School’s In!

It’s that time of year again...IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

After weeks of shopping, organizing, stress and excitement (for me), Logan and Mason are going back to school. Logan is in 7th grade this year and at the middle school. Mason is in the 5th grade and in second year at the intermediate school.

I pray that this year is a good year for both boys. A year full of growth and knowledge.

Pura Vida Bracelets

Hey Everyone! Go check out Pura Vida’s website. Super cute bracelets and jewelry! Choose from your favorite colors or choose a charity! Use my Rep Code to get 20% off ALL of your orders! 

https://www.puravidabracelets.com

It’s My Birthday!!!

Today is my Birthday!!!! 

I am 35 years old today! Oh my, I just said my age (insert shocked emoji face)! Yeah, so what! 

For so many years we are in a hurry to grow up or to get to a certain age. First, it’s 10 because you’re “double digits”. Then 16, so you can drive. Next is 18, so people will know that you’re a legal adult (notice I said legal and not actual)...and the list goes on. Too often we are in such a hurry to get to the next milestone age, that we forget to enjoy all of the great things that happen along the way. 

Things start changing once you hit your 30’s. People start hiding their age or lying about it all together. 

STOP IT!!! 

Wisdom and experience comes with age! Knowledge comes with age! Maturity comes with age! 

Now, just because I’m 35 doesn’t mean that I know everything, I still have plenty to learn. I certainly know more than than I did in my 20’s. It’s time that we appreciate every year as another year of growth and change. 

We have all lost people in our lives, some of them way too soon. Keep in mind that growing older is not a luxury afforded to everyone. 

So yes, you might gain a little weight, your hair might go grey and you get a few more wrinkles on your face...SO WHAT! We aren’t all going to be stick skinny, your hair will naturally turn grey (and if done correctly, you too can have beautiful salt and pepper hair like my Mom) and the wrinkles mean that you have smiled a lot and are happy! 

Embrace Life!

Embrace Change! 

Embrace your Age! 

The time is now! 

This Is Me!!

This Song “This Is Me” by Keala Settle from the movie,The Greatest Showman, really speaks to me. Let your Freak Flag Fly!!! Be you! Don’t apologize because you aren’t like everyone else! We are all wonderful and unique in our own ways! Celebrate YOU!!! 

Dr. Seuss said it best,

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.”

This Is Me by Keala Settle from the movie The Greatest Showman

I'm not a stranger to the dark

Hide away, they say

'Cause we don't want your broken parts

I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars

Run away, they say

No one will love you as you are

But I won't let them break me down to dust

I know that there's a place for us

For we are glorious

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out

I am brave, I am bruised

I am who I'm meant to be, this is me

Look out 'cause here I come

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum

I'm not scared to be seen

I make no apologies, this is me

Another round of bullets hits my skin

Well, fire away 'cause today, I won't let the shame sink in

We are bursting through the barricades

And reaching for the sun (we are warriors)

Yeah, that's what we've become

Won't let them break me down to dust

I know that there's a place for us

For we are glorious

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down

Gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out

I am brave, I am bruised

I am who I'm meant to be, this is me

Look out 'cause here I come

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum

I'm not scared to be seen

I make no apologies, this is me

...This is me

And I know that I deserve your love

There's nothing I'm not worthy of

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out

This is brave, this is bruised

This is who I'm meant to be, this is me

Look out 'cause here I come (look out 'cause here I come)

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum (marching on, marching, marching on)

I'm not scared to be seen

I make no apologies, this is me

(Whenever the words wanna cut me down

I'll send the flood to drown them out)

This is me

Read All About It!

I have written and rewritten this post about a million times! I’m just not able to accurately convey how I feel about this subject. I’m so very passionate about this and it’s literally on my mind all day long!

You’re probably thinking that I must be crazy about the craziest thing. Maybe I am and I don’t mind it at all.

I’m talking about...FOOD!

Again, you’re probably thinking that I’m crazy. Let me set the stage for you...I have 3 Sons and 1 Husband! All they do is eat!

People say, “Of course, Boys eat a lot.” Um...no, my Boys were literally born to eat! They have always been big eaters and they are active, so I let them eat everything! Logan and Mason were going through a growth spurt at the same time and I spent the entire day feeding them! When I was a stay-at-home-mom I cooked 3 meals everyday...for 8 years!

By no means am I complaining, I loved it! I grew up with a Grandma who showed her love through her cooking and a Dad who taught himself how to cook when my Mom went to work. Cooking is not only a vital part of life, but it’s very satisfying as well. Not only do I fill the hungry bellies of my Guys, but it literally makes my heart happy to cook for them.

We like trying all different kinds of food and thankfully with traveling and searching for recipes, we are able to try anything. My Boys are very adventurous with what they eat. Frog legs, sushi, calamari, curry, gator...the list goes on. They have always been good about trying things which is great because then we don’t have to rely on “kid food” when we eat out.

I’m always looking for recipes. One of the first things that I did when I found out that I was pregnant with Logan was to look for recipes that I could easily (and cheaply) double or triple! I know what we like and I know that with the right recipe, I can get them to try new things and like them.

I’m not into “hiding veggies” in my kids food either. When we had the boys, we decided that since we wanted them to be healthy and to eat well, we had to as well. We started them on fruits and veggies from the beginning and it has never been a problem for us. Yes, there are certain things they don’t like, but then we don’t eat them. As I’ve told many people, I am not a short order cook, you eat what is put in front of you and that’s it. I take great care in cooking healthy and tasty food for my family, so no one ever goes hungry.

Let’s be honest, I don’t cook healthy all the time. If we want pizza, then we eat pizza. I try where I can to incorporate as much of the healthy stuff to outweigh the bad. No one is perfect and I certainly don’t try to be.

I love cooking and food so much that almost 2 years ago I joined the Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador Program for the Allrecipes Magazine and Website. It is a volunteer position and I am not compensated for my work. The products received from advertisers are only used for experience-based reviews.

The Allrecipes community is amazing! There are so many home based cooks with different backgrounds that bring a lot of unique and yummy recipes to the table! Recently, my recipe for Spicy Grilled Broccoli was published on the website. Let’s just say, I was super excited!
Food is something so simple but so powerful because it brings people together from across the World to across the table. With food you share your background, your ideas and techniques and your love…it doesn’t get much better than that!

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/266399/spicy-grilled-broccoli/

Summer Fun

Pool time at Mom’s with the Family #Family #SundayFunday #HotinOhio

Be Free

I’m not a fan of heights at all. I don’t freeze up and start shaking (no judgements) but I do get extremely nervous. I don’t mind roller coasters. They go so fast that before I know it, my nervousness has changed into excitement! I tell you right now, I will not be sky diving or Clift jumping any time soon.

Having kids, I had to overcome my fears…or at least hide them well. I don’t want my boys scared of everything. I want them to live their lives as fearlessly as possible. Fearless…but not dangerous or stupid.

Now that my boys are getting older, some of my fears have crept out of hiding. They see that I’m a little scared or nervous and they encourage me! They want me to have fun with them! Also, there are times When I’m the only parent able to go with them. What I’m nervous about ends up being an amazing time spent with my Boys!

I don’t want my boys cowering in a corner or hiding in my arms, scared of trying something. I want them to take risks and to enjoy the thrill of the unknown. Just think, if people didn’t take themselves out of their comfort zones, technology wouldn’t be as advanced as it is and there would be nothing thrilling or fun to do!

No one would know who Steve Jobs was because he wouldn’t have done anything to know about. No one would have seen Evel Knievel do his amazing stunts if he just sat around and did nothing in his life. Life would be so boring!

I do want my boys to be safe, but I know that I can’t protect them from everything forever. I want them to work hard and to enjoy their lives! I want them to be able to do everything they want to do in life!

Sometimes, the best adventures are the ones that scare us the most.