30 Day Shred | Week 1 Complete

So a full week has gone by and I'm happy to say I completed my six days. I won't lie and say that it was joyful, but I did it. For me, having accountability partners makes all the difference in the world. If I were in this alone, I'm pretty sure I would have stopped on Day 3.

Most of my workouts have  been completed after 11 p.m.,  once I am already super tired.

I worked out Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights (looking back on that sentence, I could have just said that I skipped Wednesday).

Now that I am at Day 7, I'd say I am slightly more motivated.  Brandy will definitely laugh and probably say "I knew it"...but I feel like I can already see a modest difference.   When we used to workout at OU, I'd always say I could feel and see a difference, literally right after a good workout.

Because I've been just a bit lazy about it, my current favorite moves in Level 1 are the boxing (almost zero effort) and  I like the butt kicks.   Hands down my least favorite moves are the shoulder raises and the second set of pushups. 

This week I used 3 lbs weights throughout.  I have short muscles and can tend to bulk up quickly, so I prefer lighter weights 3 - 8 lbs.  I may move up to 5lbs as I head into Week 2. 

Before the week is out, I'll be attempting to move on to Level 2 on Day 11.  Mentally, I do not feel prepared, but I will give it a go.

I think my lack of motivation is a combination of things, but largely due to the fact that I'm waiting so late and also I'm eating terribly.  I must do better about that.  Last time, I did a bit better with regards to food and that really helped.

Anyway, I am pumped to see how well my girls did.  I'm hopeful that everyone was able to complete their six workouts inspite of busy schedules!  Interetested as well?  First check out Brandy's update here!

Until next Monday...

Her World | My World

My best friends come up a lot here. My girls Brandy and Regina are like family to me. Regina and I have been best friends for about 19 years...for us...a lifetime. Our friendship with Brandy just a couple of years shorter. Live a little...deal with one too many "girl friends"...and spend just one hour in our presence and you can easily see that our friendship is unique. It's a gem and I know that I'm blessed to have those girls in my life. As a mommy to three little girls, I constantly pray and beg of God to bless my girls with friendships like the ones I share with those two special girls. We are never too far out of touch. Via email, text, or phone calls, we pretty much have some sort of contact several times a week. There have definitely been seasons where we talked everyday...work and kids strain that today...but we are still definitely there for each other when the need arises.  I love that miles apart we still bounce ideas off of one other, pray together, cry together...laugh together...and well yes we are girls...so we also roll our eyes at each other :) 

I recall being in college at OU and my oldest sister once telling me something to the effect that we were all kind of one in the same. Today I'd say that our worlds are all very unique.

I've mentioned here before that I joined in with 19 photographer on a creative journey...52 Fridays. I love what the project has done for my personal sense of creativity. I was THRILLED when Regina told me about a month in that she was going to join in on 52 Fridays...but with her own spin on it. Regina is a writer - a darn good writer. For the past several weeks she has used the same themes and used them for writing prompts. I LOVE her posts. We are 16 weeks in to the photography challenge, but last week on my drive to work, I called Brandy because I'd thought of a way for her to join in on the challenge. Right now, her world is centered around raising her miracle baby girl. I'm so excited to announce that Brandy is going to take on the themes each week as well and teach Hannah's lessons around the theme.

A year from now, I hope to compile Her World | My World into a book dedicated to our friendship and our five baby girls between the three of us. I'm so excited about the project and invite you to follow along. Our timing is off, but here below, I will link you to each of our Week 1 Post - Self Portraits

Her World | My World  | 52 Fridays | Week 1 | Self Portraits

Hope's World
Regina's World
Brandy's World

And because it's Friday...and I love joining in on the fun...here is my Flashback Friday! This is a picture of the three of us about a week or so before Brandy's daughter, Hannah, was born prematurely at 26 weeks. We had no idea how different life was going to be so soon...

And sure, I should be embarrassed, but here is another pic of us dressed alike during a girls weekend in Dallas - Regina's home at the time.  It was hilarious...but somehow when you get the three of us together...we don't care much about what anyone else thinks...ok...I admit...I can't believe we did that...LOL (totally ripped this pic off of Regina's blog...it's mutual...she's done it to me too :))

Don't forget to join in by visiting Jen's blog and linking up!

Happy Friday!

Seeing Double

A few months ago I reconnected with one of my childhood bestfriends.  April and I had EVERYTHING in common growing up...well not everything, but a lot.  I was born and partially raised in Lousiana, she'd lived in Louisiana, we both only had sisters (two for me - four for her), we both found faith early in baptist churches, loved math, had dad's with engineering careers, played clarinet and were the top two "chairs", etc etc.  April and I met in sixth grade at Byrd Middle School here in Tulsa.  We were truly inseperable.  On the weekends we were generally either at my house or hers and my sister Charmaine and I joined her family at their church on Wednesday nights. 

When I made the decision to choose our local magnet program highschool, it was easier because I knew April (and my other besties Regina and Sia) would be there too.  We were family.  Her mom was a second mom to me - Mama Bev.  One of the coolest moms ever - to this day I think so!  She was so good to all of us.  When April's parents separated and later divorced in highschool, my heart hurt.  It was a tough time for everyone and as strong a person as April is and was, for her that was life changing as anyone can imagine. 

When the time came to make a decision for college, I thought April would be heading to OU with me.  She didn't. And for the first time after seven years together we were headed in separate directions.  Over the course of my college-career I only saw April once.  It seemed and still seems unreal to me.  I hate the way time and distance gets in the way of life long bonds...

Late last year I received an email from April.  As it turns out, we live just a few miles apart and once again as things have turned out we still have a great deal in common.  April has three kiddos as well.  She's a fellow MOST (Mom of Single and Twins) except she has three beautiful...or I guess I should say "handsome" boys.  When we got together for the first time, it was truly like old times.  Laughing, giggling, and the occasional stab at old school mates (lol).  We have gotten to hang out together a few times now and have committed to together get involved with our local Mothers of Multiples Club.  I'm excited about that because I'd been wanting to for a while. 

Today, I met them all at the park and snapped a few pics.  I'm so glad to have my sister friend back and I truly hope that we can do right this time and commit to keeping in touch. 

If you give a 3 year old your camera...

If you give a super adorable three year old your camera this is what she'll capture...

and then we simplified things and put it on auto mode...there you go Zoe...

Her Mom is laughing in the background in one of the images above because Zoe opted to "get low" to capture her images.  She got down on one knee, tried different angles, and did her best to direct her subjects...it was hilarious...but who knows she may the next big photographer...

Look out!

Meet Me in St. Louis

After I picked MacKenzie up from camp on Friday, I had a major surprise for her.  I'd made plans with her best friend, Mia's mom for to have a meet up in St. Louis.  Mia moved to Chicago two summers ago, but the girls still keep in touch.  They met when they were four at school.  They have a beautiful genuine friendship.  I can so see them being life long friends.  When Mia lived here, people often thought they were twins.  They have so much in common too.  Both girls are strong academic performers, are competitive gymnasts, play the piano, love to read, were only children for more than half of their lives, and are just really sweet girls!  I'm so glad that Mia is in MacKie's life!  

While in St. Louis, the girls spent Friday night at City Museum and had a great time with eachother, their other friend Sydney, and Mia's little brother, Myles.  It was fun to get to see Myles.  I haven't seen him in two years, and boy has he grown up!  He is a character!  On Saturday, we planned to wake up early eat breakfast and head out to Six Flags/Hurricane Harbour.  Somehow, we didn't end up making it there until 4:00!  It turned out perfect though, because, really it was just enough time.  It was super hot, and I don't think I could have handled being there much earlier.  The girls had a blast.  Mia experienced her first roller coasterS and did quite well.    MacKenzie is an old pro.  We love amusement parks around here - (primarily for the thrill of roller coasters)!

Summer Camp - College for Kids Edition - Missouri

We left for camp on Father's Day morning so that MacKenzie was set for check-in at four. Unfortunately, early on, KT took a wrong turn and we were off about an hour...no biggie, as it turned out, we were "right on time", though I would have loved more time to get her all settled as it was her first big trip away. Truthfully she was only "away" for two days, b/c we were near by for the first 3 days and then I was right back there to pick her up on Friday.

MacKenzie had a blast, and while I know she missed us all, she did quite fine without us. It's scary how fast she is growing up. She is becoming such a young lady. She had a very full, educational, and fun week. Fortunately, we were able to visit her and while there I got a few shots of her and her new "instant friends". Don't you miss being able to meet someone and instantly you are friends?? To be a kid again...

As soon as we left, she asked about returning next year, I think that's a good sign that she loved it. I'm so glad. The thought of her being away was a wee bit stressful for us, but ultimately, I had peace about it and feel confident that it was a good decision for her. She seems to have gotton a lot out of it.

                                         

                                                        

Wish List Wednesday

brWhat I truly wish is that I was more organized...I'm not...I'd love to say that I have everything put where it should be but I simply don't. 

I did however make a fun purchase yesterday...I got a MOMAGENDA planner!  I'm very excited about this.  We got my friend Regina one for her birthday and my friend Brandy the MYAGENDA (no kids yet...hopefully in the making :) ) for her birthday. 

Brandy with her myagenda in tickled pink.  I'm hoping she doesn't kill me for this... ;P.  If I feel like my life is in danger, this picture may be down the next time you view this blog ...

I got the chocolate color, but they have all kinds of fun colors...and I got it personalized with my name.  Now for the most exciting part...I paid less than $25!!!  Right now, at http://www.momagenda.com/ they are having a wonderful sale at 30% off (applicable to dayplanners) and then, I had a coupon code LOVEMOM for an additional 40% off.  This was quite exciting as the planner normally retails for $42 - $47 (personalized), but from everything I've heard, it is actually truly worth it, plus way cuter and much more afordable than say Franklin Covey.  Hopefully, I will put good use to it...the truth is, I have tried out lots of planners (Franklin Covey, Priority Management, and oops...I just got a Day Spring one for 2010) but haven't stuck with it...but I feel like this one is different.   I'm excited about the fact that it has space for Mom's stuff (that's me), multiple kids (that's my girls) and DINNER (yay!  now, that I'm cooking more at home, I think this will help me as far as "planning" meals.  Maybe I can do that on Saturdays and have it pre-filled.  I'll do a full review once I get it and test it a bit, but I'm REALLY excited about it...plus I LOVE a good deal :) Yes, I know I know...it's not a good deal, if I don't use it...so I'm going to do my best. 

Who knows?? Perhaps, I'll start here, and it will spill over to other areas of my life and someday, my girls' closets will look more like this:

and mine more like this:

love the clean neutral colors here...maybe all the fun colors are hiding in the drawers :) Honestly, I'd love that much space in my closet...we are currently much more cramped so add that to my wish list...

what are you wishing for???