Wordless Wednesday: Sick Day

Makeover Monday: A New Me!

See this smile on my face?  It's not there anymore.  This was before I started the Insanity workout.  I'm pretty sure my results are crap, but I'm going to post them anyway.  That way I can come back here and compare every now and then.

Switch Kick - 67
Power Jack - 50
Power Knee - 86
Power Jump - 30
Power Squat - 8
S*icides - 13
Push Up Jacks - 15
Agility - 22

Since my birthday was last week, I decided I had better start taking care of myself for real.  I'm not getting any younger, after all.  And lately I've heard these commercials on the radio that say "If you're thinking about having a baby in the future, you need to start preparing your body now..." Thank you, wake up call!

I usually do OK with the workout portion, but I really struggle with the eating right part of being healthy.  I have an insatiable sweet tooth.  I seriously eat something sweet after almost every meal.  And sometimes dessert *is* dinner!  So I'm going to be spending much more time on Pinterest checking out all the sites and blogs where they take something delicious and fattening and turn it into something much less horrible for you.  Hey - anything to spend more time on Pinterest!

What have you done to take better care of yourself?  What are some of your go-to recipes?  Please share!

*SJ*

Weekend Review: Party Time

This weekend we celebrated the birthday of one of my dear friends.  Lemme tell ya, this girl knows how to party!  Here's a pic of me in my outfit for the evening.  I picked this dress because it is Ashley's favorite.

And check us out here.  Between the two of us, we could open a dimple factory!  Or at least a teeth whitening business!

Although exhausting, this weekend was a great one.  I got to spend time with friends, meet new people, and eat some good food.  My Wolverines barely squeaked out a victory last night, and the Cowboys won this afternoon.  I hope your weekend was enjoyable.  Here's to another week!

*SJ*

Just For Fun

This is my homage to all of the "Keep Calm and..." slogans that are popping up everywhere.  Unfortunately, I can't take credit for creating this.  Although it speaks my mind perfectly, it actually came from the website www.keepcalmandcarryon.com which of course I found through Pinterest.

On this website, you create whatever "Keep Calm..." slogan you like.  Then you can print it on T-shirts, coffee mugs, iPhone cases...pretty much anything you can imagine!

I would love to get this framed as a poster and hang it in my room.  Maybe I should hang it in my closet right above where I store my cowboy boots.  The possibilities for these signs are endless.  Be sure to check out their website and support this fun company!

*SJ*

Thirsty Thursday: Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade

Sunday is the first day of Fall.  It's been cooler around here for the past few days, and I'm definitely ready for sweater weather.  So, to bid farewell to Summer, today's Thirsty Thursday is one of my favorite summertime drinks - Passion Tea Lemonade from Starbucks.

I'm gonna go ahead and tell you, I have acclimated very well to the South's way of thinking that "there's no such thing as too-sweet tea!"  When you order this from Starbucks, you can choose sweet or unsweet, but I always go for sweet.  Oh, and I found this recipe right on the Starbucks site, so yours should taste the same as in-store (hopefully).

Starbucks Tazo (R) Iced Passion (R) Tea Lemonade

5 pumps Fontana(R) Classic Syrup

12 oz Tazo (R) Passion(R) Iced Tea

6 oz Lemonade

Ice

1. Add syrup to the cup

2. Add iced tea and lemonade

3. Stir

4. Fill cup with ice

I hope you will join me in raising a glass to salute the end of Summer.  Welcome Fall!!

*SJ*

Wordless Wednesday: New Hair

Two Minute Tuesday

"God's vision for YOU is bigger, brighter, and better than anything you can envision for yourself.  Every day He wants to move YOU closer to that image He has for YOU."

Such eye-opening words spoken by my pastor, Dr. Brandon Thomas at Keystone Church in Keller.

Another Trip Around the Sun

I just got home from my birthday dinner.  My sister made my favorite - taco salad, and lemon cake by special request.  Best gift of the evening goes to my niece, Zoe, who is 7.  

Check out this adorable birthday card she made me.  Simple message, and one *I* forget all too often.  Meant so much to see it in her handwriting, though.

BTW, in case you were wondering what on earth is going on in the picture to the right: my sister is always giving me clothes and shoes that she doesn't wear anymore.  Pretty great sister, huh?  Well, she had a basket for me today, and the girls were walking around in the shoes - wearing their jammies, of course.  Zoe decided they needed to sit on the ottoman and fan themselves like "fancy ladies" so that is what is happening there.

These kids crack me up!  I am truly so fortunate to have them in my life.  I love watching them grow up into little people with personalities and ideas.  This was a great birthday, and I think this might be the Year of the Princess!

*SJ*

For Sarah Jane, On the Eve of Her 34th Year

Good Heavens, Girl!

What a year it has been!  You've seen unimaginable heartbreak, experienced anger, loss, and overwhelming acceptance.  365 days ago, you were on your way to Happily Ever After.  How could you have possibly known the year you would have?

It's been hard.  There have been tears - A LOT of tears.  But you're sitting here today, and you're a more whole person than you've been in a long time.  Maybe ever.  So many people are proud of you.  *I* am proud of you.  Here are a few reasons why:

*You are faithfully attending and involved in church
*You've lived on your own for almost a year
*You are learning who you are, and you really LOVE that girl
*You are surrounding yourself with people who are good for you
*You know your worth - and demand it
*You are stronger than anyone gave you credit for
*You haven't let the hard times get you down.  Instead, you have found true joy by realizing that not every experience has to be a 'happy' one to be a 'good' one.

Sarah Jane, I am excited and terrified for what this year has in store.  Each day is a fresh start.  A new chance to do great things and be great.  You have a great God to help you.  Look to Him, learn from Him.  Use the godly women He has placed in your life to help you.  YOU ARE HIS.

A few more reminders:
~~"The Lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain.  The Lord your God will bless you in the land He is giving you." --Deuteronomy 28:8

~~"I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning." --J.B. Priestly

~~"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore. Dream. Discover." --attributed to Mark Twain

~~"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." --Proverbs 16:9

~~"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter.  Try again.  Fail again.  Fail better." --Samuel Beckett

Don't forget to be good to yourself.  Be good to others.  Be great.  Be brave.  Happy Birthday, Princess.

*SJ*