Hugs and Kisses

I can't believe that Valentine's Day is already around the corner! Like I've said before I am Madeline's homeroom mom and therefore have to come up with creative ideas for the kids.  Thankfully one of the moms found one of the easiest projects known to man, it is a sheet of paper where the kids can add stickers to make out a scene.  They LOVE it.  Madeline's teacher made it easy this year for us because she did not want food crafts for the kids.  That limited my need to search Pinterest for food crafts.  It just leaves me more time to think of the class gifts... 

(This was the sticker scene from their Christmas Party)

I really blame this all on Pinterest.  (If you haven't then you are living under a rock.) Ever since I was turned onto the amazing/horrible site my need to create unique party favors has gotten a little out of hand.  My husband is a saint for putting up with me.  There have been a few nights that he has had to stay up late with me to help finish putting the gifts together.  I found this super cute idea for this year and it looks simple enough.

 

My hubby should appreciate that it is another easy project.  He definitely misses the days when Valentine's just required for us to write the kids name on a card and pass it out.  I can't imagine when I am doing class gifts for both kids.  He is just going to love that since obviously they can't have the same gift.  Jonathan's will have to be boy related and Madeline will not except anything not girly.  I don't know where she gets that from ; )

(Christmas gifts last year)

 

Is it the weekend yet?

How is it already Sunday night?!? Where do my weekends go? Last weekend I wrote about wanting to just enjoy doing nothing. This weekend it was the complete opposite. 

Saturday was the "most relaxing" day. It consisted of our usual morning routine. I go to the gym at nine. I wake up at eight because I set out my daughter uniform so that my hubby can drop her off. (Some people think eight is considered sleeping in for parents but I'm not a morning person so eight is the earliest I can possibly do.) after the gym I head to meet my hubby at Madeline's practice. I take over and he heads off to work. My mom stays with my youngest most of the times.  We are done by 11:30/11:45. This weekend we ran home because it was a longer practice to get ready to go to lunch with a friend. After lunch we had to deliver our pre-ordered Girl Scout cookies. 

Today we had two birthday parties to go to. I can't imagine once Jonathan is old enough to start going to parties. I'm going to be pulled in a million directions. After the parties I had to go pick up more cookies to sell. I try to only keep what I know I'm selling in the house to keep the temptations at bay. Since I wasn't home all day I have ordered pizza and a salad for mommy to be delivered.

As I set here waiting for the pizza to be delivered ( who is already half an hour late going on an hour and a half) my brain is already scrambling to think of all the stuff that needs to be done for the upcoming week. Jonathan is running circles with no end in site. Our dog is right behind him. Madeline is practicing her back bends. So I'm wondering when does my weeknd start? Maybe next time I'll get a weekend. 

30 day challenge

As if I wasn't already crazy enough I have decided to do a thirty day challenge at my gym. The main idea is to make a fitness goal you would like to achieve.  It will be a group challenge in which the members of the group will help motivate each other.  There is also more of a sense of  accountability in this group challenge because we need to post updates to the group page. I am excited for the challenge (I say this now before it has started) because it is solely about giving up stuff, but also about adding something to your lifestyle that is beneficial for your health. 

I have decided to give up breads, it really is the only "bad" thing that I eat on a regular basis.  Don't get me wrong I indulge now and then with a sweet, but it really wasn't enough of a sacrifice to give up sweets. I am also including two days worth of weight training to my exercise routine and making myself drink more water.  In addition we must train with the other members of the challenge group three times a week.  I'm usually at my gym at least three times a week anyways so that isn't a burden.  Each week the instructor will give us different things to do to incorporate to the work out. 

I am trying to wrangle one of my friends to do it with me to have that additional support.  The convincing isn't going very well at the moment.  Lets hope I can change her mind.  I will keep an update on how it is going.  I will also post a before picture so that I have additional accountability.  Wish me luck!

"I workout!"

Last May I bought some kickboxing classes off of Groupon on a whim because I needed to get in shape for a friends wedding. After my first class I was already hooked and bought an additional fifty.  Since then I've been going anywhere from two to four times a week. I get an amazing workout in forty-five minutes, which is just what I need. It is an intense workout that's fast because like most moms we just don't have the time to spend hours in the gym. If you are a mom and have that kind of time PLEASE let me know how you do it! 

Today I signed up for unlimited classes because it came out cheaper per class rather. I went back and forth debating wheat her or not I should. Not because I didn't like the classes, like I said I'm obsessed, but I was just unsure of spending that kind of money. I'm sure other moms can relate with that buyers remorse syndrome I get when it comes to spending money on myself rather then the kids. 

My amazing husband who if it weren't for him I'd probably never buy myself stuff, talked me into it.  I have NO problem spending for the kids. I actually go a little crazy but that's another post. He made a valid point that by me doing this for myself I'm actually helping the kids. First off I'm healthier for them. And secondly I'm working out all my frustrations. 

So in the end make that investment on yourself. Your health is important not only for yourself but for your kids too. Even if you don't want to spend them money on classes maybe just buy yourself some pretty workout clothes. It may motivate you to go for a run. 

Lazy weekends

Even though this was a long weekend and most people have tons of plans I specifically planned for a lazy one. Last weekend was so busy and left me exhausted. I needed time to recuperate. It's hard to go away regardless if it's a long weekend or not because my daughter is on a competitive cheerleading team. Which for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of dealing with one, let me tell you, you CANNOT miss practice!

                   
So with that being said we had practice yesterday which leave Madeline tired for at least an hour afterwards. We ran some errands ate some lunch and then when to a cousins birthday dinner. Today we slept in and had breakfast as a family. I was hoping to squeeze some beach time this weekend but so much for the weather men doing there job (shocker). It's still to chilly to hang out at the beach.  That leaves us open to suggestions. Maybe some football, my daughter cheered for the Davie Broncos so she loves watching them play. The weather is great so the park is definitely an option. We also still have tomorrow during the day.  Later tomorrow we have cheer again but it's nice to know we have the day to relax.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Florida Winters

Well it seems like we are going to have a few days of winter after all here in sunny South Florida.  The temperature has dropped into the sixties which means boot weather for us Floridians. 

 

My husband is at the park as we speak enjoying this weather with the kids.  I on the other hand am stuck at work decked out in my riding boots and layered look.  Pretty sure it looks like I stepped off a Ralph Lauren ad (minus the supermodel looks) but I don't care.  I am getting full use of my boots that I bought six years ago and have worn maybe ten times. 

On the bright side it looks like the weather warms up just in time to enjoy this long weekend.  Until then this weather calls for hot chocolate.  My daughter is off from school tomorrow so we can stay up late after cheer practice and enjoy some hot chocolate. 

Sorry to rub in that we are only in the sixties while much of the States are freezing.  Stay warm to all of you up north.

Raising a daughter

 

I have always known that I wanted to have kids and at least one girl. It was a given. At one point I even wanted five! This was obviously before I had any or truly knew what having children entailed.

So when I got pregnant the first time I prayed that it would be a girl. Of course I would have been happy with whatever God gave me, you know that whole sermon. It was the honest truth especially because of my high risk pregnancy we were happy to get through another week.

Nonetheless, to say I was ecstatic when they told us we were having a girl would be putting it mildly. I went crazy shopping. Madeline had a full closet of clothes by the time she was six months pregnant. That really hasn't changed even now and she goes to private school which means she wears a uniform most of the year.

But as she gets older I see the hardships of having a daughter in this day and age. In a world where there a blogs about how to be anorexic, (Really?!) it is scary to think of some of the things we will have to deal with. I will be the first one to say I am completely neurotic when it comes to my weight. I am forever on a diet and always working out. I pray to God Madeline does not end up like me. For that reason my husband sent me the link to a wonderful article. "How to speak to your daughter" is such a refreshing piece to read and it really opened my eyes.

I see my daughter and her friends already talking about their weight and debating what to eat because "A burger isn't healthy". Well no, a burger for breakfast, lunch, and dinner probably isn't the best choice. The problem is that they are already thinking this way and even more disturbing is that they say it because they want to be flyers on their cheerleading squads. I am trying my best not to talk about my weight in front of her or talk about diets. Instead encouraging her to come running with me or trying new healthy foods has been my new mission.

Dealing with the body issues will be just one of many things to come. It seems that girls are starting young and those "Mean Girl" tendencies are coming out sooner. One second they are best friends the next they can't stand each other. Surely we all went through this. It must be that it was just so long ago we don't remember. We can only hope as mothers that our daughter make it out of these hard years unscathed. Please feel free to add any comments or suggestions as to deal with our feisty little girls, because mine is definitely a trip and a half! Best of luck to all you moms!!

 

My first 5K

I did it! Well not quite...but I have at least signed up for my first 5K.  I am so excited and cannot wait to tell everyone about the end results.  Of the all the 5K races out there this is probably the easiest and the funniest one around. A couple of my best friends and I plus some of my fellow cheer moms are doing the Run or Dye Color Race.  It is not a timed race and basically you run and get hit with color powered.  Sounds like fun right? Run or Dye locations are all over the place so just check out the website for the location near you.  I will keep everyone updated on how it goes! If you have ever done one please feel free to leave suggestions. 

Making Mommy Friends

My husband and I got married and started our family at a young age. Not sixteen and pregnant young but early twenties young. Which for today’s standards might as well have been sixteen and pregnant. Of our group of friends we were the only ones married and definitely the only ones having a baby. We were just about to graduate college so for most of them weddings and babies were the last thing on their minds. They were still interested in partying like rock stars.

Fast forward to my daughter starting pre-school and I thought I would make a ton of new "mommy" friends. This was not the case. Since I had started young, most of the other moms were at least ten years older than me, and although moms like me they were at different stages in their lives. So rather than give up and just got very involved in my daughter's school. (Granted they require us to "volunteer" twenty hours.) I became home room mom and started getting to know the other moms.

Meanwhile my core group of friends started to slowly get out of the party scene which allowed for more hanging out but then I had my second child which made it difficult all over again to connect with them. I had two babies while they weren't even in serious relationships. (This showed me who my true friends were)

At the end of my daughter's kindergarten year party one of the moms suggested for a few of the other moms and I to take our daughters to try out a recreational cheerleading squad for the local city. It was truly one of the best choices I made. My daughter loved it, was active physically, and learning to work as a team. I on the other hand really got to know the other moms who went to our school and even met a few other moms whose daughter's cheered with mine. We would spend so much time together during practice that we really built great friendships.

I know how a great group of moms to hang out with. We have taken mom's trips and try to do monthly girls night out. I still have my core group of friends who are slowly starting to get married and slowing down. I get the best of both worlds now. So long story short. If you are a young mom and perhaps in a different place then your normal friends look into putting your children into sports. It is not only great for your children to getting into an activity but you could possibly build some great friendships.

If you have any other suggestions of how to meet fellow mommys please let me know.  Have a great day everyone!