15 Reasons Why I'm Awesome

Double-posting today because I decided I wanted to jump in on this writing prompt at Mama Kat's too. Because I'm awesome. Here's why that is:

15 Reasons Why I'm Awesome... 

1. I can spell everything. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. That plus every other English word you know.
2. I got hit by a car at 33mph when I was 8 and lived to tell about it. Not even a broken bone.
3. I have two awesome little boys. Awesome spawn come from awesome people. Therefore, by default, I am awesome. Double awesome.
4. I'm left-handed. Like #3, I default to awesome for that.
5. I'm artistic and creative. I love to paint...and some think I just might be pretty good at it.
6. I make fitness a priority...not just a random hobby.
7. I do whatever it takes to provide for my family...often being ambitious enough to have more than one job.
8. I know how to laugh at myself and often do. 
9. I bend over backward for those I love...and don't mind doing it.
10. I forgive people almost as easily as God does...OK, maybe not that easy, but I've buried many a hatchet in my day because I think it's the best thing to .
11. I can open a jar easier than my husband can.
12. I danced the majority of my life and can still do the splits.
13. I know when to be a blunt bitch, a passive bitch and when to bite my tongue. It's an art.
14. I can find common ground with almost anyone and usually have no problem striking up conversations with complete strangers. {I consider them friendship opportunities.}
15. I'm about as sarcastic as they come...but try to use it for good {laughter}, not evil.

Well, that was fun. I think it's good for everyone to celebrate their awesomeness every once in a while. No need to always deny compliments, talents and successes, right? We are all awesome in one way or another. xoxo

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Writing Prompt: Sweet Summer Days

Linking up with Mama Kat this week for her weekly writing prompts...

I chose:
5.)  Remember Summer? The warm air, blue skies, and endless days in the water? Me either. Share a photo from last Summer that brings you back.

This will likely end up being one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. It was a beautiful moment in a beautiful place with my boys. I can't wait to make more special moments like this at the beach this coming summer. With Breckin walking all over the place now, it's bound to be interesting! He'll be running by then!

Writing Prompt: The Year In Posts

2011...What a year!

I gained so many great memories to add to the time capsule that is my life. My son Breckin went through his first year (and all the milestones to boot!), Tanner started Kindergarten, I found a great job....these are just a few of the many wonderful things that happened this year.

And of course, in Blogland there has also been many great things...I've learned more about the art of blogging along the way and I've made some blogger friends. I've learned from other blogs about household decor, crafts, child-rearing, etc...this blogging thing is pretty great. I've even gone through some personal blog changes - new look, new name, new url...  And of course now there's Pinterest...don't even get me started about how much I obsess over love that site.

Anyway, I've continued to participate in Mama Kat's weekly writing prompts and this week I chose the following prompt:
This year in blog posts...choose a favorite post from each month of 2011 and share

Well, so here goes...I'll of course just post the link to each...feel free to click and read them at your leisure. I enjoyed taking a walk down memory lane going through all the posts I wrote this year!

January 2011
Scarred. - A Writing Prompt post that details one of my most memorable moments in my life 

February 2011
My Husband, The Romantic. - Shhhh, don't let him know I told you! 

March 2011
Love Is A Two-Way Street - Sometimes it's about admitting that neither of you are perfect... 

April 2011
Our Mommy/Son Date - Gotta show those kids some individual love and attention 

May 2011
Mom & Sons Beach Day - My first successful beach day with the boys all on my own! 

June 2011
I Always Get The Screamers - Just a blog post about how much I adore my loud children 

July 2011
Separation Anxiety - What can I say, they LOVE me. 

August 2011
Kindergarten Rocks! - Tanner's first day of school (tear*) 

September 2011 (I didn't have any good ones this month!)
Twitter-Pated - Follow me on Twitter! 

October 2011
"That's Your Wine." - A post about a drawing that challenges my credibility as a mother. 

November 2011
11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Ten - The best things in my life

December 2011
DIY: My Christmas Sign - Loving all the decor I'm seeing on other blogs and feeling inspired, there will be more from me on this blog as far as holiday decorating and home decor!

Well, so there you have it...my favorite posts from 2011. I hope you enjoyed reading them. If you did, please become an official follower of my blog via one or more of the options in the left-hand column. Thanks for reading! Happy New Year!

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Writing Prompt: My Most Memorable Thanksgiving

Linking up this Thanksgiving Day with Mama Kat for her weekly writing prompts meme.

I chose the following prompt: "A Favorite Thanksgiving Memory"

My most memorable Thanksgiving is without a doubt, my wedding day. Yes, that's right. Hubby and I tied the knot in a very private ceremony on Thanksgiving morning in 2007 on the beach on Sullivan's Island, SC. Our engagement was only a week long...so I didn't have long to get a dress, and we were lucky his dad is a minister. We got our license to wed that week at City Hall and proceeded with our nuptials while we had a few family members in town for Thanksgiving. The only regrets I have for that day are not having any of my family members present due to the very short notice. It was just Jake's immediate family, and our son, Tanner (age 2 at the time - which is why our engagement was so short. We figured, what's the point in waiting any longer to do what's right? We of course WANTED to as well!) However, we did throw a reception party six months later in May 2008 with about 100 of our close family and friends.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from that memorable Thanksgiving (of course, a week-long engagement didn't provide time to book a professional photographer either - another one of my few regrets, but in the big scheme of things, doesn't matter all that much):

Happy Couple

The Kiss to Seal the Deal

A Happy Bride

We "Do"

The Rings

Happy Thanksgiving to You & Yours!

Writing Prompt: 22 Things I Have Done

I'm linking up with Mama Kat again for her weekly writing prompts. Last week, I chose the prompt: 22 Things I've Never Done and this week, she's posted the opposite choice:

22 Things I Have Done

1. Ran in a 5K. (Many of them!)



Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 2011

2. Lived in Southern California.

View of Main St. Huntington Beach from the Pier

3. Confronted a hoodlum in a parking garage that was going to break into my car. (The adrenalin was flowing and I had definitely gone a little crazy.)

4. Been hit by a car.

5. Taught fitness/dance classes.

6. Won 2 spelling bees.

7. Danced competitively.

8. Been to St. Maarten (honeymoon ♥)

9. Dyed my hair. (Blonde, blonder, brunette, strawberry, burgundy, you name it...)

10. Gotten a tattoo...or 4.

11. Pierced my tongue (twice).

12. Pierced my nose (twice).

13. Pierced my navel.

14. Earned an Associate's of Science in Graphic Design.

15. Been a realtor.

16. Changed a tire.

17. Had a baby (twice).

18. Been to Vegas.

19. Done the splits (still can!)

Circa Summer 2007, but still got it!

20. Started a garden.

21. Swam in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

22. Been to DisneyWorld and DisneyLand.

Writing Prompt: 22 Things I've Never Done

Another Writing Prompt Linkup with Mama Kat this week:

1.) Follow the template I copied from The Pioneer Woman without her permission and list 22 things you’ve never done.

22 THINGS I'VE NEVER DONE

I'm 28. And one-half. Plus 5 days. And I've never:

1. Gone skydiving.

2. Bungee-jumped. (Photo below is the Perrine Bridge in my hometown of Twin Falls, ID - listed #7 on the top ten list for best bungee-jumping spots in the world)

3. Piloted a plane. (But the good news is, I've never crashed one either.)

4. Streaked. (Except from the bathroom to my bedroom on occasion.)

5. Gotten hair extensions.

6. Gone on a Caribbean cruise. (That should be changing early next year!)

7. Had a daughter. (But don't be sad for me, I have the two most wonderful boys a mother could ever ask for.)

8. Gotten my Bachelor's degree. (Looking to change that very soon. Got the Associate's.)

9. Ran a marathon or a half-marathon. (Looking to change that soon as well.)

10. Been to Europe.

11. Starred in a movie.

12. Danced in a pop music video.

13. Taken a cooking class.

14. Written a novel.

15. Broken a bone.

16. Ridden in a hot air balloon.

17. Gambled a large amount of money.

18. Played a sport professionally.

19. Ran for office. Any office.

20. Sported a pixie hairstyle.

21. Gotten rid of my sweet tooth.

22. Given up on myself.

Writing Prompt: Facebook Photo

Linking up with Mama Kat this week for her Writing Prompts. I chose to do a couple, so you'll see couple more posts this week on them. Here is the current prompt I chose:

4.) Share the story behind your current Facebook and/or Twitter profile photo.

This is a photo of a painting I started 5 days ago and just finished last night. It is my first painting after years of not painting. I used to be an artist. Even my college degree is in Graphic Design. I loved drawing and painting and it was a very therapeutic past-time for me.

Almost 9 years ago, my car was stolen. Inside my car at the time was my backpack and my portfolio. Both were gone when the car turned up. In the backpack were all of my digital art files from graphics work I had done in school, and my portfolio of course had all of my original paintings and drawings. It was so sad...it felt like someone had literally taken something from me that I could never get back. And really, though if I tried, I could have recreated most of what was in there, I just didn't have the desire...I had literally lost my desire to create. Years of my hard work and pieces that meant something special to me...gone. That moment was pivotal. It was pretty much the moment I dropped my brushes. It would be years before I picked one up again...to truly use my artistic talent. I've dabbled in it on and off since, but never really tried to create anything wonderful...or I would just create little cutesy art stuff with my son, who is as artistically inclined as Mommy once was.

I don't know what sparked me this past week to pick up the brushes and paint again. I was at Wal-Mart picking out some Halloween craft things for Tanner when I saw they sold stretched canvas. Without thinking, I picked up a few of them. After the boys went to bed that night, I pulled out my acrylics and brushes, dusted off the easel and started messing around. My first attempt was pretty quick - created a sunset in less than an hour that was albeit OK, but nothing spectacular. The next night, I tried to mess with it a little more and over the course of the next few nights, it became a completely different sunset. One I'm a little more proud of. Not by any means my best work, but some of my old techniques still have yet to be rediscovered.

I set up my easel and supplies in a nice area in my guest room...so I'll be more inclined to go in there and use it. I'm so glad to open up this part of myself again...eager to see what I will create in the future.

Writing Prompt: Don't Ask

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week.

Here's the Prompt:

A List of 10 Things You Should Never Ask Your Spouse

10. What's taking you so long in there? (C'mon, you KNOW. Just ask him to use the air freshener when he's done.)

9. Does this make me look fat? (If you're asking, it's because you know it doesn't let's say, "highlight your best features", so you're just setting him up to fail or fishing for compliments. Both are frowned upon.)

8. Do you think she's prettier than me? (You're asking because you think she is, and you're probably right. He probably thinks so too, but no worries, he LOVES you.)

7. I'm out of tampons, do you mind running out to get me a box? (You should be ashamed of yourself if you've ever asked him to do this. Even more ashamed if you let him go through with it - if he was non-masculine enough to say yes.)

6. What shade of yellow (or green, or brown, or blue, etc.) do you think will go best with our decor in the kitchen (or bath, or living room, or bedroom, etc.)? (Trust me, he doesn't know the difference between forest green and seafoam green. To him, green is green. And all greens match each other. Take this one to your best girlfriend, or your mother.)

5. What are you thinking about? (The answer is one of three things: sports, food or sex. None of those answers will be the wonderfully philosophical conversation-starter you were hoping for.)

4. Do these shoes go with this dress? (He has no idea.)

3. Would you remarry if I died? (Seriously, don't be so selfish.)

2. If you could only save one of us, who would you choose? Your mom, or me? (You DON'T want to know the true answer to that. Ignorance is bliss.)

1. For directions.

Jake and Morgan, will be married 4 years on November 22nd, 2011

Writing Prompt: Reservations

It's been a while since I participated in Mama Kat'sweekly writing prompts...and well, I'm void of a topic to blog about, so I thought, what better time to jump back on the Mama Kat bandwagon? Out of the 5 choices she gave this week, I chose #5:
5.) I have no idea where the following message originated from, but it’s been floating around Facebook for the past week…who does it make you think about?:

"If someone wants to be a part of your life, they'll make an effort to be in it. So don't bother reserving a space in your heart for someone who doesn't make an effort to stay."

This quote struck a chord with me. I feel I do reserve places for family and friends in my heart. I always care, I'm there at the drop of a hat if necessary and I always give my all. I may come off sarcastic at times, but I never want to see my family or friends hurt, and I would bend over backwards to keep that from happening if that's what it took. However, I would say maybe about 10% of the people I do that for actually show me that same love back. Maybe I'm "too nice"...but can you ever be TOO nice? I mean, I thought being a nice person was a good thing - something people wanted in a lifelong friend...but lately I just feel like it gets me walked all over. Would it be preferable for me to be a complete selfish asshole and "me me me" in order to win over my family and friends? Maybe a lot of those people I do care for could care less that I care for them? I think someone's care and concern for you is a gift that should not be taken for granted. Not to say that I'm not guilty of it, because I'm sure I am...but I definitely don't make it a conscious effort.

Life in general is kind of like that. You make a reservation at a hotel. But without calling to cancel, you simply just don't show up. Not only have you wasted the concierge's and housekeeping's time in prepping the room for your arrival, you've made it so they can now not make money off that room for that night because they had it reserved for YOU. But do you think you care about those people that you inconvenienced? You probably don't even give it a second thought.

I find that as I get older, the true friends and good family I have, would never purposefully inconvenience me or leave me hanging. But more and more of the ones that I thought were friends, I feel are not even giving me a second thought. There are some people I call my friends that I don't know the last time we even spoke on the phone (Facebook does not count as primary means of communication, people!)...that the thought of even just calling them out of the blue feels awkward because I feel we've drifted so far apart. But would I still be there for them if they called and needed me? You betcha. I just don't know that they'd do the same for me. I know life gets busy and some people can get put on the backburner, as I said, I'm not so innocent either when it comes to that. But when it goes months, maybe even years, since you've physically spoken to a "friend", how can you even believe you're a part of their life anymore, or how long can you keep telling yourself that they are a part of yours? So when do I pull the plug and "cancel the reservation" so to speak? It's hard to say. You know it's when you finally do that and actually stop caring that they finally come back around. And God willing, the good ones will.

Disclaimer: This post is not aimed at any one individual and is not intended for the purpose of hurting anyone's feelings. I love my family and my friends. But if there is any reason that you think this message is aimed at you...pick up the phone and call me :) xoxo. Love you all.

Writing Prompt: My Passion

For this week's writing prompts from Mama Kat
, I chose: What are you passionate about?

Well, OK, so this is an easy one and not a surprise to most: I'm passionate about health and fitness and keeping in shape.

I'll admit, the need to stay fit (read: hot) stems from my childhood insecurities. I never felt like I was the most beautiful or even close to, and certainly felt regular-sized, rather than slender or skinny. I was always comparing myself to other girls and was very hard on myself. I always felt like I had something to prove. I hated that back then and at the time I never really knew how to change it.

As I got older, I started reading different diet books and studying different trends in weightloss. There was a lot of trial and error. I even splurged on a personal trainer at Bally's Total Fitness. But to be honest, that was pivotal for me. I finally had someone explain to me how the body worked as far as using food for fuel and burning fat and gaining muscle. As part of the package, I got a lot of tests run on me - such as metabolic rate, body fat percentage, etc. and a personalized diet and exercise plan. I actually found out that I had a very high metabolism (my personal trainer was a ripped Asian guy and he said he was impressed because my rate was just about where his was). I was shocked to hear that because I certainly wasn't ripped. After a few weeks of working with him and following the nutrition plan, I lost some weight and started to look a lot more lean and cut - the look I had desired all my school-age years. Ever since then, I have made it my personal mission to learn as much as I can about the science of health and nutrition. It's become such a passion of mine. I love that after two kids I can be proud of my body and that it doesn't even look as though I've had a kid (with the exception of some faint and minor stretch marks). I love working out - I love the high I get after an intense workout session. I love setting goals and challenging myself to attain them.

To date, I've read dozens of body-building and nutrition books. I've even taught group fitness classes at local gyms (dance-oriented classes, as dance is another big passion of mine). And in the past couple of years I've started running a lot of local 5K races - just because I love the feeling of going out there and going for it, no matter what my time is. I just love doing something good for my body and appearance.

So although my "passion" grew from a painful place...I'm glad that it was that way because it has made me who I am today and made me find something I really love. As a mom, I don't get to have a lot of personal hobbies, so the nice thing about fitness is that I can do it anywhere or even incorporate my children in it (jogging stroller, anyone?)...and at the same time, I'm creating a good example for my children. I am actually going to get my personal training certification within the next year. I want to share my passion with others and hopefully help them find a passion in it for themselves as well.

Writing Prompt: Mom & Sons Beach Day 2011

Yesterday I took my first trip to the beach with the boys all on my own...no hubby or friend to help! It actually went pretty well (with the exception of my Phelps-in-training 5-year old who thinks he's a fish and decided to go out crazy-far in the ocean as my attention was on Breckin at that moment...he couldn't hear me yelling for him to come back so I had to grab Breckin and go waist deep in the water just to get close enough to yell so he could hear me! Ugh. Crazy boys.)
Anyway, here are some pictures of our fun-filled few hours...

Writing Prompt: California Dreamin'

Most of you now know that I follow a blog called Mama's Losin' It in which every week she posts a list of writing prompts for fellow bloggers to use and then come back to link up their posts for the blogger world to read. One of the prompts this week is:
What was your big dream for yourself when you were 18 and had graduated high school?

Where do I begin? I grew up in a small town in Idaho. I am a big city girl at heart and I always had a dream of leaving the small town life as soon as I got the chance...there was a big world out there, and it was waiting for me.

The fall after I graduated high school, I moved to Long Beach, CA to go to school. I couldn't believe I was finally leaving...and heading somewhere so glamorous. I just knew that I would make something big of myself there...I was a smart girl and I wanted to start climbing some corporate ladders.

I spent 4 great years sunbathing at the beach, partying at clubs in L.A., meeting interesting people and just discovering myself. I got to live by myself in an apartment close to the beach in Huntington Beach. Somehow in the midst of it all, I lost track of my career plans and didn't spend as much time focusing on climbing those corporate ladders as I should have.

Eventually I met my future husband...and because he was in the USCG, we were transferred to Charleston, SC...I was 4 months pregnant with Tanner. Charleston is a nice city, though it's not very corporate-oriented. Needless to say, I've been job-hopping since we got here...just moving on as necessary to fit the needs of our family. I'm not a big corporate career woman...and I'm not in sunny Southern California. That dream has faded. I'm now the mother of two beautiful boys and wife to a handsome guy.

And that's a dream I've had since I was just a little girl. :)

It didn't come in the best of circumstances, but it's wonderful nonetheless. I still have time to make a career for myself...I know what I'm capable of and I know I'll make it happen.

Mommy Doesn't Need A Reason!

This blog was inspired by one of this week's Mama Kat's Writing Prompts (www.mamakatslosinit.com): One pet peeve that shouldn't drive you crazy, but does.

------------------------------------------------------------------

My son has a favorite new word...or question, rather:

"Why?"

I hate this question. Anytime I say anything to him or tell him to do something - "Why?"

"Tanner, it's time to clean your room."
"Why?"
"Tanner, don't run out into the street."
"Why?"
"Tanner, it's time to eat dinner."
"Why?"
"No, Tanner, I'm not going to buy you a candy/toy/something at the store today."
"WHHHHHHHYYYYYYY?!"

You get the gist.

The word "why" can just be used to run a conversation around in circles. It's almost as annoying as someone playing the copycat game. (Undoubtedly a game I'm sure he'll bring home from school sometime next year.)

Tanner is 5 and of course it's natural for him to be curious. So if he wants to know why the sky is blue or why it rains or why bad smells come out of Daddy sometimes, then by all means, I'll be glad to teach him a few things...I love that he is interested in learning. But I can't stand to be asked why every time I make a rule or tell him to do something or to stop doing something.

If you can't tell, it's been a long day full of "why".

Our latest conversation:

"Tanner, Mommy needs to run to the store for some wine."

"Why?"