All We Need Is Love...Right?

(OMG I just went on this whole rant and forgot it is Wednesday which means Hump Day Challenge...oops. This week's Hump Day Challenge will be tomorrow, my bad I have real work to do around my house and errands, tomorrow folks....it will be good I promise)

Happy Ash Wednessday! (do people say that I hope i am not offending anyone) Now, I am not Catholic but I am giving up white flour and sugary carbs and candy for lent! I have already kept myself from consuming an English muffin and Nutella this morning for lent. I am so out of control with my food issues that I need something to commit to and rules to follow to make good food choices. After Easter (which is when lent ends right?) I will make slow reintroduction and not over indulge in theses types of foods or use them to comfort and/or calm my emotions...that's gonna take work for now I will just follow my lent rules. I could have promise to do laundry everyday...oh weight I already did that...LOL

A week and a half to two weeks from now I will be a part time working full time mom. The Hubs reminded me of that and I got this depressed feeling that over came me. I don't know if I will ever like that Working mom or part time title nor will I ever get my house running like the well oil machine that I want. My Doc yesterday suggested I try taking sertraline an oral medication to help with what she calls my "overwhelm" and to see if helps me over the hump. I am scared to death to take depression drugs. My Doc says I have this overwhelm which leads to anxiety about what is not getting done which leads to depression. Ok, makes sense but is there really a magic pill? Do I have to take it?

I am scared it is going to cause me to have horrible thoughts of suicide which it says has happened in some users or that I am going to forget to take it and go on a crazy killing spree like in an article that I have read about. In said article the author referred to every mass killing suspect has been on some sort of mental health drug. Which is the reason I took myself off Ritalin for my ADD (I think on ly one was related to Ritalin). I hate the pharmaceutical option for every single ailment we have in this day and age! I want to wake up and be normal and do what I want because the human body is a miraculous thing and works so well or does it? I don't want to have to take drugs or even supplements. I use Essential Oils which are great but once again I don't want to have to take something every day! However I would like to feel "normal" and not need to use food or drink for comfort or argue with my self to get out and run and clean my house and do what I need to do....

I want to believe I can regulate my moods and everyone can fix there problems with diet, exercise, natural things from the earth like essential oils ect... Problem being you actually have to eat right, exercise. What about if your ailment is a problem in the actual get up and go, to do what is right then what the fuck is a person to do? And how about those of us who forget to take their meds? ...Oh my gosh this whole writing might be convincing me that I do need to be on something to be normal! But how is "normal"  taking drugs to regulate or alter your brains chemistry?! Can we adjust our lives, our expectations of people to accept them the way they are rather than force them to be "normal"? If we all could go with the flow and pick up the slack where the others leave and not get bitter about it....Fuck that will never happen, we do need medications so that we crazies don't irritate the normals of the world. Or are the normals of the world the ones who need to be medicated or at least be less irritated?!

Tolerance is what we need. Regulation is what we need. Balance is what we need! Maybe some of us need outside help, in the form of correct nutrition, essential oils or supplements or even medication to achieve that balance. I am currently struggling with ego right now, I think! I hate the whole trial and error with meds. I just want an easy answer. I am encouraged to know many of my fellow "crazies" (please don't take offense to that term it is very much a term of endearment) have used medication and have normalized their life and many have only had to use them to get over a hump, which if I do finally decide to try the meds this will be my intentional plan as well. To the normals of the world please understand, to us crazies you are the ones who are crazy. We can't figure out how you are normal. We love you very much and we pray that we could be more like you everyday, but know that together we create balance. Let's be nicer to each other and understand each others world as much as possible and then maybe just maybe, then we could lose the label of crazies and normals and just be humans. We all have challenges, lets love each other out of them, instead of medicating each other out of them!

All we need is love, ditch the ego. Fuck stress have more sex...(I have wanted to use that line for weeks it seemed to fit here) Have a great rest of the day lovely's!

#Everyday2015

Mom Life on Fat Tuesday

Happy Tuesday everyone! It's Fat Tuesday...Does that mean much to anyone? Do people really indulge the night before giving up something for lent? Maybe I should try this phenomena ... lent giving up something for is it still 40 days and 40 nights? I did dry January maybe I should do it for lent too, maybe I will just give up junk food, that is different that alcohol and there are no waivers allowed in lent either.... I have never been Catholic so I don't really know. Friends who I know are don't usually do Fat Tuesday but I know a friend who gave up swearing, using cuss words, for the duration of lent year. Every time she said a cuss word she had to put a quarter in the jar...Fuck! that would cost a lot of money. Actually at the time she did it I was telling her "man I have started cussing so much more lately." She said "I know me too, why do you think I did this?" I asked what she planned to do with the cussing fines, I would use it for new shoes or a trip or something, but she decided she would give it to the church. Oh yeah, that's what lent is for anyway isn't it?...

For this Fat Tuesday I am going to a team mom meeting to plan and end of season party, wonder if I can convince the mom's to take a celebratory shot, you know we should shouldn't we? It is Fat Tuesday, that's what people do on this day right? ...Most of these mom's don't know me super well, so I will probably keep my mouth shut so not to seem like the token alcoholic, but you won't see me turning down another mom's suggestion to do so.... The restaurant is in walking distance to my house and is on my running route, so if we mom's get crazy, the Hubs could grab me on his way home from teaching tonight and I could fetch the car on my run tomorrow. Hey I just figured out how to make sure I get my run in! Yay me!!!  

Anyway, I am super excited to hang out with of one particular rock star mom tonight! She and I have chatted about needing a mom coffee date where we drink mimosas after sending the kids to school one day..it is no longer dry January and she is Catholic, so tonight might have to be "our night" if she is giving up drinking mimosas for lent. She does read my blog, at least use to, so, Dear Said Mom I am speaking of, if you are reading this before wrestling team mom meeting, we will be sneaking into the bar and taking a shot together!!!  Nudge nudge hint hint...you don't need to comment on the post, just wink at me when we make eye contact tonight lady! Fun times on the docket for tonight!

Don't judge me folks today I had a good mommy day. It was a day off for the kids, Hubs is back to work after the three day weekend but the kids had a four day weekend. I started off with strawberry, chocolate chip pancakes, scored mom points right there. Then we had to do Dr's appointment for the Boy and I but had a break in between and during the break we adventured out to take a walk on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge! (It was beautiful, we have had amazingly pretty sunny weather here in western Washington!) They had never done that, more mom points right? However I think they were more impressed with dad taking them on the roof top of a building he was working at over the weekend, Dad's are always way cooler (eye roll). Then after my Dr appointment (which my Dr wants to put me on Zoloft..ugh I am resisting Rx in hand though, topic for another day) we went to the kids favorite restaurant in that area where they can watch the cooks make their pizza and the cooks were prepping basil and mozzarella for that basil mozzarella cheese and tomato appetizer thing...(yeah you know what I mean who really knows what it is called anyway, I just eat it. Oh, I just looked it up, looks like it is called Tomato Basil Mozzarella Appetizer, who knew?) it smelled yummy as we waited for our food. So yes major more mom points! And it came with Gelato! Yay more mom points! Have I mentioned my kids love language is food?

It was a great day for my kids and this here momma and still not over! Gotta go get the sitter for this evening since the Gramma forgot she can't do it, so instead of having 2 hours to blog and do some power cleaning I now only have about an hour but will probably stretch that to an hour and a half and not have as much time to get where I am going. It is just right around the corner! I did start laundry and if I get home in time to get the sitter home before the Hubs gets home, I am planning a surprise night for the hubby to come home to me sitting in my favorite comer of the couch sans clothing! ....ooh that is unless I do end up taking too many shots with the team moms and need him to meet me at the bar and pick me up...either way I guarantee he will enjoy whatever happens. And, I already got the OK from the sitter to stay out late because she is now home schooled and her mom says she can be a late night sitter if I need, any time, let's hope tonight counts as anytime (wink wink)

So Happy Fat Tuesday to you all enjoy your day and regardless of your religion indulge in something today, just because it was a beautiful day here and you deserve it, I scored enough mom points to share with you. So you can have some of mine!

#Everyday2015

One Beautiful Day Bonding

It is Monday at 7pm! It feels like Sunday since it was a three day weekend. Which I love and it is awesome to have the whole Fambam together, however it messes with my weekly schedule! It was beautiful day today here in Western Washington! So beautiful that, this whole weekend that we spent pretty much all day yesterday and all day today as a family outside cleaning up the yard and getting it ready for spring. We usually are already into baseball season by the time the weather is good for doing what we did today so it is a nice bonus to get going. We are going to have a good yard again this year!

It is about 2 weeks in the countdown until I go back to work two days a week. My "boss" has already offered to pay for a spot in the B & I to help me get a practice up and going and I am ready! However, I have a long list of projects that need to get done here around the house before the beginning of March. I should make a list... I need to clear clutter off my dresser in the master bedroom, clean the end of the hope chest out at the end of the hallway and figure out a better flow for that area, organize my baking cabinet and the kids craft stuff, and organize the linen closet... I will get this done and be ready with a clean organized house to go back to work. Then when I start working I will utilize every day I am off to be productive, and still have time for our girls lunch on Friday afternoons!  ...a girl can dream right? Problem being I like to chill on the couch and procrastinate, I won't have that time to do so once I start back to work.So I will need to make every effort to be on task like every good mom does...haha right?

We got a good start today, I feel ready to go for the week. The family had some good family bonding time, over arguing who picked up more leaves and filling 14 55 gallon bags full of yard waste! What, not every family bonds this way? I should keep up on the house and yard work so we have more time together as a family. Wait...if I did that when would we get time to bond?! The Girl would be too busy painting her nails, The Boy would be playing video games and The Hubs would be schooling the Boy on the new Forza and I would be doing dishes and folding clothes....so yea I would prefer to argue over who picked up more pine cones... I am looking forward to the next day we all spend all day in the yard! I love those times! A family outing for just because would be fun too. No, I am not talking about a baseball game or dance performance or a trip to Seattle for mommy to do a run. A day to just go play as a family.... but yeah, we are busy and driven and our family thrives on those moments of busy-ness and we love every second so we will enjoy them as they come and just sit and dream about just going out just for fun... in the words of Matisuahu "One Day" (that is the song the Girl's dance team competes in the Lyrical division).

I love my life!  I love my family! I love my husband! I love my kids! I love my blog! Have a great week everyone! Happy Monday!

#Everyday2015

Do You and Your Lover Speak the Same Language?

Happy Valentines Day!!! I hope you all get a chance to enjoy and love each other! Valentine's Day is for lovers but also for families and people to have a reason to show love. What are you doing for your love today? What about for your kids, your mom, your friends? No, I am not suggesting you go out and buy a lame card or candy for everyone you love. Just think about a way to show your love to the ones you love.

I usually make Chocolate covered Strawberries or Cake or some sweet treat (and I wonder why I have a weight issue) I do show my love a lot in food. What love language is food? Acts of Service or Gifts? I usually make it and decorate and spend lots of time on a good meal and/or a pretty dessert. I think it might be a combination of Acts of Service and Gifts Given. What is your love language? Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time or Physical Touch? I am not an expert on Gary Chapman's Love Languages, however it is an interesting phenomenon (disclaimer, I have read The Five Love Languages of Children, not the original book). I think that whole concept is interesting.  I definitely show love to my husband (and everyone else) in my love language. I have a hard time figuring out what his love language is because I speak in mine. Not that I haven't tried to figure him out. He is a Physical Touch, Quality Time, Acts of Service type. I am a words of Affirmation, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, Quality Time and Physical Touch type depending on the day... see, it is so clear why wouldn't I just speak love in my husband's language.

It's because I am me. I speak in my language not that I don't try to learn and know him and his language. Point being....Love languages are great. I believe that everyone has a special love language and that it is important to be aware of and a good thing to learn. I have tried and will continue to work on it but there is no magical answer for being in a relationship. My husband may think he is doing great letting me know I am loved and then I drop a ball saying you never say nice things (he does but I don't hear it sometimes)!!! See, if I am a Words of Affirmation type and he is showing me love with Physical Touch we are not speaking the same language and what he has done for me doesn't speak the same as what he wants it to. And the opposite is true when I do things of love for him that he may not recognize! For Example, I make great meals and slave away trying to cook and show my love and all he wants is for me to be naked waiting for him on the couch. IN cases like this all we want is to be noticed that we are trying and to be loved! If we both step back and realize what the others love language is, instead of waiting for them to show us the way we want to be shown love, look for them to show love in their natural way it would bridge a massive gap in most relationships!

If you can see what your partners love language is, don't expect them to change for you, look for them to show you in their love language, appreciate it, even if it's not your love language. If you appreciate and give them the acknowledgement that you know they are trying maybe they will try to go out of their comfort zone and speak in your language. But that is not the easiest for them, try not to be too hard on your love. I guarantee they currently showing you love in their very own love language, you just have to open your eyes to see. The same way you show them love in your language but if you go that extra mile to show them love in their language...You have reached your pot of gold, there will be much rewards for you ... hubba hubba.(Dirty minds there are other rewards to it too!)

Go show your love love today! Look for your love to show you in their love language and if they are speaking in your love language acknowledge that is mastery and don't take it for granted! Enjoy it and work hard to love your spouse and to see your spouse loving you! It is happening, open your eyes, he loves you, you love him. Show it and go forth and love and be loved! Remember there are many ways to show love. The 5 love languages are Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, and Quality Time are all ways to show and express and speak love. Your lover and you can connect on all 5 levels, you should. There is one that stands out more for each individual but your lover and you may speak love in different ways. Instead of trying to change your lover to speak your way, just know there are many ways to express and show love. Look for those ways in your lover to show you their own way. You show love your way but try to make an effort to speak his/her language. If you are looking for it, you will find it, open up to your lovers way of being loved and they will open up to you!

This is sounding a lot like love advice (Boo that) and I am not sure I am making sense. What I am trying to say is learn your lovers love language so you can interpret their attempts to show you love. Not so that you can change to be what they want or so they will change to better fit you. Don't make or expect your lover to change to better fit what you are, accept them for who they are. Don't expect your lover to change for you. They will return the favor and accept you for you. The reason you fell in love is because of who each of you organically are. Love in your language and let them love in theirs! Enjoy Valentine's Day lovers!

#Everyday2015

Let Yourself Be Loved When You Can't Love Yourself

OMG!!! I posted then, lost my post when I came into the Blogger app to edit a typo! Fuck!!! Which means my final draft that was so awesome, is not the same F!...I need to learn how to sync these things better.... Here it goes again...

Happy Thursday! I have a head ache today! Ugh! Yesterday I was in a foul mood today it's a head ache, I am struggling with my weight loss goals, can I complain anymore? I did have a great date night last night! During the day, I text the hubs about how crappy I was feeling. I gave him the proverbial heads up that I was in a foul mood, I couldn't get my shit together and I was feeling bad about it. He gave me the much needed moral support I was needing! I still am in a mood today but today I have a better overall aspect on life. That is why I have the Hubs, to pick me up when I am down!

I am trying not to be down on myself and to get as much done as possible and be productive everyday! I want my house to be spotless all the time, but we live here and I take moments to enjoy my family. The Hubs and I do a date night once a week, I hang at practices for a few extra minutes and go to all of the games and performances that I can. I also take time to sit next to the Hubs in the evening so we get some connection and/or together time. So I have the time from when the Hubs leaves for work and when the kids go to school to get my house work done. I try not to "work" when the Hubs is home, however, sometimes it's a decision of leaving a mess or working while the Hubs is home I do both depending on the day. He enjoys that I take time to spend with him. He also is okay with me being determined to get the house together as well. He does prefer me to work while he works but also knows that when it counts the stuff will get done! I am getting there. My house is cleaner than ever even though it is not spotless. Is anyone's house spotless all the time? I always feel like there is a trade off. Either you are frantically cleaning all the time or there is always a but of a mess.

We live here and we live with each other. There is not one person here that is always working. We all out in work and we all deserve down time too. Yes, we are busy and sometimes the dishes are in the sink for a couple days because of that. I choose to spend time with the Hubs instead of obsessing about cleaning all the time. I figure, as long as the counter tops are usable, dishes are clean when you put food on them and everyone has clean underwear (even if it means getting it out of the dryer) and everyone is enjoying life and each other, then my job is well done. My grandma may argue that I need to do more or that it is unacceptable to leave clothes in the laundry overnight, but she doesn't live here and I know what matters. People matter, family matter, love matters, enjoying moments with each other everyday matters! Those clothes will get done even if it has to wait until tomorrow. One day the kids will enjoy that I took time with them instead of stressing about laundry every second of every day!

The Hubs is proud of me. I hear that he brags to our friends about how I do take care of the family and the house. Even though he does sometimes think I could be more efficient (he is right) but in the long run when he steps back he is proud of me. He likes that I have balance to work when it needs to be done, I can knock out power cleaning when I need to, if I want to. I think it means a lot to him to know that I will take time to enjoy him even when the house is a disaster, as long as we have a room that is clean that we don't have to look right at the mess we're good, he appreciates that too.

I am working on balance. This week I have not been super good at it, my house is not spotless, I have a head ache and am tired this week, but I am trying to accept myself and be loving to me and get as much done as possible but also enjoy the family and accept that I cannot do it all and when I make a decision that results in things not getting done I am going to accept it and not beat myself up. I am working on accepting me and loving me and loving my family through it.

I need to work on writing lists to keep me on task. I also need to work on eating well as that affects my motivation and drive and mood and I can tell that my tiredness is being caused by poor food choices. I have a lot to work on but mainely I need to work on accepting and being okay with myself today and this week. How are you doing? Are you taking care of your family? Your House? Most importantly are you taking care of you? The latter is the most important! If you are not loving you don't expect anyone else to! Yesterday I was not loving myself too much. I sent that text to the Hubs and he made it clear to me that he loves me no matter what and he is there to help and support me when I need it, I just have to reach out to him. Although when he is there for me it is important that I remember not to be too hard on myself. I believe you can block love from others if you are filled with too much self loathing. The Hubs came through for me with a date night and good attitude adjustment, love him. Glad he was in the mood to be there for me when I couldn't shake myself out of that self loathing! Love yourself enough to allow those who love you to pick you up when you need it! Be open for love all the time someone will for sure come through for you! If no one does contact me I will give you pep talk! Choose to be happy!!!!

#Everyday2015

Practice What You Preach

A little late post today, we have been at Dance Convention and during lunch I decided to take the parent class instead of blogging during lunch. Which turned out to be a Musical Theater Hip Hop performing opp for us parents. As we were learning our routine today the instructor said, "here is your chance to have a moment" our kids get these moments all the time when they perform, now it was our turn. "Don't waste it" she said. It made me think, will I be able to practice what I preach and dance it out big, perform, and show up in my face they way I tell The Girl to when she is on stage.

I am always coaching up my kids. For The Girl it is about practicing the way she is going to perform. She doesn't always "perform it" in her rehearsals. She will bring it on stage though. She always steps it up a notch or two when she is in a performance. I always say, imagine what it would be like if you practiced that way, you would be through the roof!!! For The Boy it is telling him to play like he practices. Sometimes during games he holds back. I think it is because he is afraid to mess up. He won't run as fast or go as hard to "avoid" a mistake. I know all to well what that is like. So today when I was thinking of having my moment in this performance I thought "remember what you tell The Girl and do that!"

Well, in the performance I did, mostly. I knew I had to because she would be even more embarrassed and say "mom, why didn't you perform it full out" or maybe it would be a good example of what not to do, that is if she took her embarrassment hands away from her head long enough to watch. In my performance I listened to that voice that I tell The Girl. "Look like you are having fun! Be sharp, you know what you are doing! If you mess up mess up big and own it." Well, I went right instead of left put two moves in the wrong order but I shimmied and shook smiled and even added in some sassy facials to Taylor Swift's shake! It was fun, I really do love performing and being on stage and I hope people, especially The Girl and the kids in our studio, saw that. I hope the dancers from our studio lets it inspire them to smile and enjoy dancing enough to remember that voice in their performances and in turn, increase their scores!

So practice what you preach! Follow through with your own advice. Don't expect your kids to take your advice if you do not! Our kids will emulate us, sometimes out of respect and admiration and sometimes just out of habit and because of genetics. So let's not only be good role models but follow the advice we give to our kids. Let the kids see you try things and fail and see you try and succeed. Be honest about your decisions and let them lift your spirits every now and then if the "performance" wasn't your best or the "judges" didn't like it so much or things don't go you way. That is what we would do for them. We encourage them and love them in their best and worst so do that for yourself as well. Never miss an opportunity to have your "moment" and more than that, don't be afraid to go out and dance BIG! In the words of Lee Ann Womack "If you get a chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance" and better yet, do it on stage! 

#Everyday2015

BTW I need to brag The Girl did a great job this competition, her solo got a first place Platinum award and she won the title for her age group at this convention!  Yay!

Avoid the Plague of Standitis

Today I am blogging from the dance convention. At Dance conventions the dancers get a chance to take master classes and learn routines in different dance styles. Every dancer has a favorite style and also and least favorite or sometimes a hated style. My daughters least favorite would probably be tap. The noise of tap class drives me crazy even! The second class of theday was tap today. I fell in love with the tap teacher's passion for dance and teaching dance and teaching passion to these kids! His passion for tap and what I hate about it is what I fell in love with, tap is about making music with your feet. Standitis is the plague. Standitis is the opposite of dancing! It's standing and for a dancer it is what will get you over looked and never hired for a dance job or win you anything.  I LOVE THIS CONCEPT! His passion about this oozed from his being! I am not sure the 10 years olds in his class quite got it but OMG I did and the other parents I was sitting with got it!

It's about passion, what is your passion? Chances are, it is not dance. But thes kids and my daughter's, at least for today, is. She sometimes gets frustrated with dance friends who don't take things as seriously as she does. She gets frustrated with me for taking it too serious I am sure. However, oozing your passion will only take you places! Allowing Standitis to take over you will only lead you to failure! It doesn't matter what your passion is, staditis leads to failure every single time! It is a bad habit that must be broken. I think standitis is plaguing America in every areana! No one wants to harness their passion and dance it out! People are looking for a quick fix, a pill to take to fix their problems when the actual problem is standitis.

Standitis is that desire to sit or 'stand' and do nothing. That thing that keeps you hitting the snooze button in the morning. That thing that makes excuses for you when you know you need to get up and workout. It what keeps us "phoning it in" instead of showing up!

Harness your passion and use that to drive you! Sometimes as real people we don't get the oppurtuity to do what we are passionate about for a living. We have to have real jobs that kind of suck sometimes to support our lives and support our passion! But in those mundane jobs you can and must find something to be passionate about and dance it out, big! I am not passionate about doing dishes but I am pasionate about my family! So I must find a way to not have standitis and do it big! I believe it is possible. It takes jsut doing it! 

Not every dancer's passion is tap, this teacher, Jason, was teaching tap but bigger than that he was teaching passion. Giving in to standitis will not lead to a promising career in dance which some of these kids want. Nor will it lead to winning the sought after scholarship they are auditionig for. Having and showing standitis shows you are just like everyone else just going through the motions. Living with passion is dancing big and bold and smiling and putting in your all! That will win scholarships and will get you paid to do what you love.

What is your passion and are you plagued with standitis? It is easy to not have it, dancing is the absecnse of standitis. So the cure for standitis is dancing. So go, dance your passion do it big and get noticed win that promotion, the good job or whatever you are pasionate about! Live out loud! Don't let the standers around you pull you down. Ignore the chatter and the looks and do you! DO YOU, BIG!

Dance it out! Live the life you want and love and don't stand around and watch the one you don't want! Only you control you!  Now go get it, be passionate about your job, your lover and your family and show it!!!  Let no one see you standing or be able to accuse you of having standitis!

Live and dance and love out loud with passion!

#Everyday2015!

You Have To Watch The Dance!

Happy Friday! It is the first Dance Competition day of the year! Happy Competition Day! Can the Girl break the year of the 2nds and get a 1st? I think she can. Her solo is beautiful, a contemporary to a cover of Awol Nation's Sail by Lizzy Land. So today we are prepping and primping and getting stage ready! I had to iron/pressed out a costume with lots of pick ups and roushing. OMG what a pain in the ASS! But it looks so pretty now. I hated it  before I pressed it. Before the attention I gave it pressing with iron on low setting then holding it up and checking to make sure it was perfect, almost perfect anyway. It is brown and it looked like a wrinkled up paper bag but after some time and patience at the ironing board pressing and turning and spinning and smoothing out it looks so good! From drab to fab in just a swipes of the iron and time.

It is very metaphorical. To take a costume that is a silky rayon type fabric with overlays of tool and pick ups that looks all crunchy and wrinkly, like a paper lunch bag at the end of a day and make it look flowy and smooth so it will move beautifully with the dance the way it was intended. A little attention to detail armed with an iron and the costume is in it's original form of beauty, the way it was intended. We as people are the same way.

We tend to neglect each other and ourselves. We get crunchy, grumpy and bitter. Like we were packaged up in a bag to fit as small as possible so shipping charges would be minimal. We fold in as much as we can in the little time we have between work and school and taking kids to practices and rehearsals and getting groceries and cooking dinner and slamming it down our throats and off to a volunteer meeting. Most of us take little time to enjoy the good stuff, what time is there? How often do you step back to enjoy your kids in their element or you husband or wife in theirs? We balance our check books while we "watch" practice or better we fill the time by scrolling through social media. Then we wonder why the kids and husband are a bit crunchy at the end of the day...maybe it's you not them?

Can you realize that with a little attention they smooth out and look pretty. You take time on your hair so it doesn't frizz (if you are one who doesn't slow down and do so!) so why don't we take time on our relationships to smooth them out too? All it takes is attention, time and patience, there is no secret sauce or special class to take. The Hubs would say "slow down to go faster" you can't iron a roushed skirt with pick ups fast. If you do what is the point? You must slow down smooth it out and then iron it. Then move the skirt to just the right spot and iron just so. Do this with your life! Make everything in your life beautiful all it takes is attention and time and you, being present. You don't have to know how, you just have to slow down, use your instincts with the goal of making it beautiful!

You could say stop and smell the roses. I say watch the dance. We have spent the good part of the last 8 months getting ready for this day. The first competition day. Most of the work has been by the girl practicing learning choreographing the dance. But we have paid the bills, bought the costumes, pressed the costumes downloaded the music for her to practice, taken her to her rehearsals everyday and some weekends juggling it with the boy's schedule, it has been a labor for the Earl's as a whole family, not just the Girl. We have taken time to iron out all the details and made it beautiful. What we paid for, was not only dance lessons and choreography but for the opportunity to see our commitment show up on stage, and to be judged, we paid for our girl to learn dance and gain poise and personality and confidence, the most expensive show ticket ever but my mommy heart says it is worth it. Tears well up in my eyes at the thought of how beautiful she will be! We will all be proud! But it is almost meaningless if we don't stop to admire our work! We have to WATCH THE DANCE! I took a picture when I was done ironing that costume today. Sometimes you have to admire your hard work and look where you came from (I wish I took a before picture). Sometimes you have to post those pictures too! For everyone to share in your excitement and joy and pride and let your friends and support group give you the atta boys, that you most definitely deserve, and let them experience the beauty that is YOUR dance!

So today I am going to WATCH THE DANCE! I can't wait to see her on stage and hear what the judges say! I hope they love it as much as I will and I hope she knows that she is always a Titanium in my book (Titanium is the highest mark you can get, it's usually Platinum and that would be awesome to but this competition gives one higher for those scoring 98-100). I am proud for her just getting up there putting in the effort and putting up with all the ironing all the shifting stepping back and finding more wrinkles that need to be ironed out, be it practicing dance getting the right facial or her part in convincing the Hubs and I that it is worth the time effort and money from the family for her to do this, this is a family effort and it will be a family celebration.

Where does your life need attention? Are your paying attention to those details, pick out the wrinkles and iron them out. The end result is so worth the effort! Now get to ironing folks!

#Everyday2015

Super Bowl Sunday!

It is Superbowl Sunday!!! The Seahawks are prepared The 12s are prepared! The Girl and I have glittered up our Seahawks make up and added tiaras today! It is a perfect day to wear a crown! I do have a Hat that my MIL made for me that has been my lucky hat standing by. I will be putting it on later around game time or just after kick off!

Today is a family day, a friend day, a day of celebration. A day to leave the diets,stress and drama outside and enjoy some yummy foods and drinks and a great game and a great show. Jello Shots are a tradition here, a good friend of mine started the tradition a few years ago and now she lives in Vegas so I continue to make them. I am tearing up at the thought of the amazingness that today is for the team and for the 12s!

Always Compete! I'm In! We all we got! We all we need! 12 Life!

I am a fan looking forward to the opportunity for my team to raise that Lombardi trophy once again I am so excited! Sex Love and Washing Clothes is not so much a focus for me today, no deep thoughts or motivations today, just celebrations! We have had our good luck sex, I will start some laundry and I will be with many that I love today!

Here are my words of wisdom today: Be in the moment! Don't be afraid to break out the Glitter and be flashy! Make memories in this glorious day given to you. Let's go Hawks! use your Seahawks voice! I bet you all will be hearing a lot of 12s today! I am so happy and over joyed and excited!

And nervous!

I hope one day you all have the opportunity to see your team go to the Superbowl! I am going to enjoy today. I can't hold back my smile and sometimes tears of joy! Go hang with your family, have some drinks and yummy food and love those around you! It is like Christmas only more versatile! Have a great day folks!

Love
#Everyday2015 #GoHawks

Turnover Thursday, Take Control!

Happy Blue Thursday! It's Turnover Thursday! Today I weighed myself and weighed in in the 160's!!!  First time in 2015 and only the second time in a very long time! Yay me! I don't like to share my weight but being that I share everything else why not? This last week has been a bit rough with "that time of the month" and a lot of cheat bites of cake or frosting or skittles! With the Seahawks being in the Super Bowl this weekend, Hell, just the Super Bowl parties in general makes it tough. In our culture, we celebrate everything with food. We also commiserate with food and we fill our boredom with food and procrastinate with food. We make memories with food. That, especially memory making, is not all bad. It started when our country was discovered during the first Thanksgiving ever! And let's not forget the Thanksgiving Celebration this year with Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman on the 50 yard line at Levi Stadium after the big win on Thanksgiving Day. I struggle with having a good relationship with food. The word moderation used to be my motto but then I realized I don't know how to exercise moderation in terms of food. So as you readers of this blog know I have restricted my food intake this month going no carbs and also doing "Dry January" both of those thing contributed to my weight loss of about 8 pounds so far this month.

What's a worry for me (yes I know worry is bad and serves no purpose) is that this weekend Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and Februaury 1. The end of Dry January and No Carb January. My Seahawks are participating in this game (and I am super stoked and excited, as you all know already #GoHawks!) I am worried about tanking my weight loss track, I am worried if I eat too much I will not stay in the 160s and I am worried that if I don't eat this weekend I will never get to touch a Nacho ever again! OK, I know that sounds stupid but I think that is one thing that keeps me eating sometimes. (Again, yes this is very illogical but honestly it is a subconscious thing that people with bad relationships with food struggle with) I eat like I will never get another snack or treat again. If I could convince myself that food will always be there I don't need to stock up for the winter (or for the term of the diet) then I may have an easier time saying, no. And the fact that it will be February, I won't have Dry January to fall back on. Not that I can't avoid it just because, but this girl struggles telling herself no sometimes. But I will continue to go as I have during the last three months that I have lost about 25 pounds. I would like to be down 10-20 pounds more which would put me at my wedding weight I think I may be happy just being in the 150s.... But who knows I am the type who is never happy with the way I look. I will continue to work on that! I am proud of myself for where I am at now and almost enjoying clothes again!

Body image and self confidence is a subject that all women I believe struggle with! Confidence and Self Esteem, both things I want my daughter to learn better than I did. I was never taught that, my mom was never confident. I was not modeled any of that by my mom! (and The Girls is already on a better track than I was at her age thanks to dance and her ability to love herself and be proud of who she is I will take a bit of that credit too, but it probably comes from the Hubs) As I draw a connection to my blog post today to The Seahawks, those guys have confidence! They are good and they know it and they don't doubt themselves. They are good now but they like me, were not born good at football, they trained and learned and prepared and practiced and they continue to practice! They set themselves up with a game plan and don't waver and they bring home the win. I have planned and prepared meals, set aside time for workouts and have tried these last few months to prepare to be healthy and fit into my jeans! I will continue to do the same. My plan for this weekend to not tank my weight loss journey (which by the way when I get to my goal I will be getting a Seahawks inspired tattoo). My plan is to be prepared, to use my Emeals subscription to plan my meals and scheduling exercise. I am going to continue to use my Seahawks blinged out travel cup to get in enough water and when needed I will add and extra run in to intercept any extra calories trying to attaching to my hips (or something like that).

Bottom line I will use the model I see from the Seahawks to have a game plan  for success (meal planning, exercise, hydration) and I will tackle it and when I am down or get sacked I will get back up and keep my focus as this game and go for it! It is not over until it's over and I will be the Champion that I know I am! I can't wait for the game this weekend the Seahawks are going to play hard and do their best and, I think, beat the Pats! Even cheating teams, eh hem Patriots, will see this team is no joke! I don't know who will win, I hope it is the Seahawks, but I do know that my team will come out playing hard, hitting hard and bring 100% effort all the way to the end, I don't think anyone can beat them when they come out playing hard for each other and stay focused. So I will do the same I will work hard for me, no one (no food) can beat me when I go hard and stay focused! 

What part of your life do you need to take control over and stay focused to achieve? Game Plan, train and prepare to win! Always Compete! Today is Turnover Thursday, go get what is yours take it from the enemy and claim your prize, LOB style! Earn everything, you know you can! You deserve to take care of you! But if you need motivation look at your team around you (your family) and do it for them! They deserve you to be the best you, for them!

#Everyday2015

Go Hawks!

Let Beast Mode Find You

Happy Tuesday! Keeping with my Super Bowl/Football type theme week since it is Superbowl week I am going to write on a quote from Marshawn Lynch that he made at a Skittles Press conference:

 "You don't feel in Beast Mode. It feels you."

If you are not a fan of football or the Seahawks Beast Mode is Marshawn Lynch when he runs the football he goes Beast Mode. He has a way of stiff arming opposing players and breaking through the traffic of a defense like he is inhuman...hence Beast Mode. In his first Beast Quake, back on January 8, 2011 in the divisional playoffs vs the New Orleans Saints, who were that year the defending Champs, he ran for a 67 yard touchdown that registered on the rector scale. He created a real earthquake we call it the Beast Quake. Marshawn gets in a zone when he is in Beast Mode and he does not stop until he finds the end zone. My fave is when he is in Beast Mode but right before he crosses the goal line he stops to turn and look at the team who couldn't defeat him and then just walks into the end zone for the score! Gives me chills and a smile just thinking of it. It seems he's been getting a TD like that at least once a game. Ever since the first Beast quake, they have been placing more and more seismometers around the stadium to monitor the Beast quakes, we even had a Sherm quake in play-offs this year when Richard Sherman got an interception. In the Arizona Cardinals game in AZ during the regular season Marshawn Lynch had another Beast quake type run where he broke multiple tackles and made it to the end zone and he made his famous HMD leap landing on his back flying through the air (The Boys favorite signature move, he has replicated it multiple times landing on my couch, for the record it was minus the infamous crotch grab before all the media and fines from the NFL, my son now includes the crotch grab. (BTW Thanks NFL for drawing attention to something that did not need to be drawn attention to nor should you fine Marshawn Lynch for that and should not fine him for it any time in the future) and my son's obsession with the Beast Quake leap was revived after the Cardinals game this year.) Beast Mode pep talks after a loss in wrestling gets my son through losses and onto the next match.

So now that we are familiar with Beast Mode and what it is let's talk about it. In a press conference for Skittles when asked, "what does Beast Mode feel like?" Marshawn Lynch said "You don't feel in Beast Mode. It feels you." Let that set in.... You don't feel in Beast Mode, it feels you. Saying it's not you, you can't do it alone. Some may use "Let go and Let God" You can't strum up to put it out there you have to let go and let Beast Mode over take you. I think that there is a "Beast Mode" in each of us. We don't have as big of stage as Marshawn Lynch, and I hope he doesn't take offense to me using this analogy. Don't get me wrong Beast Mode is larger than life, larger than football, larger than the Seahawks and larger than Marshawn Lynch. Each individuals Beast Mode can come out anywhere you just have to let it out. In order to let Beast Mode take over you have to not be afraid to make a mistake. Fear holds you back. Beast Mode comes out of a dark cavern in your sole, it hides there behind fear and worry and even behind arrogance. It is in a place where not many people see but one day you are called to unleash the Beast, like Lynch, and if you let allow it,  you will score that proverbial epic touchdown. He (along with the whole teammates) took a team that had a loosing record against the champs and gave the 12s inspiration and life and excitement. This one touchdown, maybe didn't ignite the 12s flame but it sure put gas on the fire and created the current inferno that are the 12s and has not stopped ever since. Since then, we have a Superbowl Championship and millions of Fans wearing Blue and Green tossing Skittles to prove it. Beast Mode found the 12s.

In our daily lives lets work to find our Beast Mode, or let it find you! There is a part of you that you have to let go of. In order to be great you have to let go of the fear that you are not. That fear that tells you you are going to mess up. Go find your Beast Mode. Allow yourself to find that balance of focus and letting go and doing your best without fear of messing up. That is my struggle, I am always afraid or not being great, or afraid of making a fool out of myself. If you want that great job apply for it! How many people never even try for something because they are afraid they won't make it? What if Micheal Jordan decided not to try out for the Basketball Team again because he thought he wasn't going to make it again? Don't do that! Put it out the in the universe that you want it! That, just saying it out loud, in an of itself is powerful! Take the steps to get the promotion or the job or the spot on the team. What if Marshawn Lynch was afraid of being injured again, or played scared?

Marshawn Lynch always goes hard is always ready for Beast Mode to find him. He doesn't like to talk to the media and sadly he gets fined for it, but when he does he has something great and motivational to say. Those quotes have helped me help motivate my son in a few pep talks. And many others as have been inspired as well. To my son I say "what happens when Lynch fumbles?"...He goes out and goes Beast Mode  until he scores...he is "all about that action boss" So I tell my son, go out there, you have more work to do "show me that action boss!" No matter what, he gets his Otter Pop during half time and snack at the end of the day and a big proud mommy hug no matter what the result. The boy can that boy unleash the Beast, we are in wrestling season right now and he would scare me to go against on that mat, I wouldn't want to face him. In football season he may be one of the smallest but is not afraid to cover the biggest kid! (Marshawn's mom gave him Skittles, I do Otter Pops, my boy also gets skittles when he scores a touchdown. And sorry a little bit of a proud mommy rant)

I am going to let go of  timid and scared Ruby today and search for and be open for Beast Mode Ruby today and everyday! That Championship mind set!

I am looking forward to media day today at the Superbowl! Can't wait to see my team bring it on this Sunday and watch Beast Mode! When you watch the Super Bowl look for that signature Beast Mode run the the walk into the end zone. Maybe we will even get to see a Beast Quake touchdown. But the crotch grab will have to be handled by the fans since the NFL thinks it's so vulgar! We will have a family "Grab You Junk Photo" in support of Beast Mode!

I am going to get my Beast Mode on today!

#Everyday2015

There Are No Replays In Real Life, Don't Miss That Amazing Catch!

It is Sunday!!! Pro Bowl game is on the TV right now it is 5:30 PM! I haven't got a chance to write yet. 

I made an awesome breakfast, eggs, sausage and cheese scramble and hash-brown, sausage and cheese skillet. Well for the kids it was lunch...brunch. Then as I cleaned up the kitchen then the Hubs was working on the Hot Tub he asked for my assistance and I had to run an hour away for a part for it only to realize that it was closed despite what the website and their message on their phone says. So the Girl (who rode with me)  and I went to Dania, my favorite and now her favorite, furniture store. So it didn't feel like a wasted hour long drive...The Boy and the Hubs used the time to go throw the ball around and get ready for Little League try outs next week. As I was driving I was thinking about the fact that I hadn't written to my blog yet and that I will be home in time to watch the Pro Bowl with the fam (we are a true football family) and make dinner and do normal everyday mom-ish type things. I was feeling like the whole writing thing today might not happen because I don't want to miss out on time with the family.

As I sit here writing I pause to laugh, The boy just told the Hubs not to use Viagra because he (referring to himself) could get skin cancer...WTF? Where the hell did that come from? I had to stop to laugh and giggle. I asked why he had some reason that didn't make sense but just a little hilarity that goes on here in the Earl household.

So what I want to say it that it is important to me to be present in my household. Not just home, not just in the same room. (We are now giggling about the funniness of these Mathew McConaughey commercials). Being present is not sitting in a room on your phone while at your child's baseball practice. Don't give me the "I am at my kids practice everyday" as if it takes so much effort to sit and scroll through Facebook while you sit in the car and watch my husband teach your kid the nuances of the game. Not that I think you have to be there, but that is not being present. I am not being super present with my family right now, my real time side notes are a little examples of what I might be missing and half an attempt to try to make them think I am being present.

Basically to be present you have to put your phone down (insert other applicable electronic device here as in Ipad, laptop or even your knitting) and your head up. I just missed an amazing catch by Antonio Brown in Triple coverage, good thing for replay I can look up and watch it, it was a great catch, however I did missed the hit on Andrew Luck as he played. There are no replays in real life. If you miss your son's base hit or home run because your head was buried in your phone or you were chatting with another mom (guilty), you will not get that moment back. ...(Pause another McConaughey commercial).... If not present I wouldn't be able to watch my son crack up about it, not because he knows what he is saying because his dad is making fun of it and The Boy thinks it's funny and wants to make his dad laugh more. Sometimes it is a good release to take that moment to have the mom to mom chat and get a vent out or let another mom vent. But seriously Facebook Twitter and this blog even can wait until later it is digital don't miss your families moments!

So put your phone down, and pick your head up. Make eye contact with your family (and even the cashier at the grocery store) watch the game, don't miss you daughters dance for Facebook! Read my blog,,,everyday because I write it everyday but don't miss family time for it! And remember, that amazing things happen and will still happened even if you don't have a selfie to prove it! I am going to watch this game and get dinner going too. The Boy says "Go Team Carter" 

BTW The Hubs will tell me I need to practice what I preach so I am picking my head up! We probably all need a bit of a reminder to be present in every moment. Let's do this people!

One Week until Super Bowl 49... GoHawks!
#Everyday2015

15 Minute Crazy Writing: Boys Will Be Boys

Start 1:15pm:
So yesterday I wrote I want to write about crazy shit! Well today I am doing crazy shit with my writing. And that is I am trying to finish my writing in 15 minutes. Last night was The Boy's Birthday Sleepover. So that is the Crazy Shit I am writing about.

Now, I love my Boy, and the friends he had over, however I am so not made for boy sleepovers. They were crazy! Running around crazy like. Everything turned into a wrestling match. Even a soak in the Hot Tub I look out and they are tackling each other trying to hold their heads underwater. I went out and said "don't horse around" and knowing that 9 year old boys need a little more detail than that I said "No tackling or dunking" and then look out 5 minutes later and they were tackling so I go out again and they said, "we were wrestling not tackling" Oh my word.... I felt like the mom constantly telling them what not to do.

The Boy has had sleepovers before but not with more than 2 kids and usually it is with Sports team kids, and 2 out of 3 sports the Boy plays The Hubs coaches. So the kids have a little more respect and understanding, or at least they know how to listen and know what Coach expects. These boys were a bit of a challenge. Not bad kids by any means, kids who seemed to be trying the rules a little. To see how far they could go, well, in this house we have a lot of rules! We decided a long time ago that rules will stay the same whether friends are here or not! So, most friends have figured that out, but note to self, don't have a sleepover with friends who have not, or who have not been over to the house by themselves. In the future rule will be they have to have been here for a one on one sleep over first or be an extreme circumstance. That way they know what to expect and then they won't come in and try to rial up the crowd against the rules. Not that that happened on purpose it just seemed like it.

"You know what your worst enemy is, it's your big mouth" a quote I just heard over the TV, Hubs and The Boy are watching Patton. This statement is so true. The Boy and a few of his friends should have learned this by now but they are still working on it. This weekend's sleepover involved quite a few big mouths. You know the type someone who ALWAYS wins Madden at home and are good football players who have played in the past but stopped, then you realize they may have never touched a football.

It was a mini testosterone fest, basically. It reminded me of a stories from guys weekends and bachelor party repeats that I have heard. Here is one from a few years ago, now this is what I can piece together it should make for good reading but I cannot guarantee the validity or truth since I was not there and we all know how boys like to embellish stories and omit or add a few details here and there. It is pretty fair to say most testosterone fests go like this or similarities run strong at least. Friend J starts trash talking Friend K and after a few words back and forth Friend K takes it personal and gets his feelings hurt and charges Friend J and ends up crashing through the mirrored closet door of Friend J's hotel room (who btw got out of paying for it with a BS story about being drunk need to take a poop and tripping while trying to maneuver around the bed, hotel said no problem sir, we just want to make sure you are not hurt..aka they didn't want to get sued") {running out of writing time} Bottom line is, a 9 year old sleep over is nothing different from a bachelor party except there are chaperons and the 9 year old are just learning to try to find a place for their testosterone filled selves to fit in. And with that will come some growing pains and mini probably some major fights. I need to channel The Hub/s Best friend's dad who used to make the Hubs and his best friend always shake on it and be friends. Boys recover from these things pretty easy though right. Lessons learned this weekend all in all it was fun!
Time's up...now I get to spell check right?....
P.S.  I am so glad that this house will be kid free tonight We all know I need it!!!
#Everyday2015
Writing done at 1:31pm Editing done at 1:47

I Want To Write About the Crazy Shit!

Happy Blue Friday!!!!  Go Seahawks (yes I know it is a bye week but for Superbowl Baby!!!)

I am really enjoying my 2015 blogging adventure! I have been doing a bit of trying to sound intelligent and knowledgeable and like I know what I am talking about but I sometimes I feel like I am full of shit! I just watched an episode of Girls Guide To Divorce (which I have never watched and never wanted to kind of because I don't want it to be foreshadowing since I am writing this blog about marriage and love and sex and Abby is writer who wrote a marriage book and then got a divorce don't know much more about the story) but something struck me of what Abby said. She pitched an idea(I think for a new book I only caught about 45 minutes of this particular episode) to her friend and her friend laughed at her and then Abby went to .... "I am full of shit" and the friend said YES! Go with that! She did. Abby's pitch was basically "I want to write about crazy shit" and the people in the board room loved it.

When I started this blog I wanted to write about my marriage that has been held together with some crazy shit! The hubs and I get told a lot that we are a perfect couple, truth is I think they are right, but we are sometimes the perfect couple storm too. We like to socialize together. We rarely go out on Girls Night Out or Guys Night Out, actually the Hubs is usually invited to Girls Night Out because he will drive me home for one, and he is a lot of fun to hang with, the girls like him around he makes us laugh and he will even chat with the girls about girl stuff and he is the type of guy who is not afraid to go to the store just to buy Tampons for me. I always crash, and by crash I mean I am invited to, Guys Night Out because I am kind of one of the guys too. I like football I know football just as much or more than the guys I was even a proxy Fantasy Football drafter when one buddy was TDY for work. We have fun together we don't get jealous we are both kind of flirts but respect each other as well. The Hubs does not like to dance much. He will if I ask nicely or if he is drunk enough or in the right mood. But we have a few friends who do like to dance and will dance with me. I always ask the Hubs before I head out on the dance floor with another man. He usually looks at me funny and says "why are you asking me?" For me it is because I respect you and want to put it all out there so you know what I am doing and there are no surprises.

It's fun times like this that make our relationship so fun and our lives happy. Fun is a big reason to be happy. Spending time with your spouse or partner is a good way to build connection. You do not have to be attached at the hip! That is what confuses a lot of people sometimes though but it shouldn't. People need to be secure in their relationship. I think that is one reason we are so happy and have so much fun. I love the nights when we meet up after being in two different conversations and say..."fancy meeting you here!" Then we snag a kiss and maybe cop a feel and then go back to our respective conversations or activities. I like dancing and girl talk, he plays cards or outside games and/or BBQing with the boys. We are the perfect couple because we are secure with each other and love to spend time together with our family and friends and also have great time alone together too!

I too want to write about the crazy shit. I have some crazy stories (there are way more crazy rumors floating around out there about me so don't get any ideas, can you hear the Katy Perry music too) but I have to figure out how to fit them into the context of a blog and get the details right, you as the reader need it to make sense and that may be hard because many of my stories are like listening to a group of giggly drunk girls explain what their giggly inside joke just was about...let's see if I can actually write about that stuff and make sense..might be fun... But we have to remember I am not a writer but I have 342 days left this year to work on it! And Don't judge you know you have these stories too! Go have fun with you lover this weekend! I plan to!

#Everyday2015

Do you ever get that feeling....

Do you ever get that feeling that you know you need to get up and get motivated but just can't. That feeling that you could be doing things better or different but just can't muster the energy to do so. And then that feeling that you are so angry with yourself for letting yourself down. When you do that to your self, I call it self sabotage. You are not letting your mom, your kids or your husband down or the friend who is never there for you anyway, you are letting yourself down. (Who is always there) Why can't we get motivated to take care of ourselves the way we take care of others. If someone is counting on us to babysit or to teach a class or to make the neighbor a healthy dinner after a rough loss in the family, we pull out all the stops, we even get out good dishes out that have to be hand washed. But when it's time for us to eat alone we grab chips or leftovers from the other night that hopefully have not grown hair or bacteria that will get us sick. Don't worry we will microwave it and that will kill all the germs right? Why would we not do the best for ourselves?

We know that we feel better when we get up and workout so why do we get up eat donuts and sugar laden coffee and then complain that we feel shitty? It's fucking bull shit people. Sorry for the harsh language but come on! You know I am talking about you! We sit on the couch and complain that we are not seeing our friends or family enough but we are too cheap or lazy to go visit them! Yeah maybe we are busy and need down time but don't use that as an excuse to blame everyone else and not take care of you! It is our sole responsibility to take care of number 1 (my dad taught me that, or at least tried I did not learn it very well). So why do we allow ourselves to let ourselves go?

When I say let ourselves go I mean more than gaining a few pounds and not wearing makeup or nice clothes. I mean getting to the point that we are not happy! We sit and eat the rest of the chocolate cake instead of cleaning the kitchen or going for a walk. We sit and watch reality TV instead of getting up and getting in the shower to get ourselves presentable for the rest of the world. (I am not saying you have to dress to the nines or even dress to impress) I am referring to those stay home moms who yes do a lot and we are allowed and have the freedom to sit on the couch and relax when we feel overwhelmed but we don't have to look it. And we don't have to  and no one is looking because really we do most of our "work" when everyone is home, running to practices, making and cleaning up dinner bed time routines etc. And if you are like me you like to hang with the family especially that time that we get next to my amazing husband cuddling on the couch.

You know that feeling you get when you want to cry but you don't know why? Yeah, me too. But you know what in reality, it is not that we don't know why. At least for me I now why I want to cry I just don't want to admit it. A lot of the time it is me I have let myself down.

Here are a few suggestions, in no particular order, to snapping yourself out of this. Start today, start slow or dive in head first who cares just make progress, and no crying on the couch eating chocolate cake is not progress (all though it fills the void you will only be crying about it later too):

1. Get a massage, or meditate take time to refocus your brain
2. Grind it out (just do it clean the house or get in your 4 miler! I know easier said than done)
3. Give yourself time limits on certain distracting activities. If you know you love to sew but need to cook dinner give yourself a timer so that you can enjoy your sewing but be done with ample time to make dinner
4. HAVE A PLAN (my struggle I have the big bubble thoughts in my head that sound great but don't plan it out so it ends up just bubble thougths in my head)
5. Delegate! Give you kids and husband jobs. Preassigned or just as needed. (if the husband is down with that. If he is not okay with that don't give him jobs if he is not you don't want your kids to see him not doing his "job" and use that as an excuse sometimes the working full time thing is enough for the husband to do, and sometimes you need help. If you ask I bet he will be more than willing to help but this sometimes can be a touchy subject so proceed with caution and really be respectful, you don't want to be the mommy wife, but if the kids are protesting start taking away privileges, one privilege is they get to live in this house for free not that you can take that away but remind them of it!!!!)
6. Last but not least....get an attitude adjustment! Yes "That" kind of attitude adjustment. If needed get Grandma, farm them off to a friend, or hire an overnight nanny and go to a hotel. Or use a lock on your door and have that kind of crazy relaxing passionate love making sex that you lay back and go..."WOW"
7. Or when all else fails out a smile on your face and as Dori says "Just Keep Swimming"

So time to strap up the big girl bra and get cracking. I am putting on my Young Living En-R-Gee Essential Oil (motivation in a bottle) and Brain Power (focus in a bottle) and getting to work! No more whining and feeling sorry for me and no more letting myself down! We need to treat ourselves the way we treat everyone else. We are not lazy when it comes to work (if you work out of the home or when you did) we don't go lazy when it comes to kids or helping friends or husband now let's stop going lazy when it comes to ourselves. So get a shower put on clothes and maybe even cute shoes (we don't wear shows in the house) I will be proud of my work today and I will take into consideration the state of myself and honor me! I will Love me and always do my best and give myself the benefit of the doubt! I am going to do me today. Go do you today! Take care of you! My business cards used to say "take the time to take care of you!" It's time to once again recommit to that!

I could really use a good attitude Adjustment! (Hint hint to you Hubs, wink wink) But writing this and coming back to read it is helping me get motivated, I hope it helps you too! Have a great day, you deserve it and deserve to be loved by you, not just by your kids and husband. Those who created you (your parents) and those you created life with (spouse) and those you gave life to (your kids) deserve to have a teammate in you and not be carrying you through life without your help. Love yourself the way they love you and the way you love them!

That is your challenge today on this hump day: Love you and show your family that you do! Please share with me what you are doing to take care of you today!

#Everyday2015

Smile, The Next Best Thing To Do With Your Lips

Happy Tuesday that feels like a Monday! What a crazy weekend. Between the Seahawks winning back to back NFC Championships, the kids and The Hubs having Monday off and me kind of taking the weekend off...I am overwhelmed and spent! I need a weekend from my weekend!

I have like negative 20 minutes left to get a days worth of stuff done so this blog will be short and sweet.  I have been slacking on the "washing clothes" part of my life. (I am writing this as the sink fills to wash dishes that include those left from the Boy's sleepover Friday night). So I am making that a priority today! I am going to refocus and recommit to washing clothes and cleaning house everyday, no more off days or leaving dishes in the sink overnight! The "Love" part is fine. I love my life, Love my Seahawks (Superbowl!!! Whoo Hooo!!!!!!!) And love my kids, getting ready for Sleepover round two this weekend to finish what they started last Friday! And the Hubs and I are set for a date night at Lowe's to pick out cabinets to go in the newly organized Laundry Room. The "sex" part is fine, we had a bit of a hitch (not that we didn't follow through we just had our first real fight (over pretty much nothing) of the year and well we (I) were in a cuddly mood not a two a day mood when we went to bed last night, (good thing for morning sex yesterday and husband who is great at cuddling).

In the midst of my dull-drums today, I sent a "pick me up" photo to the Hubs. Sometimes the thought of him getting my "pick me up photos" (if you don't know those are the kind you can't show your boss or anyone else) makes me giggle and smile a bit, picks me up too. I wonder who is with him?Does he blush or tell his work partners what was in that text message from the Wife? I feel like it was a pick me up for me more than him, sometimes. Him getting my topless photo, as much as I know he likes getting my fun photos at work, picks me up too especially when it is a day where I am getting in the tanning bed because I am feeling overwhelmed and exhausted and I am needing a pick me up, almost as much as it does him. I know it makes him smile, because he tells me sometimes with a fun text back and sometimes when we are sitting on the couch out of the blue just so I know he likes it. I think he knows if I know that he likes it I will do it more. Which, nothing could be more true!

So today folks tell your mate what you like.  What picks you up for the day. Can they help you out maybe when you get in a mood tell your spouse you need a pick me up and they can send your favorite quote or a topless photo or a cute animal pic what ever makes you smile. If you mate knows then they are armed the ability to be there even in the virtual world to make you smile! Because we all know the smiling is the second best thing to do with your lips!

#Everyday2015

Never Ever Give Up

Oh. My. Word. The Seahawks win in a comeback! (I know I have been talking a lot about football, it is a big deal!) They were down the whole game but never gave up and in the end with 4 minutes left when the Packers were resting on their lead (mailing it in) the Seahawks were still working at it and scored for the win!

Message of this is NEVER GIVE UP! Never ever give up! No matter how far down you are, how bad the chances look or how hard it will be, never give up! Football gives us a lot of metaphors and a lot of life lessons! The boy's football team tried to do this in their championship game. They were down by 20 and they came back in the last 4 minutes to lose 24-30. It was a sad loss but a day to be proud of with the comeback that they made. They never gave up, but came up short but had something to be proud about and to build on for the next year.

Jermaine Kearse score the winning touchdown. He had been targeted 6 times that ended in drops and/or interceptions. He had a rough day, he did not hang his head he went out there and focused and worked hard to catch that last pass in the End zone in overtime, while being interfered with at that! He only caught one pass and he caught the one that really mattered and won the game! What a comeback.

In our daily lives we have many opportunities to either decide to mail it in, give up or refocus and kick ass and make a difference. In the NFC Championship the Seahawks never gave up. There were fans who had given up on them and left early. (Bandwagoners, we call them) We stayed and believed. I always believe, I always stay. In everything. in my marriage and in my life there have been many times no one would have faulted me for walking away, leaving early, or giving up but I have decided I would rather work through it and get the win at the end of the day! Life is not always easy especially if you are married with a family where everyone is going in different directions. I was given advice from a friend of mine who had recently gone through a divorce. He said never give up it is always worth it! I am always down for a come back! The celebration is so worth it. 

Never give up, you will never know what you are capable of if you give up! You may come up short like our pee wee team did but you will still be able to say you did your best, you gave everything you had. You can give respect to you opponent when they win against your best efforts, and be proud of your best effort. It is so worth it to not give up! So, never give up! Never ever give up! Believe in yourself you may surprise you and you will be able to celebrate your win. (and I am sure you know how I will suggest you celebrate that win) This whole Sex Love and Washing Clothes thing for me is tough, I will not give up or throw in the towel I will continue everyday, some days I will be down (like not getting my blog in until 6pm but I will not give up!)

Go Hawks

#Everyday2015

Savor Each Moment, Be A Champion

Today is the NFC Championship game and my beloved Seahawks are hosting the NFC Championship Game for the second year in a row! (Can you see that big smile on my face?) Many analysts are giving our opponent, Green Bay Packers no chance. Well I am more nervous than I was for the Championship Game that my son played in earlier this year (and it was my son playing and my husband coaching and I was pretty nervous). Big question is Why? Nervousness and worry serve no purpose, AT ALL! But I am still nervous. Which is kind of good because I have been nervous every game. The ones I wasn't as nervous at we lost. I don't strap up the pads, or prepare for a game why am I nervous. Maybe that is why. As a fan I have no control over how the game is played what plays are called and how well the players are prepared to and actually execute the play on the field. I have no control, except to intimidate the other team with our loud crowd noise us 12s are known for. If I had control I could watch more film, spend more time in the gym or do something to affect how well I will play. The only thing I can do is scream my heart out and hope it makes and impact on the game going on down on the field! But since I can't, I sit here and worry about nothing, no one will die if I don't or if the Seahawks lose. It will not affect my income or ability to provide for my family. It will affect the mood of the Hubs though and the kids might be a little sad (The Boy especially) but we will go on just as we have before. But I know what it felt like last year being at the game watching Richard Sherman bat the ball out away from Michael Crabtree and cement the Seahawks spot in the 48th Superbowl! It was surreal, amazing, joyfull and I want to feel that again, badly!

The things I am worried about: I am worried we will miss the ferry in the morning (confession I am writing this Saturday night before I go to bed so I can be 100% in the moment even on the ferry ride). I am worried we might miss kick off (it's an hour earlier than normal games) if we leave too late from the pregame spot. I am worried I might forget something so I have already laid out what I will wear, showered and all the things I need to take including my jewelry and glasses are sitting next to the bag I will carry with me, that also already has my wallet in it. I am not usually this prepared but that is how I can know we will get out of here with everything I will need. OMG I need to RELAX and enjoy the anticipation of this moment!

The lesson here today folks is to be in the moment, I am so worried about this game I have had little time to be excited and happy that we are even in this game! I, as well as many other 12s some more than me, want so badly for our team be in the Superbowl that we are forgetting how great it is to be in this NFC Championship game! I, sadly, do this sometimes with the family and with my husband. I want so badly to not miss something that I worry away the moments that we do have. Instead of savoring a moment we wish it would last forever and once it's gone all we have left is that feeling that we didn't savor it because we were too worried we were never going to experience it again. When I got married before I walked down the isle I said "wait, I want to anticipate more" what I meant really is I wanted to savor that moment! We all should savor each moment, especially the special moments, more often. Yes, we want the things that feel good to happen more and the things that make us sad to happen less but worrying one way or another just steals the moment away. We don't want to live our lives on the skip or fast forward button and that is what worry does to you.

Which is why I wrote this blog post now at almost midnight (between Saturday and Sunday) Championship Sunday so that I can savor the championship. I have already packed my stuff, had good luck sex (a must every week), made sure my lucky 12th Man hat my MIL made for me was in my bag...all I can do is savor the moment! I will scream loud, I will give respect for my team and be 100% in it tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to rep the team and do the same in a few weeks at the Superbowl too. I am going to take the next 12+ hours savoring the fact that my team has a chance to play for a spot to go back to back in the Superbowl. 

So on this Championship Sunday, even if you are not a fan, you do the same. Be a Champion by going 1-0 today in everything you try to do even if you are not a fan of The Seahawks. Use the Seahawks 1-0 mantra to get you through. When you have the 1-0 mindset you don't get a second chance so you prepare like there is not a next week and you do everything as good, no better than you can! In order to do that you have to be in the moment and present at every moment. Be A champion and win each moment of everyday!  And use your Seahawks voice!

Be a Champion, Go 1-0 everyday

#Everyday2015 #GoHawks

Be the Kind of Friend You Want to Have

It's Saturday, I am waking up on the couch. Not the way I expect this morning to go. The Boy got sick yesterday at his birthday party! They had played video games, hopped in the hot tub (as they said) ate a snack and as I was making dinner the boy ran through the kitchen to the bathroom to throw up. They had been playing video games with The Hubs, after he puked he went back out to the family room where they were playing and continued. I thought maybe an allergy or from excitement, he had no fever but then threw up again (and twice more before his friends actually left) and I decided we had to call the parents and have them pick up their boys. The Boy was not even in the mood to party he didn't even want to open presents, poor kid. . We cut the cake and let the other kids have some cake and opened presents and they left. I think he puked 10 or more times by midnight. 

The Girl had a sleepover planned with her Best friend and we had to cancel. The two girls had talked about having their first sleepover the night of the Boys party (I usually let opposite kid invite one friend over during the other siblings birthday to give them something to do to not bother the other's party). She was so disappointed, I think more than The Boy. Both of my kids are pretty good at going with the flow so The Girls reaction caught me off guard. Her and her Best friend haven't had a chance to have a sleepover yet, they decided to miss another girls birthday party for the chance to spend the night alone. So when it was canceled she was stuck by herself. There was still the party both girls could have gone to but The Girl was so upset she hadn't decided if she wanted to go until about 9pm. I told her that it was probably too late and wasn't very nice to plan not to go to a party to spend time with someone else and then when it doesn't work out decide to go all of a sudden. Maybe her other friend wouldn't mind though...

Things don't always go as planned. Having a back up plan is fine but I feel bad when it is  a person who is the back up plan. I guess it would not have been bad to let the Girl go to her friends party but I just felt that wasn't the best way to be friends. If you make other plans that don't work out how does that other person feel being the "back up friend" maybe she would have just been thankful to have seen The  Girl anyway... Everyone has plans that fall through. Sometimes you just have to deal with it and others it is fine to fall back on the back up plan. I guess it would have been fine for the girl to have gone as long as it is not the only time she spends with that friend. 

In life you have to roll with the punches. Sometimes you just have to deal with disappointment you don't always get the opportunity of a back up plan. It sucks to be the friend that everyone comes to hang out with when no one else is available, but at least you get to see the friends. I always leave invitations open. If you already have other plans when I invite I don't take it personal but I always leave the door open, if things change give me call you are more than welcome to join. But if we had plans and then something else came up and you bail on me because something more exciting comes up I may feel like I am a back up friend but be honest! It is pretty chickenshit (couldn't think of a better word) to say "oh I don't have a babysitter" and then see photos of them hanging out with someone else on Facebook or hear it from another friend. Please just be honest no reason to lie I won't take it personally and niether should you. Or the worst is when you tell Friend B that you already have plans (with Friend A) and can't go to their party and then friend A,"doesn't have a sitter" and bails on you for the Friend B party. If Friend A would have been honest all of you proabably could have spent the time together! Keep your word and be honest, that is what I am trying to teach my kids. 

I am the type of person, we are the type of household where friends are always welcome. I don't really get upset being the back up friend, I don't take it personal I am just thankful to have friends to spend time with at my house or your house or Friend B's house regardless of the original plans, usually, there are those instances I want to do what I want to do then I am on my own and we'll see you next time. It kind of goes back to the whole don't take things personal. But if I am the one you are calling when everyone else is busy but you don't keep or ever make plans with me don't expect me to be waiting for you all the time and then get mad when I am not. 

Friends are important and are always welcome! Friends are the family you choose! Just know, there is a limit to what one person can do and be there for you. There is a quote that goes something like, "don't cross oceans for someone who won't cross the street for you" Which is a good lesson to learn. With that said, however, you cannot keep score or expect you friends to be there for you as much as you are for them if you wait for them to even out the give and take you may will be disappointed. You should be the type of friend you want them to be and in the end it will may (or may not work out) but you can look into the mirror and say I am a good friend. Even when they are not there for you. One day you will need a friend and the one who is there may surprise you. Maybe you haven't always been there for them and they will out of no where step up and help you out and you will be surprised and you will probably feel bad that you haven't' been there for them but just know in the end the score doesn't matter. People and friends matter. Be the type of friend you want and you will have many friends to love and who love you.

Be the best type of friend to your spouse, don't make them the back up friend! Spend time just the two of you going out but also spend time with other friends and couples. If you are best friends with your spouse you will never feel lonely and when those "back up friends" bail on you it won't be so bad! It will give you more alone time and you know what that means with your spouse...bow chick a bow wow!

#Everyday2015

Let You Inner Sherman Out. Be Bold Don't be Mediocre

Happy Blue Friday folks!!! It is Championship Weekend!!! Go Seahawks. Last year there was a bit of a controversy after the game when Richard Sherman called out Micheal Crabtree, referring to him as mediocre. Richard Sherman kind of sounded arrogant and disrespectful in his banter. However everything he said was true, and knowing Richard Sherman it was somewhat calculated. Later in the week he did not make an apology for calling him mediocre, he stuck to his word, he may have scared Erin Andrews in his rant and he did, however, apologized for that. He had something to say and he said it. The only apology was about the delivery no back pedaling or changing the meaning of what he said. I like that about him. He always puts 100% into everything he does, including his after the game on field interviews. He is bold and not afraid to say how he feels. The Hubs is like that. 

I am more reserved and keep my mouth shut more often than not I think some great thoughts but if I think it might offend someone I may not say it out loud, at least until later. I tend to be more politically correct, I wouldn't want to offend anyone. However, with this blog I do share a lot more than many of my outspoken friends do, but that is while hiding behind a computer screen. I am not afraid to put it out there. And by "it" I mean whatever might be on my mind and what I am thinking or feeling. I am getting more bold as the year continues but a lot of the time I will delete my comment on post that might be misinterpreted or if it is a joke that I think someone won't understand. In this blog I get the chance to say what I am thinking. I am more bold when typing (like most people are) but I am still me. Is the real Richard Sherman the mellow very well spoken guy we see in a press conference or the arrogant bully (as some have called him) that we see on the field on game day? Is there two Richard Shermans? Does that change our opinion of him? Am I the Ruby who thinks one thing and never says it out loud? Or the one who says almost everything on her mind while writing my blog? Does it matter? I say no.

Do we think the fact that most of us have a work personality, home personality, game personality, and around other parents personality and even the bedroom personality make us hypocritical? It is just a fact and in some jobs and situations a necessity. I don't just that fact makes us hypocritical. As long as you at the core really don't change. If we offend our friend by something we say or a word we use when we are being honest, I believe the problem lies with the friend. If it is how we deliver it, I believe, the problem in this case may lie with the person being disrespectful in their tone or delivery. Say what you feel and be honest but be respectful, mindful and sensitive especially when it is a sensitive topic that hits close to home. Most of us need to learn how to stop taking things so personally. I have a lot of crazy colors on the walls in my house. Some people are not afraid to tell me it is not their choice of color. Some are more tactful or respectful in saying it others use words that could be kind of a personal attack. However it is their opinion not mine. If I got offended every time someone didn't like my colors I would have no friends left! It does not mean they don't like me or my house, they just don't like my choice of color, and they don't have to, it's my choice. I wish I could speak my mind more freely and not offend people or I wish I didn't care but I do. I am going to be working on that! You, readers work on not being offended, deal?

Let's be who we are! You know the saying men want a lady in the streets but a freak in the bed. (I don't know if I qualify anymore as a lady in the streets since I put it out on the internet! Who Cares! Yes I am!!) We do need to censor in some settings but we don't need to change what you like and who you are! I may not go down the street in Green Bay chanting 12th Man chants (which I would do in Seattle on Game Day) but that doesn't mean I won't wear my Seahawks jersey or start chanting Go Pack Go either. In the bedroom let's not be afraid to get a little risque with our mate! I'll say it again, Men like the lady in streets freak in the bed type women and most women like the Christian Gray type as well. Let those reservations out and don't be afraid to share those moments with your love. Don't just wait 'till his birthday! You can start with just a little dirty talk and then go from there. If he is asking for it and you are lost or have no idea where to start ask him to demonstrate what he means when he asks for dirty talk. (Remember no one will hear you and your preschool moms will not judge you for what they can't hear!) Have fun with it. Let you inner game day Richard Sherman out! He always puts his all on the field! Your field is your domain, your bedroom, kitchen, laundry, put your all into it be it cleaning the kitchen, folding clothes or knocking boots. Go for the score and definitely don't be mediocre! 

#Everyday2015