30 Day Shred | Starting Over

So, I'm starting over and I'm not alone. I'm so excited to be teaming up with my buddies to take on 30 Day Shred again......this time...failing is not an option.

I'm teaming up with these hot mamas:

Gerri from Kimble Krew
Kensya from Kaptured by Kensya
Brandy from Team Davis United

We'll all be posting our results for the next 5 Mondays at 9 p.m. cst.

I pretty much need buddies in order to stay motivated.
I pretty much need to do this for energy.

My goal is to tighten up my abs and thighs, strengthen my endurance, and gain some much needed energy and motivation. I don't really care about losing weight. I honestly have no idea how much I weigh. As a 30 + mom of 3, I feel a little bit entitled to my curves and it feels good to be okay with that. I'm not obsessed about weight, but I do want to be healthy...so here's to my journey...our journey...

I wish I could say that I'd done today's workout by now...but I can't. MacKenzie started school today...and well that's kinda taken priority. But I will not go to bed without working out...I promise.

Will post a pic here in just a few! But visit me next week to see how well I progressed in week 1.

In the meantime visit Gerri to see how awesome she is!

E.T.A.
posting before shot now...

When I mentioned I would post a pic I'd forgotten that I  would feel the need to explain...well to those ladies who don't have kids...and possibly those that just have one...or those that don't have twins...


I had twins...I have twin skin and my already odd outtie belly button is just a bit deformed post pregnancy...but I have my girls...and it's two years later...so I'm kinda over it...but so as to not frighten anyone...I'm explaining..


Anyway...my before...shot by my husband...who clearly hasn't spent as much time behind the lens as I have... ;P  I love him...but my dreams of us becoming bobbi and mike...just ain't gonna happen! LOL

Flashback Friday | Meet Me in St. Louis Edition

Last weekend as a surprise - we met MacKenzie's friend Mia, her mom and little brother in St. Louis.  We did the same last year.  So much fun...and more to come on that...but for now...a flashback.

Gosh, the girls have grown way too much and way too fast! I posted another more formal pic of them taken outside on my 52 Week Blog here. Let's see your flashback! Link up with Jen!

Ten on Tuesday

1) It's midnight, I have to work tomorrow, so I should be sleep...but I'm not.
2) It has seriously been 100 degrees plus for over a month now...it's ridiculously hot...yet, I still have my space heater on in my office.
3) I absolutely plan to do updated "she" posts for my girls.  The importance/delay is equal parts finding the words and finding the right shot.
4) Because you asked...Ten on Tuesdays is 100% inspired by Erin Cobb 
5) Hawthorne comes on tonight.  I'm disappointed that a developing romantic relationship looks like it will end just as soon as it starts (literally all in one episode).  My heart literally melted and I felt butterflies when Derek Luke's character told Jada Pinkett's daughter he loved her...ahhh!!! I'm a sucker for love. Oh wow...per IMDb he was born in 1974 and she was born in 1991!  Yikes...a significant age difference is written in show...but wowsers!!! 
6) Anyone else want to join me and Gerri in kicking off the 30 Day Shred again maybe beginning August 14??  If so...email me!
7) I'm thrilled that my photog buddy Val Springs | The Red Balloon Photography has asked me to join her and a group of 9 other photographers in a Ten on Ten | A Picture an Hour | On the Hour beginning August 10.  This project was inspired by Shannon Harrison | Jack and Ruby Studios who was likewise inspired.  Oh how I heart Shannon's creative soul!   Val is tweaking our group's project by requiring us to be in at least one shot every month.  I'm excited about the challenge and excited to see what the year will bring.  My heart's desire in capturing my kids is in lifestyle photography so I'm pretty thrilled to grow and be stretched in this area.  But yeah, I know...as if I need another "project"...LOL
8) This is the Ipad Case I settled on.  It can't get here soon enough...I don't feel comfortable with a "naked" Ipad.
9) I'm pretty sure MacKenzie is going to be stoked when she finds out what I have planned for her this weekend...more to come!
10) On Sunday, I did a mock senior shoot...and I'm thrilled with how it turned out.  See a few here...and definitely more to come!  And here are a couple if you don't want to click over :)

Flashback Friday (late on Saturday)

This is the front of the birthday announcement card I made for Brandy of Miss Hannah who turned 1 last week. 

I love the side by side of her at birth - 2 lbs to I "think" approximately 16 lbs now!!!  God is so good.

Look at Hannah!!

We did a whole little fun session and I'm excited to get to post them soon.  I wanted to wait until Brandy mailed out her cards before posting.  Hannah's been my little muse this year.  I'm working on an album for her and can't wait to share it with her parents.

Catch more flashbacks by visiting Jen's blog!

Ten on Tuesday

1) It's been a while since I've done Ten on Tuesday...life has been BUSY!
2) Anyone else watch Hawthorne?  We do and  I'm hooked.  They have a lot going on right now...too much in fact...but every episode I find myself wanting to know more...
3) Last night I did something I thought I'd NEVER do...I posted a pic  five pics of me and my hair bonnet on my Three Sisters 52 Week Blog and amazingly, I'm not even embarrassed.  The pics are technically so wrong but seeing the smiles on the girls faces make me so happy that I couldn't care less how awful I look.
4) MacKenzie is doing a Glee themed camp this week and she absolutely loves it.  I'm glad we enrolled her.  She is enjoying getting to know the other campers and getting to sing, dance, and act.  Soooo up her alley!
5) I got my new JoTotes bag in the mail this weekend!  I went with the black Millie bag.  It's actually cuter in person!  It's quite a bit smaller than my classic Kelly Moore though.  I can only fit my camera and one extra lens.  Speaking of bags...am I wrong for wanting this one too.  Maybe I'll treat myself for Christmas or something.  It's super cute.
6) Last week we had Vacation Bible School and I just loved watching those kids fall in love with Jesus.  MacKenzie had a fantastic time and all three of my girls are singing the songs and doing the movements still.  Great songs.  All three girls love.
7) I'm getting the Ipad 2 this weekend.  Pretty excited.  Yes, I've only had the original since November and no there aren't that many changes, but I think the girls will love the front facing camera.  I'm really going to miss my Michael Kors Jet Setters case (I have it in gold and love it equally as much as the Ipad itself) .  It's not compatible with the Ipad 2.  That's a real bummer.  So...I'm on the hunt for a cute new protective case.  The girls love the Ipad as well.  Nala calls it "myPad".  So, it has to be built tough enough for the girls but cute enough for me. If you know of any cute cases...seriously...will you email me?? LOL :)

8)This weekend we went to Hannah's birthday party.  It was a lot of fun and I'm wishing I'd made a bigger "doggie" bag...LOL  I took a few pics that definitely aren't the best, but I'm planning to do a whole Hannah post soon!

 
9) This upcoming weekend, I'll be starting a new gig at church.  I'm going to be serving as a Service Coordinator in the Children's Ministry Team one Sunday a month and helping to lead up a Bible memory program for the kids that will be rolled out late next month.  I'm excited to finally get plugged back in.  Since the twins, I've kinda taken a step back because that was just the season I was in.  But, I 100% believe that we are all called to serve in some capacity so I'm really excited about what all God has for me.
10) So about a month ago, I started 30 Day Shred with my blogger friend Gerri of Kimble Krew.  I asked her, and she agreed to do it with me...and we were so good...until we weren't...we are trying again in two weeks.  I felt so good when I was doing it, but for whatever reason, if I mess up just a little bit, I get completely thrown off.  Hoping it will go better next time!

Have a great week!

Just Because

Just because I need to say "Thank You" to those that voted for my pic in the Papermama Challenge.  I can't believe I won 2nd place.  I really am so incredibly honored...I mean really did you see those shots???

I am pretty darn thrilled with the fantastic prizes too, especially a new JoTotes Camera Bag.

Just because I'm also excited to have just gotton an email that another shot from that mock shoot was selected as the cover winning shot for the Bloom Forum July Newsletter.

I think it's funny that I'd put it as a cover shot here on this blog a few weeks ago too. 

And

Just because...she's so stinkin cute  (I won't worry about the motion blur) .... my Nala... gosh she looks like a big girl!! 



k....the shirt is pretty darn adorable too, isn't it??

Baby Gap...I don't even remember when I purchased it.  I found them and the cute wide leg jeans in a bag in my room last week...embarassing!  Here is Nia in it as well.  They wore their squeaky Pickle Shoes with them.  I'm sure everyone in the library loved us for that.

and speaking of those Pickle Shoes...

Just because I forgot to mention how awesome their customer service.  I called or emailed...don't remember... to tell them that I needed to replace one of the bows that we lost...they sent me one free.  I call that rockin customer service!  Plus, the shoes are really really great quality...I'm a fan and will be looking to add another color to the girls shoe collection soon...

Have a great week!  And thank you thank you thank you again!

Flashback Friday (on Saturday)

silly a year ago

silly today

somethings just never change...

see other flasbacks and add your own by visiting Jen's Flashback Friday linky.

4th of July

We had a great 4th. I always enjoy spending extra time with the girls when I'm off...it makes it hard to go back to work. On the 3rd of July we went to a fireworks celebration held at the church where Nia and Nala go to Mothers Day Out two days a week. It was really nice. I'm not an outdoor person, but there were no mosquitoes and it actually wasn't hot that night. The girls were just a little startled when the fireworks first started but after they got used to it there were lots of "oooh"s "so pretty"s and "beautiful"s. They loved it!

I also got to take a pic 3rd Annual Clickinmoms Scavenger hunt of MacKenzie in a police car. Obviously we could have just taken a shot in KTs, but this car was pink (for breast cancer awareness) and we thought it was pretty cool...

On the 4th, the girls had a red, white and blueberry breakfast  and then spent the day at my sister's and the kids had a great time. MacKenzie spent the night over there. When we got home and realized that the neighborhood fireworks were just as good as what the city was putting on, we sat outside and let the girls watch. I missed MacKenzie because I knew she would have enjoyed it...oh well...next year...

Flashback Friday

This pic is from July 2007!!!  MacKenzie and her cousins (plus 1 friend)  have grown so much!!!

I took a pic of the girls on the 4th.  Those three girl cousins in the middle have now expanded to 5 less Cydney...we missed her this 4th of July!

I posted that last one on my photography blog too, for the Independence theme this week.  I love seeing them all together!  They get along so well and love spending time together.

Now head over to Jen's blog to see more flashbacks!

Anniversary | Flashback Friday

five years ago today...

 this little family officially became one

 tolivers est. 7.1.06

on that day...i couldn't have imagined how differently life would look today

on that day...i couldn't have imagined that it wouldn't always be easy

on that day...i couldn't have imagined that 3 would become 5

on that day...i couldn't have imagined that in spite of it all ... the good ... the bad ... and the just plain ugly...

i never have and never will love a single man, woman,  boy or girl  more than him.

happy anniversary to us.

note:
photo credit - John Lew Photography