Here's what I did today:

Sick kids, home from school. Watched many movies...

Sick baby, in my arms all day (my back hurts now).

I cut out felt hearts to make a valentine garland like this, only with pinks, reds, and whites (and lots more than the picture shows). I hope my 7 year-old and I will find time to sew it soon (like before Valentine's day). It shouldn't take more than a few minutes.

I also spent time catching up on blogs in my Google reader. Carrie at This Mama Makes Stuff had a great post about what gear she uses while running, most specifically while training for her upcoming marathon (and of course I'm interested in that). I use the same water bottle belt as her (I LOVE it) and I just recently got a garmin forerunner (which I also LOVE)!

I should have been reading this today, while I was holding my sick baby... Book Club is Tuesday and I have quite a bit left.

I was also hoping to get a chance to paint my toenails today so I could wear those cute shoes. But that didn't happen. :-( Maybe tomorrow.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Shoes

Look what I got in the mail yesterday!


I won something! (Thanks, Thelma!!) I get to keep these adorable shoes for a month, and blog about it. Then I get to send them on to the next lucky gal!

Several weeks ago I saw a post on While They Sleep, that peaked my interest. (Actually my interest is usually peaked there. She is very talented, inspiring, and fun. And I love the title of her blog.) I read the whole post and was really wanting to find out about Thelma's shoe adventures.
I checked out Thelma's blog and entered the drawing. I also found out that we know some of the same people. I grew up with her sister-in-law and she is in my sister's ward right now. Anyway, she keeps a very interesting blog!

So where did these shoes start, you ask? I hope I'm getting this right. They started with this lovely lady Diane (Thanks, Diane! What a fun idea)! Diane sent them to Christie (a talented, crafting blogger. Check out her blog). From Christie they went to Thelma. And now they're with me!

Now my challenges are to: find things to wear them with, remember to take pictures of me wearing them (and take good pictures - I struggle with that all the time), get my toe nails painted and looking much cuter than they look right now (I also struggle with that frequently), blog about the adventures, and most importantly get enough readers that this can be fun and they can go to someone I don't yet know, who lives far away (but if I do know you personally you could still be a contender, obviously). Can you guys help me with that last one? Spread the word, will ya?!

The thing about these shoes is they're size 9. Lucky for me, I am a size 9. I used to be size 8. Then my feet got a bit bigger with each kid. (I want to be done having kids, even if it's just for that reason... j/k). Anyhoo. I tried them on right away and I think someone with narrow feet or people with size 7 1/2 - size 9 feet, could wear these.

I hope to have a giveaway contest around march 3rd, to pass them on to the next lucky lady.



A super surprise about the package was the Dark Chocolate Flipz. (Thanks, Thelma! So nice of you)! Yum! I had never tried them before, but now I'm hooked! I am loving dark chocolate these days. (That's another story.)

Where should I wear these?? You'll have to check back to find out.

See you soon!

Another Green Smoothie Recipe

Remember my other green smoothie? We've been making them a lot around here. We try to change it up a bit every time, just to see what we like best. The other day I bought a few bunches of other types of greens. I set out to make a smoothie this morning and got all the greens in the blender and I realized I was out of pineapple juice. I didn't even have any cans of crushed, tidbits, or chunk pineapple. I usually use that as my base with the greens. It helps a ton with the flavor and texture.

Well, I had to improvise.

Here's what went into my blender today (in order):

• spinach
• kale
• collard greens
• 3/4 cup of water
• 2 lemons (ends cut off, peeled, then cut in thirds w/ seeds removed)
• 1 kiwi
• 1 orange
• 1-2 Tbsp blue agave syrup
  
• 3 Tbsp plain yogurt
• swiss chard
  
• 1 scoop (probably about 1 & 1/2 Tbsp) ground flax seeds
• 1 banana
• about 8 frozen strawberries
• about 1 & 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
• sprouted chia seeds
  

It was soooo yummy! I think it's the yummiest yet!

(The only crazy thing that happened to us while making it was my baby [20 month-old] turned the switch on the blender while I was washing the swiss chard, but the lid was only half way on. We had quite the mess to clean up. It was on the blinds, window, counter, wall, blender, grain mill next to it, the baby, me, cupboards, etc... you get the idea. Cooking with kids can be fun. But, you always have to expect the unexpected. And expect to make time for cleaning up A LOT more as you go...)

If you try this, let me know what you think.

Time for a Hair Cut?

I'm thinking about cutting my hair.

This picture of me was the only one I could find with my hair down (taken 3 months ago). From the looks of the pictures, 95% of the time I have my hair in a pony tail. Apparently I need to wear my hair down more often and my husband needs to get the camera on those days!

What do you think? Cut it short or leave more length?

I may just trim it a bit. Either way, it has to happen soon. It's been way too long since it was last cut and the ends look gnarly!

Friday Gratitude

10 things I am thankful for right now:

1. A warm house
2. My husband. He's so selfless. So good to his family.
   
3. A nice run this morning - wet road, but barely any rain falling down.
4. A date with my husband tonight
5. My husband's job and the flexibility that he has to work from home a few days a week.
6. My laser printer
7. Internet and email
8. Good health
9. Arizona's winter weather
10. Older kids that can play with/entertain/help/teach the younger kids.

Life is good. Really aren't we all so blessed?!

I am trying to think of something I can do to help with some relief in Haiti. What are you doing? I'd love some ideas.

Also, I really appreciate your comments about my "Confessions" post. I'm really okay. I think it sounded worse. Sometimes you just need to get it off your chest, though. Thanks for listening (reading). You are all such good friends. Thanks for the support! You are wonderful women and I am grateful for your friendships (that should've been one of my "ten", eh?) and good advice. {And I am definitely up for a girls trip sometime! Anyone know someone with a cabin up north?}

Have a fabulous weekend!

Shadows and Paper Airplanes

While my sister and her family were here for a few days at Christmas time, we went to the park by my house and made a bunch of paper airplanes and had a little contest. Their uncle is apparently quite the paper airplane builder! We were having fun with the shadows as well. Maybe it's one of those things where you had to be there. Oh well. Enjoy.

Random Confessions...

I don't know why I am choosing to share these. But, I think somehow I will feel better by getting this off my chest.

What I am like lately:

• I have been a horrible mom and I know it. (The second part is what makes it hardest. I'd rather not know. At least it would be easier to live with myself...) I can't believe I just admitted that. Out loud.
  
• I have an incredible sweet tooth. The cravings are getting worse, even though I know I should be training for a marathon. (Uh oh!) Any advice? One thing that might help is hiding the chocolate chip buckets from myself. (Is that really possible?)
  
• I waste time on the computer everyday. (I wish it was not such a magnet. I feel like checking my google reader is like some people's tv. It helps me unwind. But then I just feel like a bad mom and wife. And my house is getting messier. Hmm...)
• I already messed up on my one-and-only-New-Year's-Resolution. (It would be better if I just got back on track with it, rather than just completely giving up. But for some reason there is not as much of a strong desire, because I already messed up. {Maybe it's Satan working hard against me}) Does anyone else understand this?
  
• I can't keep my house clean and I have lost control of my kids chores and after school routine. (I actually have no desire to get them to do their chores. I have a desire to have a clean house. I clean the house while they're at school. The house gets messed up within 30 seconds of them walking in the house from school. I let them play for awhile. I tell them it's time to do chores. It doesn't happen. I don't push it, because I'm busy and don't have the energy either. I also don't like the way I feel when I am fighting with them about it. So, I'd opt for letting it go. But, that is really not in anyone's best interest that I do that.)
  
• I'm lazy. (Isn't that obvious from reading the list so far.)
• I am getting so many white hairs on my head and I'm only 30!! I know, I'm blonde. But I can totally see them!! What the...? I know why people my age color their hair...
  
• I am so lost in what I am supposed to be doing with my calling. I am getting some things. But, I wish I had someone to hold my hand while I do every little thing (even on the computer. I so stink at doing things on the computer).
• I'm jealous of my husband. He gets to go on a skiing trip for four days in Park City. I want to have 4 days totally alone. (What would I actually do? There is too much to do. Maybe I need like 4 YEARS to myself.) Does anyone else ever get jealous of their husband? I also am very happy for him. It's mixed emotions I'm feeling. For sure.
  

Sorry if this list seems so negative. I'm fine, really. I just know there is room for improvement. Maybe someday I'll share a list of improvements that I've made. Ha... Ya, we'll see.

I'm still debating with myself about whether or not I should really post this. It's weird. Or rather, I'm weird. I know that.

Have a great day! Thanks for being my friend despite my weirdness. :-)