Another Edition of It's Ok Thursday

It's OK...

that D still doesn't have a job.  I'm actually kind of loving having him home.

that I had a few sips of Coca-Cola today.

that most days I don't do my make-up at all.

that most of my Instagram pictures are of J.

that we only have one car for the next week while mine is in the shop getting fixed.

that even though I'm sticking to my juicing, I'm still not used it.

to be flattered when the cute cashier at Safeway flirts with me.

that I am looking forward to the T family trip to Disneyland more than just about anything else right now (I even bought shirts for the occasion)!

that J has more clothes than both me and D combined (and I bought him a few more shirts yesterday).

that I would rather snuggle and play with my sweet boy more than do almost anything else.

 that I'm not pencil thin and have serious curves instead.

that most of the clothes in my closet come from Target and that most days I am a walking Target advertisement.

that I have no idea how to dress for summer.  

that I talk to my mom almost every single day.

that I have logged a ridiculous number of hours playing Sudoku on my phone (seriously, ridiculous).

that I worry about my kid being bullied or being a bully.

that J loves the dog more than D and me.

that I'm a theatre snob sometimes (ok, most times).

that I was up until 1am for no good reason (we were watching Star Trek. Nerdy? Yes. But also awesome).

What are you Ok with this Thursday?

What I've Been Wearing

One of my resolutions or quests is to edit down my wardrobe and define my style.

I've been wearing pieces that I haven't been able to figure out how to wear before (like the skirt pictured below).

 I've also filled in several holes that I've found by using Go Chic or Go Home (red pants, chambray shirt, leopard print shoes and scarf, patterned blouses).

But my favorite change that I've experienced is that I look forward to getting dressed (instead of wishing I could just stay in sweats all day) and I like the way I look and feel in a put together outfit.

Which outfit is your fav?

Scarf: Gift
Cardigan: H&M
Black Tee: Target
Pants: Forever 21
Shoes: Target

Top: Target
Skirt: hand-me-down from sister (but also Target)
Shoes: Nordstrom Rack
Necklace: VeryJane

Top: TJMaxx
Belt: Kohls
Leggings: Motherhood Maternity
Boots: Payless
Headband: Target

Top: Target
White Tee: Downeast
Pants: Forever 21
Shoes: Toms

Couple Dating

Whoever said that dating ends when you get married was wrong!

In the 5+ years D and I have been married, we've discovered this interesting phenomenon we call couple dating.

 

To date someone is to pair off and go out socially with that person.  While dating, you only have to like one person and only one person has to like you.

But, sometimes you hit a road block.  You don't like the way he does dishes.  You find her laugh annoying.  Or you get busy and grow apart.

So, you break up.

Couple dating is when one couple dates another couple.

You go out a few times, have each other over for dinner/drinks/games.

Couple dating, however, is way more complicated than regular dating.

Girl A has to get along with Girl B.

Girl B has to get along with Girl A.

Boy A has to get along with Boy B.

Boy B has to get along with Boy A.

And

Girl A has to get along with Boy B.

Boy A has to get along with Girl B.

Boy B has to get along with Girl A.

Girl B has to get along with Boy A.

  

All while still getting along with your original partner.

It can be exhausting.

And, of one of these links doesn't work, you don't hang out with that couple again.

When D and I start hanging out with a new couple, there's a great deal of trying to find common interests (TV shows, sports teams, games, kids, political views), testing out each others' senses of humor, and trying not to be too offensive (maybe that's just me).

D and I have several couples that we get along with really well.

We just recently started hanging out with a few different couples.

It's funny because I feel very similar anxiety and nervousness when we're going to hang out with these new couples that I felt when I first started dating someone new - but amplified because now I have my husband to worry about too!

I want to make sure that I'm wearing a cute outfit and my hair and make-ups are did, and that my husband looks good, too.

I want to make sure that we bring yummy treats or something to share (I'm not above bribery).

I worry not only about what I might say, but my husband, too (not that he would say anything bad, but I'm a worrier).

Then, when it's all over, I over analyze the same way I did when I was starting to date a new guy.

 And I wonder will they call?  Should I call?  What should we do next?

Silly, I know.

But interesting to reflect on, nonetheless!

Juicing Update

{via}

  I have now been juicing for one whole week.

That is one 16 oz. juice every two hours.

And then I eat a normal dinner.

I wish that I could say "I've had so much more energy!" or "The pounds are just dropping off my body!" or "Every juice tastes better than the last!"

Not so much.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not giving up.

I am trying to come to terms with the fact that my body has a lot to recover from and it may take some more time before I see or feel the results that I'm looking for.  (Husband has seen results right away - jealous.)

My body has changed a little.  Pants that fit me great a week ago are now a little big, although the scale hasn't budged.  And my stomach actually tells me when I'm hungry now (before, I would just guess - I haven't always been very good about eating and I think my stomach just gave up on giving me hunger cues).

I feel a lot better mentally about my eating (or drinking) choices this week, too.  I haven't had a Coke until Friday when I shared one with D.  My dinners have been healthy.  I haven't snacked on junk food.  So even if my energy level hasn't really changed and the scale hasn't changed, I don't feel any "guilt" over my crappy eating choices.

One of my students took a sip of one of my juices this week and she exclaimed, "Ew! How do you drink that?!"  (She's 9.  And it was actually one of the yummier juices.)

 Here are some of the things I have learned though:

• Wash your juicer right away (Duh, right?  Sometimes I'm lazy, though).
• Leafy veggies are easier to juice when you juice them at the same time as an apple or an orange or something.
• Broccoli may not give you a ton of juice, but you can taste it for sure!
• Cucumber makes any juice taste really fresh.
• A ripe pear makes any juice taste super yummy, even one with lots of veggies.
• Drink the juice right away - if it sits for too long, it'll separate.
• Use Granny Smith apples - it's better to use tart apples than sweet apples.

And, for any of you out there who are also juicing, here are some of my favorite juice combinations:

• 2 Oranges, 2 Apples, 4 Carrots, handful of Kale, handful of Broccoli
• 4 Carrots, handful of Kale, 2 handfuls of Spinach, 2 Apples, 2 Kiwi, 1 Pear
• Half a Cantaloupe, 1 Pear, 1 Apple, handful of Kale, handful of Broccoli, 4 Carrots
• Half a Pineapple, 4 Carrots, 2 Apples, 2 handfuls of Kale, 2 handfuls of Spinach
• Half a Cantaloupe, 1 Zucchini, 1 Cucumber, 2 handfuls of Spinach, 1 Apple, handful of Kale, 2 Carrots

 Usually, my "base" is the same - 1 Apple, 2 Carrots, handful of Kale, 1-2 handfuls of spinach. 1/2 a cucumber.  Then I add and subtract from there.

 

What recipes do you have to share with me?!

{via}

Happy juicing!  

And don't give up.

Can-Do Attitude

Sorry for the brief hiatus.

I've had a teething and super sick little boy here who has needed some extra momma snuggles.

And who am I to refuse?

But, little boy has two new teeth and is over the on the mend from his cold, thankfully.

With little man being sick and needy, I haven't been able to do as much as I want to do.

I've felt discouraged because my "to-do" list is growing and I'm not making any progress.  Rather, I feel like I'm falling behind!

Tuesday night, I had to get out of the house.  I was hoping it would clear my head.

(I went to Target, of course.)

On my way to Target, an ambulance was driving down the road behind me.

Lights flashing and sirens waling.

I tried to pull over, but there was a person hanging out in my blind spot.  I was finally able to get over, but not before the ambulance hung out on my rear long enough to make me feel like a royal jerk.

And then I started freaking out.

Generally feeling bad about myself and my seeming unkindness and rudeness.

The feeling lasted all night and into the morning.

Until, I looked myself in the mirror and had a little pep talk.

Out loud and everything.

I said "Landon, what do you need to do today?"

Fill my prescriptions and teach 4 lessons were the only things that I needed to get done.

"Ok, what can you do today?"

Take stuff to Goodwill, clean my bedroom, do dishes, and play with my boy.

With that "can-do" attitude, I felt great all day long!

When I'd run up against an obstacle, I would ask "can I do this?"

If I could, I would.

If not, I'd let it go.

And I let that be enough.

Why Juicing

While pregnant, I spent 8 months throwing up anything and everything.

I was on bed rest.

I did absolutely nothing to take care of my body.

All I could focus on was not dying.

(Sounds a little dramatic, but still true.)

J is now 9 months old.

Drinking Coca-Cola and eating chocolate and ice cream hasn't done much to help my body recover from pregnancy.

My lack of physical activity hasn't done much either.

I tried to get into running, and really enjoyed it, but my diet didn't really support my activity.

I was just exhausted all the time.

All. The. Time.

Rather than try do everything at once (fix my diet, be more active, count calories), which is my usual approach, I decided to start at square one - diet.

My thought process is that if I improve my diet, I'll have more energy to function.

If I have more energy, I'll be able to exercise regularly.

If I exercise regularly, I'll be happier, I'll lose weight, I'll be healthier, I'll live longer, I'll have more energy to play with J, etc.

So,

I bought a juicer.

It got here yesterday.

(Happy Valentines Day to me!)

This is our juicer - Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor

 D is juicing with me.

Our first juice was: 2 carrots, 2 apples, 2 oranges, and spinach.

 Our second juice was: 4 carrots, 2 pears, 2 kiwi, kale and spinach.

Holy yummy, Batman!

(I liked the second one better, but the first one was still good.)

My plan is to juice for breakfast and lunch and eat a normal dinner.

I also am going to keep healthy snacks on hand (low fat string cheese, almonds, pistachios).

I would love to hear your favorite juice recipes!

I'd also love to hear your favorite, healthy "go-to" snacks to have on hand!

Cheers to better health!

Happy Valentines Day

Free Valentines Printable

Keeping with the theme of spreading the love this Valentines, I have a super fun, free printable to share with you!

And, of course, it has a little Coca-Cola in it (my love affair with Coke is never-ending).

Click to Download

Carmel Corn

My grandma makes the yummiest Caramel Corn.

For Valentines Day, D and I are spreading the love to our friends, family, neighbors, students, everyone!  

To kick things off, we made some of my grandma's delicious Caramel Corn.

And we're spreading the love by sharing the recipe with you!

Grandma's Caramel Corn

• White or Yellow popcorn (enough to fill a roasting pan)
• 2 Cups Brown Sugar, packed
• 1/2 Cup Karo Syrup
• 1 Cup Butter (use the real thing, not margarine)
• 1 Tbsp Water 

 Combine brown sugar, Karo syrup, butter and water in a pot on the stove.  Bring to a good rolling boil, and pour over your popcorn.  Let the caramel cool for about 5 minutes (this is the step I always miss and then always regret not following).  Coat your hands with butter, and mix the caramel and popcorn.  Add any extras (for Valentines Day I added pink and red M&M's).

Nine Months!

Nicknames: Jack, Jack-Jack, Stink, Stink-bug, Doodle, Bug, Bubba

This Month:

• My normally happy, sweet, charming little man has become a stinker!  His bottom two teeth are hanging out right below the gums causing him quite a bit of discomfort, which he is not shy to let us know about!  Smiles are much harder to come by - instead we get the stink face (see main picture above).
• J has made many more friends - especially girl friends.  One of his favorites girls is one of my voice and piano students.  He adores her!
• J and Izzy are totally friends!  They chase each other around the living room and dining room and are totally funny to watch.
• J loves to stand.  He'll hold on to whatever he can to pull himself up so he can stand.  He's not interested in taking steps, just standing and looking around.
• J is full on crawling, not just army crawling.
• Current words include mama, dada, baba, ta, and making this really goofy noise almost like Chewbacca. 
• J loves to sing, especially songs with actions.  He loves "The Wheels on the Bus," "Popcorn Popping," "Head Shoulder Knees and Toes," and the BYU Fight Song.  He also sings along with my voice students and with me. 
• J loves to laugh, when he's not making the stink face.  He cracks himself up, too!  He is super ticklish as well, so we get lots of giggles from him.
• J still loves music!  He will clap and tap and make noises with everything around him.  He'll also bounce and dance with music.
• J's foot is doing alright, but has he grows, his foot has started to tighten.  We are watching him over the next few months for surgery.
• J loves to Skype with his Oregon family, especially Grandpa T.
• J loves his cousins!  He has so much fun with all 3 of them.
• J loves to eat!  Loves loves loves loves loves loves loves loves loves to eat!
• J loves textures and exploring how things feel.  

My darling sweet boy, how I love him - stink face and all!

Christmas Oregon Style

Here comes round two of Christmas posts and another onslaught of pictures.  

Christmas 2012 was a T Family Christmas.

There are 5 of us original T kids.

Two of us are now married.

Plus one baby boy (J).

And my Grandma T joined us, too.

That equals 10 adults and one little guy in the house.

Sleeping arrangements were inventive.

Bathroom schedules were required.

And it was so much fun!

We flew to Oregon.  I brilliantly thought that a 6am flight would be a good idea and that J would sleep through the whole thing.  It wasn't the good idea I thought it would be.  J woke up at 4am and stayed awake until 11a.  Dang.  We also almost missed our flight - we sprinted from checking in to security to our gate.  But, we made it (and so did our bags).

Neither T (K's husband) or D had ever been to downtown Portland, so we took a trip and played tourists.  We hit up Voodoo Doughnuts, Saturday's Market and the Waterfront.

We took some awesome family pictures while we were all together (it's been several years since this has happened).  I have a dang good looking family!

 Christmas Eve, we started a new tradition of getting Sushi for lunch.  K's not a fish fan (check out the photo bottom right), but she took one for the team and came anyway.  She even tried a couple of rolls!  The rest of us totally stuffed our faces - we considered it training for the big meal that night.

Christmas Eve was true to tradition (if you remember, I'm a Christmas Traditionalist).  

We acted out the nativity and sang Christmas carols while dad narrated - J started as baby Jesus (he was asleep until the very end) and D and I were Joseph and Mary.

Mom and I continued our tradition of piano duets, but we played a new one this year (and I'm sure everyone was thrilled not to be hearing our un-rehearsed version of "Sleigh Ride").

We took some Christmas portraits of J (check out those rolls and that grin!).

 Christmas morning, we awoke to find that Santa had indeed found us all and was taking us all to Disneyland in March! 

 The T family might be a little on the obsessed side with Les Miserables, so you better believe that we were there to see it opening morning!  We even did some warm up singing in our best 10th Anniversary Edition imitation voices.

We also hit up the zoo lights (Grandma T is my favorite in this picture - she's the one furthest to the right).

And, most importantly, everyone got it some serious snuggle time with J.

  

Those few days in Oregon with us all together just wasn't enough.

Again, we are so lucky blessed to have such wonderful family!

Festivus

I realize I'm a month late (and then some) but here comes a Christmas post - get ready for an onslaught of pictures!

 

We had 2 Christmases this year: one in Oregon with my family and the second one here in California with D's family.

 

We celebrated with D's family on December 28th, after Christmas Day.  

D's dad decided that it wasn't really Christmas and called it Festivus (the holiday from the TV show Seinfeld) instead - and he went all out!

He made a Festivus Pole.

At brunch we had the "Airing of the Grievances."

We ended the day with "Feats of Strength," too!

 But, in the spirit of Christmas, we opened gifts first!

We were all super spoiled - J even got a box! 

(Isn't it funny how kids love the simplest things?)

 One of the things I love about living in California is the beautiful weather!  This day in December did not disappoint!  We took a walk down the road to visit the horses (and to walk off some of our breakfast brunch).  Then, went out to the field behind the house and rode ATV's (J and I both rode ATV's for the first time!) and visited with the new little lambies.   

 

Our Feats of Strength were Boys v. Girls and girls totally won!

(Well, we won more events than the fellas, even if their overall total score was higher.)

My favorite feat of strength entailed moving a cookie from between our eyebrows into our mouths without hands (the trick is to use your eyelashes). 

Funniest facial expressions ever!

We are so lucky blessed to have such wonderful family!