So, check me out over at unRehearsed!
Monday, July 6, 2015
GLADIATOR IN HEELS HAS A NEW FOCUS AND HOME, CHECK ME OUT OVER AT unRehearsed, see post below!
Fellow bloggers, you know how sometimes you get caught up in the Pinterest-y world of doing things? You know, like trying be all things to all people? Sometimes you just gotta re-focus and try again. What I am trying to say is that Gladiator in Heels is no more. My new focus is more in tune with who I really am, what my life is really about and how I want to help others like me.
Monday, January 6, 2014
It's a New Year...Now What?!?!
New Year resolutions are like a double edged sword, they can be good or bad.
Drive by any gym, look at the full parking lot.
Take a look around, people will be out walking, running, doing all sorts of things.
No you're not in the Twilight zone. It's just the beginning of the new year.
Last year, I decided to ditch new year resolutions. My husband encouraged me to join him on something called a One Word challenge.
The One Word challenge is where you pick one word that serves as your focal point, this word provides clarity on all the issues you may need to improve upon in your life. When you think about it, that long list of new year resolutions has several things in common. The One Word challenge sums all of that up, providing a more spread out outline for improvement in your life. You may want to lose weight, you may want to increase your prayer life, you may want to spend more time with your kids, the list goes on and on. It's no wonder, that by March, most people have fallen off the resolution wagon. That list is too demanding! If you're like me, you probably beat yourself up because you can't keep up with such a demanding list.
I was relieved when my husband told me about the challenge. So, I was off and running, running to pick my one word. I was excited. I was ready. I picked my word, SURRENDER.
**Disclaimer** Life gets busy. Things happen, things need to happen, time flies by. Months went by and sometimes I forgot about my One Word.
Honestly, I forgot about any type of resolutions. I simply concentrated on living, on being present.
Everyone should have some type of life plan, something that directs you in the direction you want to go. It's up to each individual to decide the method in which they want to reach their goals. Will that be a list of new year resolutions? Finding your One Word?
Find a method that works for you.
Once you find that method, keep going. I know, life moves at an astounding pace but keep at it.
Sure, you may stray from your goals. Stop, catch your breath and keep going.
You see, no matter what challenge we participate in or whatever we put on our long list of resolutions, we must decide if we want change. Once we've decided that, we can do the action that is required to accomplish whatever is in the challenge or on the long list of resolutions.
Over the past few months, life has thrown some serious curve balls my way. I was so ready for 2014 to start just so I could officially close the books on things that happened during the last two months of 2013!
2014 is officially open for business, so now what?
I don't want to overwhelm myself so, I am starting off with writing everything out. In order for me to blog the way I want to blog, I finally created an editorial calendar. I've got my eating plan in order, my workout schedule has been resumed. I am being actively present with my husband and children. I am engaged at work. This workin' mama has got it going on...for now at least. But that's ok.
It's ok because as the year goes on, I will stumble a few times, probably hit my head a few more times. But, the key to my success will be that I keep pushing forward. I'm human, mistakes are bound to happen, as long as I don't camp out in my mistakes. Let's learn the lesson and keep it moving.
What about you? 2014 is here, whatcha gonna do with it?
Drive by any gym, look at the full parking lot.
Take a look around, people will be out walking, running, doing all sorts of things.
No you're not in the Twilight zone. It's just the beginning of the new year.
Last year, I decided to ditch new year resolutions. My husband encouraged me to join him on something called a One Word challenge.
The One Word challenge is where you pick one word that serves as your focal point, this word provides clarity on all the issues you may need to improve upon in your life. When you think about it, that long list of new year resolutions has several things in common. The One Word challenge sums all of that up, providing a more spread out outline for improvement in your life. You may want to lose weight, you may want to increase your prayer life, you may want to spend more time with your kids, the list goes on and on. It's no wonder, that by March, most people have fallen off the resolution wagon. That list is too demanding! If you're like me, you probably beat yourself up because you can't keep up with such a demanding list.
I was relieved when my husband told me about the challenge. So, I was off and running, running to pick my one word. I was excited. I was ready. I picked my word, SURRENDER.
**Disclaimer** Life gets busy. Things happen, things need to happen, time flies by. Months went by and sometimes I forgot about my One Word.
Honestly, I forgot about any type of resolutions. I simply concentrated on living, on being present.
Everyone should have some type of life plan, something that directs you in the direction you want to go. It's up to each individual to decide the method in which they want to reach their goals. Will that be a list of new year resolutions? Finding your One Word?
Find a method that works for you.
Once you find that method, keep going. I know, life moves at an astounding pace but keep at it.
Sure, you may stray from your goals. Stop, catch your breath and keep going.
You see, no matter what challenge we participate in or whatever we put on our long list of resolutions, we must decide if we want change. Once we've decided that, we can do the action that is required to accomplish whatever is in the challenge or on the long list of resolutions.
2014 is officially open for business, so now what?
It's ok because as the year goes on, I will stumble a few times, probably hit my head a few more times. But, the key to my success will be that I keep pushing forward. I'm human, mistakes are bound to happen, as long as I don't camp out in my mistakes. Let's learn the lesson and keep it moving.
What about you? 2014 is here, whatcha gonna do with it?
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Blog Hop Blitz Week #16
Merry Christmas!
 |
| thesportspost.com |
Welcome to Week 16 and to the only virtual tailgate party around!
Our team is here to welcome you, be sure to stop by, say hello and follow them:
Terri & Shawna
Easy Life and Party Planning
Betty
A Gut and a Butt
What adorable lil Sock Snow People, courtesy of our own Betty from A Gut & A Butt.
New Mama Diaries shared a yummy recipe for Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Thank you Bouncing Baby for sharing your Dada, we thank him for being a protector over in Afghanistan.
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
get the InLinkz code
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Blog Hop Blitz Week #15
Be thankful that this is not you:
Warm meets cold, ahhhh. Thanks Heavens Garden for sharing a delectable Warm Apply Crisp with Cinnamon ice cream.
Laughing and Losing It shared a creative, kid friendly nativity craft.
Oh wow, Foody Schmoody's Chocolate Cream Pie Martini looks like the perfect way to cap off Christmas night or any night for that matter!
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
Be sure to share our button, letting everyone know where you're linking up this football season.
get the InLinkz code
Welcome to Week #15!
Nope, you don't have to sit out in the cold to tailgate. Your opportunity is right here! Think of our hop as a one big virtual tailgate party! Link up your tailgate recipes, DIY decor projects or your best post of the week.
Our team is here to welcome you, be sure to stop by, say hello and follow them:
Terri & Shawna
Easy Life and Party Planning
Betty
A Gut and a Butt
Blog...Twitter...Pinterest
Need more proof of just how versatile our hop is? Take a look our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs):
Warm meets cold, ahhhh. Thanks Heavens Garden for sharing a delectable Warm Apply Crisp with Cinnamon ice cream.
Laughing and Losing It shared a creative, kid friendly nativity craft.
Oh wow, Foody Schmoody's Chocolate Cream Pie Martini looks like the perfect way to cap off Christmas night or any night for that matter!
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
get the InLinkz code
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
All I want for Christmas...
Three or four hours later...
FINALLY!
That's about how long my parents waited in line to get me my Cabbage Patch Kids doll.
The year was 1983, or somewhere around then...
I can still hear my mom telling the story of now long they stood in line, the fights that were erupting around them. But lo and behold, they walked out with my doll.
Really, that's all I cared about. My dad was tough, he could take down any other parent that got in the way of getting my doll.
That's my story.
What's yours?
I enlisted the help of some blog buddies to share their stories of getting that must have toy for Christmas. Here are their stories.
FINALLY!
That's about how long my parents waited in line to get me my Cabbage Patch Kids doll.
 |
| Might be her, not sure, my sister eventually destroyed her! |
The year was 1983, or somewhere around then...
I can still hear my mom telling the story of now long they stood in line, the fights that were erupting around them. But lo and behold, they walked out with my doll.
Really, that's all I cared about. My dad was tough, he could take down any other parent that got in the way of getting my doll.
That's my story.
What's yours?
I enlisted the help of some blog buddies to share their stories of getting that must have toy for Christmas. Here are their stories.
Ann from Such a Mama
I
sooooooooooooo wanted the Barbie Dream House! My parents NEVER got it for
me! While my daughter is only 18 months, it is taking all my will power
not to start buying Barbi stuff. However, I am still very
conflicted. Since growing out of my Barbie phase, I became a pretty
liberal feminist and even went to a very liberal all women's college. I
am pretty sure I am going to cave and get her that giant pink sparkly house of
plastic as soon as she is old enough!
Tenns from New MamaDiaries
My favorite childhood
toys were Barbies, my pink Barbie corvette powerwheels, and my Fisher Price
kitchen. I literally think I played with all of those until they either broke
or grew out of them. I still have my Barbies tucked away somewhere at my mom's
house.
Cathy from A Peek Into MyParadise
I had quite a few
favorites but the one that will always be special is my 6 foot Barbie house.
Here is the URL to the post I did earlier this year:
I
can honestly say “no other child got what I got for Christmas that year! and
highly doubtful any other year!” LOL
Lydia from Lydia'sFlexitarian Kitchen
I don't recall a
particular toy that was a "must have" item. Toys were marketed
differently in the 60s and 70s. I do remember going through the Sears
"Wish Book" and putting my initials on the things I liked. One
item that stands out for me was my Crissy doll. She had red hair that you
could pull out to make long or retract for shorter hair. I remember she
had a mod dress and go-go boots. My sister had a blond doll and my cousin
had a dark haired one. My mother had a grand time sewing clothes for
them. We played with them for several years until we outgrew them.
Sandy from Mother of Imperfection
In 1976, I was eight
years old and all I wanted that Christmas was a Bionic Woman doll. I was
thrilled when I got it; she had that lever on the back that made her swing her
arm that held a tennis racket. I played with that doll until it literally
fell apart!
Wanda Ann from Memoriesby the Mile
I remember the Christmas
when I was 10, I wanted a Chatty Cathy Doll. She talked, walked and was so
cute. I loved playing with her. It was a very special Christmas, most of
all because my Grandparents were there.
Nicole from Design It GirlBlog
My favorite must have
item was a Cabbage Patch Doll, her name is Letty and I still have her. My mom
put her layaway because $75.00 was a lot of money for her! She was a single
parent.
Terri from Easy Life Meal and Party Planning
This is going to really date me - Nancy Drew
Mystery Books. I remember having to look high and low for the Cabbage Patch
Doll for my daughter though!
Maria from Music Teaching and Parenting
I am a native of Bulgaria. As a child we had an exchange program
with a school Germany. We had a student assigned to be our pen pal. We would
write letters to each other. This was a great cultural exchange for me from a
very early age. I loved hearing about the different customs in a
different country and make a friend at the same time. I also spent some quality
time with my grandmother as she was a Language Arts teacher with German minor,
she was helping me write the letters. I became quite good friends with my pen
pal. We started exchanging gifts as well. One Christmas we had purchased and
sent a Bulgarian traditional folk doll to my German friend. In exchange she
sent me a Barbie doll. It was the time where Barbie dolls were actually hard to
get in my country... so I was beyond myself. I still remember this gift as well
as the wonderful friendship that brought it.
Karen from Sour Dough Native
Believe it or not, my must have toy from
childhood was a Creepy Crawler Maker!
Think our kids will have the same memories my blog buddies and I have?
Let's hear your story, what toy did you just have to have when you were a kid?
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Blog Hop Blitz Week #14
Keep this in mind as we enjoy the holiday season.
Welcome to Week 14!
Welcome to the most versatile hop around. This is your spot to showcase your latest DIY decor/projects, tailgate recipes or your best post of the week!
Our team is here to welcome you:
Terri & Shawna
Easy Life and Party Planning
Betty
A Gut and a Butt
Blog...Twitter...Pinterest
Need more proof of just how versatile our hop is? Take a look our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs):
Kendra over at Here's The Thing shared a creative spin on an Advent calendar. What an awesome way to showcase some oldie but goodie blog posts!
As always, Ms. enPlace shares an awesome-ly delicious cajun recipe, this time it was Cajun Smothered Potatoes.
Domain of the Mad Mommy was in everybody's head with her Random Thoughts post!
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Speaking of dysfunction...My top 7 Christmas movie picks
Got the blankets.
Got the hot chocolate.
Time to get our Christmas movie viewing on.
***Disclaimer***
My picks may be a bit out of the norm, you won't find any Miracle on 34th Street here, I like that movie but it didn't make my list. I also went with my top 7 picks, I know, 7, not 5, not 10 but 7.
Go get your popcorn, relax, get ready for some holiday movie cheer clips!
In no particular order, first up is Scrooged with Bill Murray.
This movie is hilarious but has meaning behind it. It's a remake of the Dickens classic, with a twist. The movie showcases how a meanie turns good, with a little knocking upside the head. Family dysfunction is lurking here...
Speaking of dysfunction...
Gotta love Aunt Bethany! Her reciting the Pledge of Allegiance instead of saying grace is hilarious!
WARNING: I will be using the word HILARIOUS throughout this post.
So manyfunny hilarious scenes throughout this movie. The Griswolds show us the effects of having family around for the holidays. They show us that we all have a crazy Cousin Eddie that embarrasses the heck out of us, but in the end, means well.
Ok, my next pick is probably over-played but Christmas doesn't seem like Christmas without watching it.
Does "you'll shoot your eye out, kid" ring a bell? Yep, you guessed it, my next pick is...
A Christmas Story
The clip I've chosen for you is of the gift that keeps on giving, giving light that is, it's the leg lamp!
Ralphie and his folks show us, again, that all families have a tinge of dysfunction. I can relate to the cussing dad!
Again, the family has dysfunction but they mean well. Ralphie standing up for himself to the dad getting him the Red Ryder BB gun, they show us that family sticks together after all is said and done.
This next clip helps keep the true meaning of Christmas before our eyes.
Starting at scene 2:45, Linus breaks it down for us, explaining the arrival of our Saviour. Watching this clip takes me back to my childhood. Amazing, how I watched this as a kid and how my kids watch it. I never grow tired of watching it each year. This movie has a way of making things right in the world. You start to think about how screwed up our world is BUT then you think about what our Saviour did for us. A great movie to usher in Christmas.
But where is the dysfunction?
Did you see that tree? That was dysfunction enough! The group needed to hear the meaning of Christmas because there was dysfunction amongst the group of friends.
Alright, keeping with the cartoon theme, couldn't leave this one out:
Not the full action movie but the original 1966 cartoon. Sometimes originals should be left alone. So, you know the story, mean Mr. Grinch has this teeny tiny lil heart. Goes into Whoville, steals everything, gets bitten by the love bug in the form of Cindy Lou, turns over a new leaf. Something about the nostalgia this one brings up. Again, knowing that I watched this as a kid and hearing my daughter squeal as I play the clip.
WARNING: No laughter allowed at my next pick.
This is not well known, or should I say not known at all. Wasn't even sure I would find the clip on Youtube.
So, here's the story on how this one made my list. Just so happens one day, MonkeyMan and I were home, flipping channels, having a quiet moment where we had control over the TV. This movie caught our eye. The kid is the kid from the Disney channel, well, they're twins. His parents have started to argue a lot and looks like they are headed for divorce. The kid just so happens sees his mom kissing Santa (it's actually his dad), this starts his plot to get them to stop arguing.
Ok, so I'll admit it, this movie is not all that great but it makes me remember that Saturday afternoon with my husband. To me, this represents the season, being together with those you love.
So, I know I said that my picks aren't in any particular type of order but...
Gotta admit, this one has become one of my favs.
Will Ferrell is hilarious, sometimes so annoying that it's just hilarious!
This one has become a classic that just gets us laughing. Buddy the Elf kinda grows on you, in the same way he had to grow on his own dad. The theme again is that even with dysfunction, family still loves. Buddy is different, his family couldn't accept him in the beginning but grew to understand him.
The holiday season has a way of bringing out the dysfunction in every family, my movie picks tells us that.
My family is no different, however, I know they mean well.
How will you deal with the family dysfunction this year?
If answering that question increases the headache pain, tell me your favorite Christmas movie!
Got the hot chocolate.
Time to get our Christmas movie viewing on.
***Disclaimer***
My picks may be a bit out of the norm, you won't find any Miracle on 34th Street here, I like that movie but it didn't make my list. I also went with my top 7 picks, I know, 7, not 5, not 10 but 7.
Go get your popcorn, relax, get ready for some holiday movie cheer clips!
In no particular order, first up is Scrooged with Bill Murray.
This movie is hilarious but has meaning behind it. It's a remake of the Dickens classic, with a twist. The movie showcases how a meanie turns good, with a little knocking upside the head. Family dysfunction is lurking here...
Speaking of dysfunction...
It's Christmas time with the Griswolds!
Gotta love Aunt Bethany! Her reciting the Pledge of Allegiance instead of saying grace is hilarious!
WARNING: I will be using the word HILARIOUS throughout this post.
So many
Ok, my next pick is probably over-played but Christmas doesn't seem like Christmas without watching it.
Does "you'll shoot your eye out, kid" ring a bell? Yep, you guessed it, my next pick is...
A Christmas Story
The clip I've chosen for you is of the gift that keeps on giving, giving light that is, it's the leg lamp!
Ralphie and his folks show us, again, that all families have a tinge of dysfunction. I can relate to the cussing dad!
Again, the family has dysfunction but they mean well. Ralphie standing up for himself to the dad getting him the Red Ryder BB gun, they show us that family sticks together after all is said and done.
This next clip helps keep the true meaning of Christmas before our eyes.
Starting at scene 2:45, Linus breaks it down for us, explaining the arrival of our Saviour. Watching this clip takes me back to my childhood. Amazing, how I watched this as a kid and how my kids watch it. I never grow tired of watching it each year. This movie has a way of making things right in the world. You start to think about how screwed up our world is BUT then you think about what our Saviour did for us. A great movie to usher in Christmas.
But where is the dysfunction?
Did you see that tree? That was dysfunction enough! The group needed to hear the meaning of Christmas because there was dysfunction amongst the group of friends.
Alright, keeping with the cartoon theme, couldn't leave this one out:
Not the full action movie but the original 1966 cartoon. Sometimes originals should be left alone. So, you know the story, mean Mr. Grinch has this teeny tiny lil heart. Goes into Whoville, steals everything, gets bitten by the love bug in the form of Cindy Lou, turns over a new leaf. Something about the nostalgia this one brings up. Again, knowing that I watched this as a kid and hearing my daughter squeal as I play the clip.
WARNING: No laughter allowed at my next pick.
This is not well known, or should I say not known at all. Wasn't even sure I would find the clip on Youtube.
So, here's the story on how this one made my list. Just so happens one day, MonkeyMan and I were home, flipping channels, having a quiet moment where we had control over the TV. This movie caught our eye. The kid is the kid from the Disney channel, well, they're twins. His parents have started to argue a lot and looks like they are headed for divorce. The kid just so happens sees his mom kissing Santa (it's actually his dad), this starts his plot to get them to stop arguing.
Ok, so I'll admit it, this movie is not all that great but it makes me remember that Saturday afternoon with my husband. To me, this represents the season, being together with those you love.
So, I know I said that my picks aren't in any particular type of order but...
Gotta admit, this one has become one of my favs.
Will Ferrell is hilarious, sometimes so annoying that it's just hilarious!
This one has become a classic that just gets us laughing. Buddy the Elf kinda grows on you, in the same way he had to grow on his own dad. The theme again is that even with dysfunction, family still loves. Buddy is different, his family couldn't accept him in the beginning but grew to understand him.
The holiday season has a way of bringing out the dysfunction in every family, my movie picks tells us that.
My family is no different, however, I know they mean well.
How will you deal with the family dysfunction this year?
If answering that question increases the headache pain, tell me your favorite Christmas movie!
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Blog Hop Blitz Week #13
 |
| happinessplunge.com |
Welcome to football overload.
Welcome to Week #13!
Hope your Thanksgiving was awesome!
Had a chance to get any crafting done? Cook up a new recipe? Write a new, rockin' blog post?
Here's your spot to showcase what you got!
Here's our team:
Delicious Kale Cranberry salad! Maria from Music Teaching and Parenting shared a wonderful, light salad, perfect, especially after your Thanksgiving feast!
Anne from Anne's Blog is so creative and helped get us into the Christmas spirit with her whimsical cards.
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
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