Strength and acceptance can come to us in the most silent way

or

slap us right across the face...

We all have those moments where we wonder 'Why not me?'

This goes for ANY situation you wanted to be a part of but were excluded from.
Sometimes there's a reason you're left out of things. Quite often for your own benefit even if it doesn't feel that way at the time.

.

"I have the balls and the determination to destroy anyone or anything that gets in my way... I am the hard line that separates determination from insanity."-Machine

.

Machine is pretty hard core. I think it's time more than ever to to adopt this attitude :)

Growing up is hard. And when I say growing up I mean maturing, evolving and molding your emotions and learning to control the way you react to certain things people say/do to us. We as individuals are ultimately in control of how we react to the emotions we are faced with. I personally don't always find this to be an easy feat but, am definitely learning. You don't get different results always doing the things you've always done. You have to change old habits in order to move yourself past things.

.

'Old habits die hard...but, they DO die.'

.

SO true!

It's time to have faith that old habits die.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdO85Qf4Poc

::loves::

Being Healthy

This picture below pretty much sums up running...

...cuz I can...

I'll admit. I've not always been a runner. In fact, I used to HATE running...some days I still do but, I do it anyways ;) I have found (for me) that it's freeing to be able to put on a pair of running shoes plug myself into my ipod and just run. Everyone needs some sort of healthy escape from life. Besides books, running/exercising is just that for me.

.

...and music. I've changed a lot of what I listen to these last handful of months. I hate it when there's certain songs/bands you can't really listen to anymore because it's attached to a certain memory you'd rather forget. Then there are some bands that will ALWAYS be mine ;) Lately I've gone back to a more 'motivational' feel to music to get me through my workouts. Found new bands/songs. I've been asked from some people what I listen to when I workout and I've been making playlists and posting them on here.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

http://www.playlist.com/playlist/23029192203

::loves::

Over the Weekend

Over the weekend our family got together at my brother and Tammy's house :)

.

Tammy cooked us all spaghetti and we ate and played games.

I love my mom.
She loves me no matter what sort of shenanigans I get myself into...
and apparently I get into many!
(and no, moms don't have to love you no matter what so, I feel pretty lucky) ;)

I love these two boys!

We're all midgets compared to Jared.

The folks

This little critter here is Sonny.
She's the sweetest puppy I know!
She's only a year old and has the energy of ten 2 year olds :)
The kids and Sonny kept each other busy most of the night.


This is my sweet brother, Ryan. We met once when he was 5 and I was 13 or 14. Anyways, he's a lot of fun to be around and his little boy, Van, is so sweet!

Cash got right to business and did a little workout after we ate. This kids no dummy. I asked him what he was doing and he simply said, 'I exercisin', Mom, duh.'

This cute fella next to Avery is Van.
Avery's pretty fond of him if you can't tell ;)
It's nice that they play together so well.

This chair is Cash's new favorite spot in the house. It's right by the computer and faces the TV so it's apparently the best seat in the house...Avery gets jealous and forces Cash to let her sit next to him in it. She's the BEST sister ;)

Something to think about...

With Valentine's just around the corner I'll admit I've been thinking more of what to do for Avery's school class than what do to for Harley and myself...

A lot of people think Valentine's is a waste of a holiday. I can't say that I disagree with this for the simple reason that a lot of couples/people get let down on this holiday with unrealistic expectations from their partners or for the simple fact that they may be alone.

I am lucky that I have Harley.

Things have not always been easy.

It's work every single day.

We have fought and are still fighting for our relationship and always will.

http://intentblog.com/4-tips-to-find-love-and-keep-it/

The link above has some pretty good tips for keeping a sound relationship with your partner and with yourself. I think throughout time we forget about taking care of ourselves due to kids and constant demands. Don't forget to nurture yourself this Valentine's Day! It's one of the most important relationships you have!

::loves::

Happy Friday

I watched The Terminator last night...wow. 1984 special effects sound like old Atari games :) I'm a huge Terminator fan. I watched Judgement Day more than I care to mention as a kid. Maybe it had to do with Guns & Roses being scored into the movie and my very first album-ever-was 'Appetite For Destruction' when I was 12 years old. hahaha!!

I'm also still a G'N'R fan ;)

.

I had to get this shot of me and Aves...

Yes, she's driving me crazy today and I had to remind myself that kids in Syria are being slaughtered and their parents are fighting to keep them and themselves alive.

That kind of helps put things in perspective for me...just a little ;)

http://www.fitnessbender.com/2012/02/all-over-fat-burn-fitness-bender.html

The link above was todays workout...

I'm glad it's finally the weekend!...now I can rest.

.

The link below was todays workout mix. Enjoy!

http://www.playlist.com/playlist/23009881867

Happy weekend!

Today's Tomfoolery...

I very well may be nuts...

(links below) are the two workouts Harley and I did this morning.

O. M. G!

http://www.fitnessbender.com/2012/01/bombshell-body-part-1-of-3-bombshell.html

http://www.fitnessbender.com/2012/01/sweat-it-off-fitness-bender-workout.html

I thought I might die :)

Trying to keep up the exercise!

I'm wanting to sign up for a dirty dash this year...maybe in June!

I cannot get enough of my little man!

He is so sweet and too smart for his own good.

I thought about going through our familys 72 hour kits! I'll admit it does feel good to have those ready and available just in case of anything.

Thought a lot today of how greatful I am for the simplest things in life that so easily get taken for granted:

Running water
A roof over my head
Clothes on my back
Food in my belly

...When you actually do stop and think that there are people in this world (some in our neighborhoods) that don't have a few of these luxuries it undeniably breaks my heart :(

Remember to greatful

::LOVES::

Things I love...

This quote above has never been more true now that I have kids of my own.

I LOVE you mom!

Kids having a blast in the bath tub. I went over to Tracii and Andys house the other night and Tracii bathed all the kids. GO TRACII!! It was a lot of fun :)

Cash and his OCDness of lining things up. This kid is a thinker and is very interested in how things work, how to take things apart etc..

Avery and her sweetness. She shared her candy, that one of Harleys' coworkers gave her, with the whole family. She made sure every person had one piece and even saved one for her Daddy for when he got home from work :)

A working camera phone. I've been without one and haven't been able to do these fun shots of me and the kids.

Clean eating. These baked tomatoes are SO good.

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/baked_parmesan_tomatoes.html

Music and Exercise.

I love making playlists of motivational songs to get me through my workouts

.

http://www.playlist.com/playlist/22972023307