Let Joy Surround You

I have a new obsession... my mantle!! Being a Florida girl I only saw fireplaces and mantles in movies and HGTV. Seriously, every single home renovation on that station has beautiful mantles; even the ones in Texas and Cali. I thought those places were just as warm as Florida, but still all the homes have fireplaces? I even saw an episode where the home was in Sarasota, FL and low and behold a fireplace. It must be a credential that any home featured has to possess a fireplace. I have marveled at mantles dreaming of the day when I too get to decorate one. And, BAM it's here!! When we moved into our new home in the mid west the first thing I bought was for the mantle. Before any family photos got hung the mantle was perfect. I still have it decorated for summer and I am elated to change it for fall, and then winter, and then spring! As you can see my T.V. is hung above my fireplace so simplicity is a must when decorating or it will be too messy and cluttered. I love each piece I have on my summer mantle because each one has a deeper meaning behind it. As I sit back and watch T.V. or play with my toddler or nurse my newborn I am filled with joy gazing at those special memories.

On the left is the birdcage which was that special first purchase. I got it because I always wanted one, but just never bought it. This reminds me of my recent season of life. My husband and I always wanted to move, and decided to just go ahead and do it. To anyone else this birdcage is just a hip decor item. To me I am reminded that we did not cage ourselves in our comfort zone, but took a chance and are enjoying the outcome. The sunflower picture I took on a trip to India and it reminds me of being a youthful girl with big dreams. I still am that girl (just more gray) and I hope to encourage my girls to be brave and daring like that.

The two pieces on the right were gifts from very special people one close and the other far. These remind me of all the love, support, and encouragement I have in my life. Not everything in my home has meaning like that, but I believe the things you put in your home should evoke joy and passion. Why do we hang photos? Especially with Facebook and Instagram everyone has seen every photo you have ever taken so it's not to show off your family anymore. We hang photos and decor to remind us of something. When I am bickering with my husband and I look up at our wedding photo I am reminded of the promises we made to love and honor each other. Or when I leave for work (or use to leave for work) and see the photo of us taking our daughter to Disney for the first time I am reminded how hard we worked to save for that trip and how amazing it was to share a piece of our childhood with our own child so working today is totally worth it to provide that again.  Or maternity pictures remind me of God's faithfulness and the responsibility he has given me. (Not to mention how much weight I have lost!!) The things we fill our home with should remind us of things and inspire our future. So the next day off the hubby has we are pulling out our fall bin and decorating for my favorite season. Almost all my fall decor is from my wedding and packed with cherished memories! What is special in your home? What memories do you have when looking around your home? I would love to hear them. And if you don't have any then go out a buy something that makes you smile. Buy your own birdcage!


Love Your Today,

Lex

I'm BACK and tossing away the guilt

It's been a while since I have gotten behind the screen and blogged. Life gets crazy and just when you feel like you have a hold of things... WHAM! Something even crazier happens. I am glad to be back and just like the title said I am tossing away the guilt!

If you are like me (and I know at least some of you are) as a woman, wife, and mother we get overwhelmed by guilt. We dodn't live up to some expectation that we put on ourselves. Yes, you read me correct... that we put on ourselves! We are needed in so many capacities that it just gets to be more than any one person can fully live up to. Unless you are Wonder Woman than you can do anything in that awesome bodysuit! Even right now my 3 year old is repeating over and over "I need juice. I need juice. I need juice..." Mommy needs a friggin' minute to concentrate! Just kidding. Sort of. Now it has gotten louder, because obviously Mommy has lost her hearing. ***Juice Break*** So back to that guilt thing. To be perfectly honest I pile on the guilt over and over and over in one day. From the moment my eyes crack open I feel the guilt. Everything from not having meaningful time with God or playing enough with the little or having "meaningful time" with the husband. I feel the guilt oozing out of my skin! As I sit back I realize that it is normally all the things I am NOT doing that I feel guilty about; however, what about all the things I am doing? Praying for my husband before an interview. Building a castle with my daughter. Reading a fiction book before bed not anything on sleep training, breastfeeding, or how to... whatever. What about all the things you are doing to be a better wife? A better mother? A better woman? A better friend? Before my life gets busier and fuller with everything baby (Yes, I am only a week and a half-ish away from holding my second beautiful baby.) I am tossing off guilt and picking up grace for myself. Will you join me? Where in your life are you continually feeling guilty? Toss it away and allow grace to fill you deep inside. It's probably being nine months pregnant that has me thinking like this, but no matter what has spurred this on I am taking the time to have grace for myself and realize all the things I am DOING that is making me and my family better. Stop focusing on all the NOTs and fill up on grace with me!

Love Your Today,

Lex

I eat too much sausages!

As I sit enjoying my breakfast consisting of half a bagel with cream cheese, 1 egg and, 3 sausage links, and {of course!} coffee; I begin to wonder if I am getting enough GOOD nutrients?! Does this happen to you? I start thinking about all the foods I eat and begin to register..."What the crap I haven't had a real fruit or veggie all day?!" Or more embarrassing {All Week!} Before you throw in the towel or roll your eyes this is not a post to pack on the quilt or make you feel like you should only eat salads without the Ranch. {Who even eats salad without Ranch? That is just bonkers.}

I cook most nights for my family; crock pot style {POST coming soon on how to NOT cook for 3 months, but eat every meal at home! Whooo. Awwww.} With cooking at home we save money and get good nutrients, but let's face it we live in a country where even giving our children Multi-Grain Cheerios is terrible! If you even do a tiny bit of research about the way food in processed in the good ol' U.S. of A. you will want to move to the country, become vegan, and grow all your own fruit and veggies! Great way to ruin my delightful breakfast, right? I don't mean to be a complete downer, but the truth does hurt. I remember being a new mom and finding out my daughter has lots and lots of allergies so real quick I had to be informed about what she was consuming. I remember buying Multi-Grain Cheerios thinking "She will get good grains without all the sugar. Win. Win." Well, wrong. Wrong. After a couple of months I stumbled on an article {read here} about top foods kids eat with GMO's (genetically modified organisms) and guess what was at the top of the list? Yup, Multi-Grain Cheerios! I was reading the article tears pouring down my face completely defeated, because my precious baby had been through enough with all her allergies and I finally felt we were on the upside only to find out I was feeding her GMO's by the bowl full. So I packed up my family, moved to the country, became vegan, and we grow all our own food! And you can too! Here is how... Just kidding!!

I do want to give you hope, because let's face it we CAN do small things that will benefit ourselves and our family. Here is one, because we do eat too much sausage. It won't change. We are always on the go. It won't slow down. And, we wants what is best for our health. That shouldn't fade!
My 2 year-old will shout "more sausage. more sausage" not touching her fruit or she will gobble all her BBQ chicken not trying her green beans. Here has been my solution...smoothies! {You have to say it like Cameron Diaz in What Happens in Vegas!} We love smoothies in this house. The best part is you can put anything in a smoothie and it's delicious. Grab a big bag of frozen mixed fruit or any frozen fruit you prefer, toss in some veggies, and protein powder {if you like} Mmmm! I know it's not much but it puts my heart at ease knowing my family is getting the vitamins and minerals they need. I don't get all crazy if Gigi won't eat her veggies at dinner anymore. Last week my project was making single serving smoothies. I just empty the frozen bag into the blender add juice or coconut milk and voila!

{Top 3 Favorite Smoothies}

1. Pineapple, Peach, Strawberry, Banana, Spinach, Vanilla Wey Powder, and Coconut Milk

2. Blackberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Kale, Vanilla Wey Powder, and Organic Apple Juice

3. Organic Oats, Banana, Peanut Butter, Vanilla Wey Powder, and Coconut Milk





Love Your Today,

Lex

We all need a do-over! - Happily - {er} Ever After Week 4

    Kids know how important a "do-over" is and they ask for them often. Every day I take my little firsties to the big kids bathroom on the way back from lunch. We have a bathroom in our classroom, but after lunch we do Math and every single one inevitably miss my riveting lesson on 2-digit addition or time because of their small blatters! So we stop at the big bathrooms where they can go 5 at a time. They do their business, come out, and sit in the hallway. Every day they play Paper, Rock, Scissors, Shoot, Anything You Want to Do. The gist is to think of something that will beat everything. It cracks me up to hear what they come up with. Some of my favorites are lightning, python, black hole, or God! The defeated kid will moan "Aw! Do-over! Do-over!" The best part is when the winner shrugs and simply says "Okay." How I wish life was that simple.

 

    Some of the best pre marital advice I got was that we have infinite "do-over" cards so use them! I don't know about you, but we bicker and fight about some really silly things. As things are escalating internally I do a check... How tired, hungry, or stressed am I? I am normally hungry! {Snickers nailed me on the head! I am the Hulk when I am hungry! Poor Gigi Emmaline has inherited that. Still waiting for my commercial.} Once I realize what is really going on. I should throw my do-over card. But of course now I am upset about whatever was said not even about whatever silly thing started it!

Week 4 Challenge - Use your do-over card!

Wipe the slate clean, kiss, make up, and start over. There has been times hubby has called we started into each other about something silly. You know the embarrassing to admit fights. We all have them. He has actually thrown the do-over card, hung up, and recalled! The hard part is accepting the do-over. Why do we forget so quickly the spirit of being a child? Kids ask for do-overs and accept them so easily. Remember you and your partner are on the same team. Don't let the silly fights eat away your relationship. Throw your do-over card. Throw it often. Kiss, make up, and start over!


week one, week two, week three

Love Your Today,

Lex

Celebrate Your Relationship - Happily-{er} Ever After Challenge

      I have been married 4 years, 2 months, and 6 days! Remember answering down to the day when you were asked how long you had been dating? Remember how everything was exciting and new during those beginning months? I remember we would text ALL day for no reason and still find something to talk about when we saw each other that night and it wasn't about bills or the kid's schedule? Remember "watching" movies just to be close? Or having every night be date night because every meal was eaten out? Or feeling like the money was always coming in because you didn't even know what "joint checking" was?!  Dating was one of the best times of my life... wait why did we get married?! Just kidding. I love being a wife. I miss the warm and fuzzy, butterfly feelings from our dating infatuation season. I miss the carefree attitude and spontaneous adventure. We are knee deep in routine and responsibilities. How can we enjoy our relationship like we are dating again?

 

Week 3  Challenge : Celebrate your relationship!

     Find something special about your relationship and celebrate it! We got married on November 13, 2009. It was Friday the 13th! {Yes, I know bad karma or something. Good thing we are not superstitious.}So now whenever a Friday the 13th pops up on the calendar I give my husband an extra smooch and remember how special our Friday the 13th was! The year I got married I told my best friend, "I want to do something special every month on the 13th as a way to celebrate our relationship." Well, that happened like once. Good intentions, but hard to follow through. Well, I am back on that band wagon! For our actually anniversary I got two cards for the hubby. I like sweet and thoughtful and he like silly and humorous. I left the silly and humorous card out when I left for work, but totally forgot to give him the sweet and thoughtful card at dinner. It wasn't until later that week that I found it my bottomless abyss {a.k.a my purse}. I really wanted to give him my sweet and thoughtful card, but not as an oopps I forgot and here is your anniversary card. And, this is why I am celebrating my relationship every 13th every month. I went to the dollar store and bought 11 more cards. They are not the cutest, some are actually quiet ugly! About 4 cards in I started picking the ugliest ones I could find and cracking up. He will loves these! And, I love that they were all only $0.50, especially because cards are like $4 each! Each month I will leave one as a simple way remind my husband how much I love him. So simple, but only because I planned it out. Need some ideas?

12 Ways to celebrate your relationship: {One for each month}

1} Buy 12 cards and leave them somewhere unexpected each month. His car, drop off at work, in the mailbox, under his pillow, in his bathroom drawer, etc.  Don't break the bank just hit up the dollar store!

2} Surprise your love by playing your wedding song and dance around the living room. Lead him right into the bedroom ;)

3} Play a game together. If you have a video game junkie join in the fun or whip out the cards for strip anything!

4} Go watch the sunset on a week night! Bring wine, cheese, and crackers.

5} Watch a movie like you are dating. Warning: includes cuddling, hand holding, giggles, and lots of roaming hands!

6} Go back and visit the place you got married or where he proposed.

7} Go on a fun date that you haven't done before like skyzone or vino Picasso!

8} Order take out and have a picnic outside.

9} Go on a walk after dinner and no taking about bills, work, or schedules.

10} Go to a restaurant and order all the deserts on the menu.

11} Get ice cream and watch your wedding video/ home videos.

12} Go to the bookstore, get coffee, and wander the racks.

Let me know what you do to celebrate your relationship! I would love more ideas.

week one - week two

Love Your Today,

Lex

Happily-{er} Ever After Challenge - Week 2

       My mornings are routine. Very routine. I wake up all by myself to a quiet home. I get dressed and then have just enough time to put the coffee on; while that pot of gold is brewing I put in my bagel and make lunches, pour my coffee, and cream cheese my bagel, pack Gigi's bag, wake Gigi, grab everything and out we go! On the rare chance Jonathan has to be up for a meeting or something I get all thrown off. Or if Gigi wakes up before I am ready for her it pushes me back. No biggie. Still on time. As Gigi and I begin our commute I encourage her to be nice to her friends, listen to Miss Ali, and go on the potty. {Been potty training for a couple months now and I haven't had so much fun in my whole life!} Every morning we pray for the day and Gigi will say "Amen!" Cutest. Thing. I. Ever. Heard. I strive to be an example of a strong women of God for my daughter. We pray together in the morning and at bedtime each night. But, as I was thinking about my happily-{er} ever after challenge and what would be the most important thing that would change my marriage this year PRAYER was numero uno.

Week 2 Challenge:

Pray for your husband. If he is a believer then pray with him at the start of each day.

As I was reflecting on last week's challenge I found myself thinking more about my husband and the things that amaze me about him. I began to pray more for him on the way to work, on the way home, while making dinner, and knew this was the best way to begin my happily-{er} ever after challenge. There was a point when we were starting each day by praying together. Not a 20 minute in depth prayer session, but a 15 second, "Lord, be with my husband today. Protect him. Put your favor on him. Amen." I am not sure when or why we stopped, but I am vowing to put it back in my morning routine. I love the book Power of the Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. The prayers she writes in this book are unbelievably powerful. The best thing you could do for your marriage is to buy this book, read it. and watch God transform your marriage!

Love Your Today,

Lex

2014 Happily-{er} Ever After Challenge

Happy New Year, Friend! Are you stoked about 2014? I am. A new year brings so much excitement. New moments to enjoy, new adventures to discover, and new challenges to overcome! Where will 2014 take you?

If you are like me {and the rest of the world} you have already been brainstorming resolutions or goals for this year. Mine are never the cliché of workout more {As soon as I got the all clear from my doctor to workout post partum I went home squeezed my fat ass into my pre-baby skinny girl yoga pants and spent the next 20 minutes wanting to reach into the T.V. and kill Julian Michaels! I did all 20 minutes of the workout DVD and then laid flat on my back thinking I was going to die. I have yet to work out since. My daughter is almost 2 years old! A friend did invite me to Zumba on Saturday so maybe my hiatus will end. Maybe.} I never commit to quit smoking, because  I don't smoke. Or eat better, because I eat pretty good. Plus I don't believe in dieting. I am a firm believer in moderation. Eat a cookie if you want or eat 3 cookies then put the bag away. Eat that Five Guys Burger and Fries, because it's that time of the month and someone {probable your husband} might get killed if you don't. I try to set goals each year that will become habits that better my everyday life. Last year my goal was to get my laundry under control. I am not too proud to admit I failed! I still can't find the rhythm of laundry. I wait until there is no clean undies and I am forced to wash and fold 10 loads. Every time I swear that it is madness and I vow never to do it again. I do it again and again and again! Naturally, this is on my list yet again this year.

But this year is different. This is my year to change my marriage! Let me start by saying I have a good marriage. I am lucky to have a husband who adores me. He has such great love for me that I consistently wonder if I even love him a fraction as much as he loves me. He wants to spend every moment next to me and talking to me and just being with me. Now some of you might be thinking that sounds AMAZING! But in the true "opposites attract" fashion, I like my space and time alone. I like being by myself and have many a times crushed my husband by requesting he just... back up!  My sister said it to me best the other day "Geez, your husband is obsessed with you!"  This was not meant as a loving compliment or fond praise. But it should be! I am proud to have a husband that is obsessed with me. This year I want to stop settling for a good marriage and have an amazing marriage. I am taking this year and being intentional about creating a better marriage! You can join me in this happily-{er} ever after challenge.

 

Week One Challenge:

Talk up my hubby to someone. Twitter and Facebook does not count! Find a real life person and tell them something nice about my husband!

 

Why? How will this make my marriage better? This will make my marriage better because the more I compliment my husband to others and make a conscious effort to talk about how amazing he is I am internalizing it too and my fondness for this man grows. I have not done a good job at this thus far in my marriage and for this I am regretful. But I feel most women naively fall victim of this. We sit with our sisters or girlfriends and swap "my man irritates me" stories. You know the ones. The ones where the girls nod their heads agreeing that that would irritate them too. And we all laugh at the expense of someone's husband. Most the time it is not meant to be coldhearted and the stories are meaningless like "he is always playing video games" or "he leaves his dirty socks everywhere" or "he never does the dishes" but I want to be my husband's biggest fan, loudest cheerleader. This starts by making a thoughtful effort to talk him up instead of demeaning him. When I have spent quiet time with Jesus lately He keeps telling me the same thing. Love Your Husband. But, of course I do, Lord. No, Love Your Husband. My challenge this week is to create a habit of being the wife that sings her husband's praises. I want my friends to be like "Geez, she is obsessed with her husband."  Because shouldn't  I be? Is that not why I married him? 2014 is my year to live happily-{er } ever after.

 

Love Your Today,

Lex