Day 4: 31 Days of Shopping at Goodwill Better

Well today I'm actually building on some of the amazingness that I posted yesterday.  Day 3 was a fantastic series about 31 Days of Decorating on a Shoestring Budget all about how to decorate and design on a minimal budget, some items (like using nature to decorate) are even free.  Well today builds on that budgeting theory for GREAT things and is definitely a super favorite series!!!!!!!!

I love this series because its not just about great stuff the author found...it's about how to plan a Goodwill trip and how to decide whether or not a purchase is worth it.  I mean, let's be honest, this is the PERFECT place to make someone else's trash YOUR treasure!  I have a feeling that I'll be hitting up my local Goodwill very soon...probably today because what I learned reading the "Lots of Goodwill Basics" post on day 3 is that the whole Goodwill store is 50% off the 1st Saturday of the month...and that's TODAY!!!! So you know where I'll be during afternoon nap time!  

So hope on over to "Dear Mushka" and start out by reading her top 10 reasons for writing this series - then get ready to dig in! 

So GO!!!

GO NOW!!!!! and read this whole series!!!

Then go hit up your local Goodwill today and tell me ALL about your new treasures!!!!!!

Day 3: 31 Days of Decorating on a Shoestring Budget

Well today is Day 3 of my 31-day favorites, and today is another great series called "31 Days of Decorating on a Shoestring Budget" by Kate over at "Chic on a Shoestring Budget."

Y'all, this series is just fantastic!  And if you're like me at all, you enjoy decorating, but don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on it.  These tips and tricks that Kate gives are for everyone!  Probably one of my favorite posts is about her printable art work that she gave her dining room a makeover with - it looks like she spent hundreds when she really only spent about $30! 

 Or the post when she talks about using nature as artwork and centerpieces!

I'm telling you - you have got to go through her series (even though there are only 23 posts - I know you'll love every single one!)   I'm pretty sure I'll be using some of these ideas VERY soon!!!

31 Days: 31 Days to a No Brainer Wardrobe

Its day 2 of my "31 Days of 31 Day Favorites" and today is an awesome series:  31 Days to a No Brainer Wardrobe.

So Hayley, the author of The Tiny Twig, begins this series with this simple fact:  women wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time.  The 20% that you are wearing is probably the stuff that you feel great in, wash 80 million times, and hardly gets hung up before it’s worn again.

So Hayley's 31day series is all about having a great, usable wardrobe that you love!  Its how to establish your "style", and buying key pieces that fit your style for all different situations.  It's about having 10 clothing items that you can make into 25 different outfits.  I'm telling you - this series is GREAT, especially for people like me that really do only wear about 20% of the clothes in my closet!

So hope on over to The Tiny Twig and read this!  NOW!  
(side note: this link above takes you to the first post. When you're ready to move one, click "Next Article...even though it says "Meal Plan"...then the next article after the meal plan begins the series.  Continue to click on "Next Article" to go through the series.)

31 Days of 31 Day Favorites

I have to admit that although I'm not very good at writing these 31 days challenges, I do love reading them.  In all honesty, I love reading blogs.  I love getting ideas and recipes and parenting wisdom and party ideas - and I just love all of it!

So, I decided that instead of really writing a 31 day series, I will show you my 31 favorite 31 Day series.  These may be from this year or any of the years past.  And if you have a favorite series, let me know what it is because I love discovering new blogs to read.

I hope you enjoy my new "play" on the 31 Days!!  

Today's favorite series is "31 Days to Happier Children" from Pete & Buzz. 

Click Here

I love this because all of us want happy children, and as parents, I love hearing others' ideas on how to encourage happiness in our children.  This series covers topics such as modeling happiness for your children, praying together, teaching your children values, celebrating together, and so much more.  

Personally, one of my favorites from the series is day 23: Celebrate Together.  I've recently tried to really work on this with my girls.  In Emmalee's new school the teacher has a behavior chart.  Everyone starts on green, and you can move up the chart: blue is a great day; purple is a fantastic day, and pink is the very best day that comes with a special prize for those who achieve it.  Of course, if they are not behaving, they can move down to yellow which means they need to turn on their listening ears, orange which is for really think about, and red means mom and dad have a phone call. Emmalee usually has green days, but has also had a couple or yellow days.  I told her on Monday that I wanted her to try and have a green or blue day.  When I picked her up I was elated to see that she didn't just have a blue day, she was on purple!  So we celebrated with a trip to Purple Berri Yogurt (fitting, I know :)) .  I loved celebrating this special day with her - and of course I took pictures so I can scrapbook it later.  It made her so happy that she had another purple day on Tuesday!!  

All of this to say, I really enjoyed this series and I hope you do, too! 

31 Days of 31 Day Favorites

Day 1:  31 Days to Happier Children

Pinch Me

Last week I did something COMPLETELY crazy!  

Like some may think I'm insane!

But I did it!!!

I registered for my first duathlon!!!!!

Y'all, if you know me IRL, then you know how ridiculous this sounds, but I did it!  I am doing the Esprit de She!  And truth be told, I am so excited about it!

Click here to learn more about the Dallas Duathlon.

Since I have absolutely ZERO running ability and am a beginner cyclist, I'm just doing the short course.  It's a 2 mile run, 9 mile bike, 2 mile run. So now I'm in the middle of a training plan. So today's Five on Friday is all about getting ready for the race and the things I "have to have" to get this done!

{ONE}

Running Shoes!  One of the biggest things I had to do in order to get ready for my race is get good running shoes!!! Close to where I work there is a running store called Luke's Locker.  I was able to go in and get properly fitted for a running shoe based on how I walk and run.   After my fitting, I eneded up with my new {neon} pink Brooks, and I have to tell you that I love them!!

{TWO}

Eating Right!  I've been trying to make those dreaded numbers on the scale go down, and its slowly-but-surely working but I've really had to curb what I eat.  I can definitely tell a difference when I'm running if I had a bad eating day because my body is just sluggish.  So my diet has definitely been over-hauled to lean meats, and lots of fresh produce!

{THREE}

Energy!  In my current training plan (and sometimes just for fun) I am doing long bike rides.  And by long I mean 30 and 40 miles worth of riding.  Energy is a must have to get through these rides, so one of my go-to items is GU Energy Gels. They are the perfect size to fit in my riding jersey, and definitely help me get through the long rides!!  I really like the mandrin orange, and the cherry lime, but they have all kinds of flavors ranging from fruity to peanut butter and caramel macchiato, root beer and chocolate outrage! 

{FOUR}

A foam roller! This has been a lifesaver on my calf muscles and quads.  Brant asked for one for Father's Day when he was training for his triathlon, so I got him one at Target for less than $30, and it has become one of my favorite things.  My calf muscles get so sore after running because they just aren't used to being used that much, lol, and this help alleviate so much of the pain.  I typically roll my calves at least one, and sometimes twice a day.  So this is a must-have in my house!

{FIVE}

And my biggest "must-have" is ENCOURAGEMENT!  I know it may not sound like much to you, but it is huge for me.  Probably because one of my love-languages is words of affirmation, but having someone say "great job" or having my husband send me a text after I go on a 20 mile bike ride that says "I'm so proud of you" means the world to me!  When my 3 year old looks at me and says "Look mom, I'm exercising like you!" it makes me want to do this even more!  I don't want to even guess the number of years that I'm adding on to my life by changing my lifestyle and taking care of my body.  So I need encouragement, and lucky for me, I have the friends and family who are giving me just that!  So if you need encouragement too, you just let me know because I'll be by your side cheering you on! 

Happy First Birthday, Madeline Grace

I'm not quite sure how my baby went from this

to this practically overnight!   

Madeline Grace,
You help make our family complete.  You are such a sweet baby who loves momma, daddy and big sister Emmie.  You love Dax and the kitty, too.  Your big blue eyes can light up a room and brighten any bad day.  Your precious smile can and silly faces and bring joy to the gloomiest times.  You are simply a little ray of sunshine and you are treasured more than you'll ever understand.

You're walking everywhere and always on the go; you never seem to sit still.  You eat almost anything too, except carrots and avocado - you are not a fan of either.  You go to bed around 7:30 every night and sleep until 6 or 6:30 in the morning.  You go to Ms. Donna's during the day while momma & daddy work, then we have lots of fun and play time when we get home.  You love playing in big sister's room.  You love books, baths, your bunny, and watching Mickey Mouse Club House. 

You wear 9-12 mth or 12-18 mth clothes, and are in a size 3 diaper (although I think you'll be moving up a size soon).  We have your one-year well check on Friday, so I'm excited to see how much you weigh. In October we go back to see Dr. Pinto to monitor your reflux and see if your kidneys are still growing and developing.  Daddy and I continue to pray that the Lord will heal your little body so you don't need surgery; but not matter what we know that you are His child and in His hands.

My prayer for your sweet girl is that you will grow up know how loved and cherished you are, not just by me and daddy and Emmalee, but by the Lord.  You, my sweet child, are a daughter of the King and I pray that you will learn to know Him and fall in love with the One who first loved you.

Happy first birthday sweet baby girl!

Love,
Momma

Motivation Monday

Do you ever just feel like singing "Good morning, good morning..." because that is definitely how I am feeling today.  Actually, if you want to know the truth my heart is full of different emotions today:

Joy - because my God is alive

Thanksgiving - because He continues to bless our family

Anticipation - because of things to come

Longing - because my sweet Madeline Grace is turning 1 tomorrow and I long for her to stay little

Excitement - for Madeline's birthday party on Saturday

Proud - because I finished my first 40-mile charity ride on Saturday for Bike Out Hunger Mansfield!


It was cold and drizzly and windy, but we still finished.  We almost pushed to do the 60-mile ride, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to make it back with the miserable cross-wind that we were up against. 

But I saw this posting on Facebook the other day and this is my motivation this week:
        

I've needed this motivation more than ever now because I'm officially signed up to race in a duathlon on October 26th.  Its a 2-9-2:  2 mi run, 9 mi bike, 2 mi run.  The cycling I'm not worried about - its the running!  I get thrilled if I run a mile without stopping - now I have to run two miles...TWICE!  But I know that through my training, I can do it...and when its done, it will be worth it!!!