weight to do a Crazy Video about Body Image  This is my friend Liz's blog.  I mentioned her and her etsy shop and her awesomeness briefly in my Manic Monday post.  This is me pimping her out a little more, because I believe in what she's trying to do (and because I'm sad that other obligations have kept me from being an extra in her video.)

https://www.facebook.com/LoveInArmsNC?fref=ts  THIS is the link to "like" Liz's cause on Facebook.  You should all do that, right now.

Skinny Housewife: New Favorite Snack!

I know I've posted about them before, as a side dish, but in case you hadn't tried them yet:  Roasted Tomatoes!

Great snack.

Simple.  Slice the tomatoes (any kind you please...,) grease your pan, lay the slices on the pan, salt/pepper/italian seasoning.  Throw them in the oven for about 20 minutes.  Previously--when I posted this as a side dish-I'm pretty sure it called for an olive oil drizzle, and I know it had cheese.  I've taken to eating them without either of those things.  It truly doesn't need the olive oil (maybe, if you're using SMALL tomatoes...cherry or plum.)  And, they are super yummy even without the cheese (AND I LOVE CHEESE!!)

Eat this.  Today.  :)

Wordy Wednesday: Being Me.

My wordiness today is going to be about what an amazing summer this has been for me.  Admittedly, it started off a little rocky.  But around mid-July...we took AMAZING to a whole new level.  What's made it so good you ask?  Let me tell you.

Being me.

Really, that's all.  I finally, for real, settled in to be ME.  All of me.  And trust me, there are some rough spots.  I'm not all sunshine and rainbows.

I made some decisions about friends (or people who aren't truly,) and where I want to put my energy.  I added another class into my Zumba schedule.  I made a commitment to healthy eating. I made the decision to volunteer some time.

With the help of The Punk, I (ok, he did A LOT of the work...) put our marriage into the best spot it's ever been in and am in the EXACT place I need to be there.  I'm unbelievably happy, and the people in my life who love me can physically SEE it in me.

I've been to three amazing concerts this summer.  I took a trip to the west coast with my love (and JUST him.)  I enjoyed my kids and am pleased with how the summer went...which is good because we can't get it back.  As I have more and more moments of realization that my girls are almost college aged (WHAT????,)  I am overwhelmed with how fleeting childhood is.  Can't I hold them just a little longer??  Oh, wait, this post is about to morph...we'll save that for another day.

We've had an outstanding, fandamntastic summer.  I hope your's was equally awesome.

Two for Tuesday

Active math is my favorite. 

http://www.childhoodbeckons.com/2013/06/number-line-fun.html?m=1

http://www.pleasantestthing.com/2013/09/counting-game.html

Lazy Housewife

This lazy housewife isn't even being a housewife right now. That's right, y'all, I'm on vacation. 

The Punk and I are having a honeymoon-8 yrs delayed-in Cali!  We've gone to see a Dodger game, and I had my picture taken with the Hollywood sign. We are planning to hike some, see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and head down to Venice Beach. None of that though is the highlight for this girl. Nope. What am I looking forward to most, you ask?  Food. Food Trucks. And places featured on triple D (diners, drive-ins, am dives...on Food Network!!)

Yeah, I'm a dork. 

And? 

Have a great week, y'all, from the OC. 

Sunday Snapshots

At the NC Transportation Museum. 

The Boy and my younger nephew playing basketball in the rain.  The kids and I joined them, there just aren't pics of that.



Experimenting with how much weight he could put on the end before it toppled.



Starfall...



Oreo Phases of the Moon



The Bestie and I at the Matchbox 20/Goo Goo dolls concert



The boys at a great outside play space.




Practicing a hand stand at the kids museum.



What I found on the mirror (it says WOW.)



What I find in my phone when I leave it lying around unattended.  I love these girls.



One and I after a Zumba class.



A last hoorah, a trip to the lake.





Our cardboard DIY Hot Wheels ramp.

Wordy Wednesday

Today I'm going to do:  Confessions of a mom

I love my husband, but I'm a gigantic unapologetic flirt. I flirt with my husband too, so it's all good. 

I love all my kids the exact same, but I have a favorite.

I have the best friends. Truuuuue. They allow me to be ME. They never judge. They just accept me, tell me I screwed up, and we move on. 

I am a party girl. Now that I'm closing in on 40. I NEVER partied like this in my teens/twenties. I've seen the sunrise while still OUT for the "night."  True story.

I'm having way more fun now than someone my age probably should. 

I have two tattoos, and plans for 3 more. 

I have an awesome piercing (Daith, it's in the inner part of your ear.). It looks hot, it fits my personality, and even though I can't see it all the time, I'm completely in love with it. 

When I'm out, I drink. A lot. I'm kid free, I'm with people I trust. I am responsible. But I drink. I can remember a time when I was a one drink tipsy kinda gal. Those days are LOOOONG gone now. I'm not sure if I'm proud of this or not....but I did tell a grown construction worker last week that I'd put money on the bar that going shot for shot, I could drink him under the table.  I didn't make an attempt to do it because he had already had a LOT of beer, and it would have been an unfair fight.  BUT that's what he gets for talking smack to me about drinking "milk" at the bar (a mixed drink I can only get in THAT establishment...and yes, there was milk in it.)  Shots, Shots, Shots, Shots, Shots, Shots...EVERYBODY!

I LOVE to dance.  Ok, this isn't news if you've read my blog a few times.  I dance for a living (ok, so I'm TECHNICALLY a fitness instructor...I prefer this wording.)  I dance for fun.  I dance to blow off steam.  I dance while I cook.  I dance while I clean.  I dance.

I really haven't had my shit together for the last few years.  My life has fallen apart, been reassembled, fallen apart again, glued back together, cracked, taped back up and finally blown to smithereens.  NOW, I'm currently the happiest and MOST together I've been since late 2010.  I've sustained this level of happy for 6 weeks now (the longest duration that I've felt this way) and am hopeful it's going to stick around this time--without tape or glue.

There you have a glimpse into who I REALLY am.  As a mom.  As a wife.  As a WOMAN.

(*I've been working on getting this post up since LAST Wednesday--and I know it's Thursday, but it was now or never.)