Friday, June 29, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge #23 Favorite blog post I've written before this challenge

Going Green with the Grizls


Today's prompt is my favorite blog post I've written before this challenge.  I think I will go with my post America's Game.  This was one of my first posts that i did last year.  It was about my very long audition to try to be on Wheel of Fortune.  Unfortunately I was not called back, but I still had a great time.


Summer #BlogChallenge #22 When I was a kid, what did I want to be when I grew up?

Going Green with the Grizls


When I was a kid, what did I want to be when I grew up?  Well, I think when I was really young I wanted to be a teacher....I think most kids go through that stage at some point.  That changed for me when I was in 5th grade.  We studied Astronomy, I even remember our teacher Mrs. Cantrell had a night at the school where we could go to the school and look at the moon and stars with telescopes.  I of course had to have a telescope of my own, because I decided I wanted to be an Astronomer.

Fast forward to 7th grade.  I'm not even sure how or why I changed my mind, but that was when I decided I wanted to be a Marine Biologist.  20 years later, that is still my dream job, and what I am slowly going to college for.  Dolphins are my favorite animal...but Sharks fascinate me.  I'm not really sure which route I will go, but I have a ways to go before I need to decide.  I plan to eventually have my Master's Degree in Marine Biology.  I am slowly working on it, 1 class at a time for now while my little ones are still at home with me.

My oldest is 12...he wants to be an Archeologist.  My 10 year old daughter, she wants to be a Fashion Designer.  it will be interesting to see if these change with them, or if these wind up being the careers that they pursue.

What did you want to be?  Is that what you are doing now?

Summer #BlogChallenge #21 Most recent words of wisdom I heard that stuck with me

Going Green with the Grizls


Hmmm...this one is a hard one.  I haven't really heard anything new that has struck a chord with me.  Just some things I have heard before, or that I have talked about myself in the last.

Based on some recent events that some friends and family are dealing with, I think I will go with this one: We are not guaranteed tomorrow.  Don't let pride, or stubbornness get in the way, because you may do or say something that you regret.....or even worse, you may not get the chance to mend those bridges that you are burning.  


Summer #BlogChallenge #20 Photo of me as a young child

This one I will have to get back to.  I need to find a picture to scan into my computer.

Summer #BlogChallenge #19 Something I'm proud of from the last few days

Going Green with the Grizls

Something I am proud of from the last few days.  Since this post is suppose to be from June 19th, I will post something from around that time.

I am VERY proud of both of my older kids and their baseball and softball teams, especially my son Austin.  His team was number 1 for most of the season.  They won their playoff game and made it to the championship game.  They did lose the championship game, but the team they played against had a phenomenal pitcher.  Their pitcher could pitch at 80MPH, he was so good, that most of our kids were swinging and the ball was already in the catchers mitt.  Austin was 1 of the few boys who actually got a hit off of their pitcher.

Austin was also selected for the All Star team.  That is the team that competes and can eventually make it to the Little League World Series.  Unfortunately they placed him on the 10-11 year old team and he is 12 years old.  They are VERY strict on age, including providing the birth certificate.  They had to remove him from the team, and since the 12 year old team was already formed, his baseball season came to an end.

Do you have anything that you're proud of from the last few days?

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Back on the wagon!

Sorry I haven't been doing my blog challenge, but I can down with a very nasty sinus infection last week.  It took me a bit to recover....and as I did I started to read 50 Shades of Grey.  Needless to say I got sucked in.  I am about to finish book 3, and then I will be catching up on my missing posts!  So stay tuned, you should start seeing them tonight and tomorrow morning!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Facebook?!

I sat down this weekend and I made a Facebook page for Lovin Life!  So now you can follow me on Facebook and see what is going on there too!  I hope to see some new fans on it in the coming days!

Is there anything in particular you would like to see on my Facebook page?  Or even on my blog?  Let me know!

Here's the link to my Facebook Page Lovin Life.



Summer #BlogChallenge #18 A recipe I love

Going Green with the Grizls


Today I get to blog about a recipe I love!  One of our families' favorite desserts is Cherry Cream Pie!  I've already shared this yummy recipe here on the blog, so all you have to do is click HERE to go read all about it!





Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop 6/18!



The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom

I am linked up with the Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop!  Click the picture above and join me!

Summer #BlogChallenge #17 3 things you are proud of about your personality

Going Green with the Grizls

Today's prompt is 3 things you are proud of about your personality.  This one I had to think about.  I knew one of them, but wasn't sure what to put for the other two.

The first one is loyalty.  While it is a great trait to have, it can suck sometimes too LOL.  I am very loyal to my friends and family, but sometimes that can hurt me in process.  Overall tho, I think it's a great trait to have, and something to be proud of.

Next, I would have to go with my sense of humor.  My sense of humor is a bit on the kooky side...but that's ok, because my Husband's is too!  That's one of the reasons we are so great together.

The last one was the hardest one for me to come up with.  In fact, I didn't even know what I was going to say when I started this blog post.  I think I am going to go with outgoing.  I am a very outgoing person, part of that is probably because I am an Aquarius LOL, but also in part to my best friend Mel.  She taught me a long time ago to just be myself, even if I am a bit 'out there'.

So there you have it, the 3 personality traits I am the most proud of.  Do you have one that you are really proud of?


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge #16 Fitness Guru or Couch Potato?

Going Green with the Grizls


Today's prompt is Fitness Guru, or Couch Potato?  Talk about your fitness habits.

After I got out of the Navy, I became a HUGE couch potato.  But, Since I have had babies #3 and #4 I am trying to lose some weight, so I am a wanna be Fitness Guru.

I have a very hectic schedule....or at least I DID, but with school and sports now at an end, it should be slowing down some around here!  My work out schedule depends a lot on what is going on with the kids.  I will tell you my schedule tho, based on if I could make every workout (which I have done some weeks!)

Monday is a 55 min Zumba class at my gym.  Tuesday is a 55 min  R.I.P.P.E.D. class. Wednesday is another Zumba class (and if Hubby is willing, I am gonna try to do 2 classes on Weds, now that sports are done for the kids).  Thursday is weights with the Hubby, and this coming week I plan to check out the Kickboxing class.  Friday is Zumba again.  Saturday is Zumba followed by weights again with the Hubby.  Sunday is my day of rest.

I REALLY want to get into running again.  I ran cross country many, many years ago.  My goal is to run a 5k, then a 10k, a half marathon, and finally a full marathon.  I just need to get back into running.  With my workout schedule, Sunday is the only day I have open to run...I just need to motivate myself to get out there and do it.  It's just so easy to laze away the day on Sundays.

What about you?  Are you a Fitness guru, or a Couch Potato?

Friday, June 15, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge #15 Post a photo I took that I'm proud of

Anyone who knows me, knows that asking me to pick just 1 picture, is like telling a drunk not to drink.  I just can't do it!  That's ok tho, because today is also National Photography Day!  So I will share several pictures with you that I took and am proud of!  I hope you enjoy them!


Sunset at the Grand Canyon  Mar. 2007



Bridge hiking at Foster Falls, TN Oct 2007


Ruby Falls, Chattanooga TN Oct 2007  The falls are in the middle, kind of hard to see...the color is from the lights they had on in there.


Trolley on Nob Hill, San Francisco July 2008


Python, San Diego Zoo, Jan 2009


Sunset, San Diego Zoo, Jan 2009


Newport Beach, CA June 2009


Oahu, Hawaii July 2010



I have more, that are more recent....but these were all already in an album I have of some of my favorite pictures.  I figure there's more then enough here already, so I didn't go through my thousands of pictures from the last 2 years LOL  As it was the album these came from had over 100 pictures in it!

Which one of these is your favorite?


Thursday, June 14, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge #14 15 Tips to get through life

Going Green with the Grizls

Today's post (which finally get's me all caught up!!!) is 15 tips to get through life.  I know I have a handful of good tips...let's see what else I can think up 8)

1.  ALWAYS tell the people that you love, that you love them.  Don't ever assume that they know.  Every time my husband or I leave the house, or we hang up the phone with each other, we tell each other "I love you".  God forbid something was to ever happen, at least we would know that we love each other.  When my Dad passed away in early 2009, I tore myself up for the longest time, because I couldn't remember if I had told him I loved him or not as I left the house that morning.  It turns out I did, but that was one of the worst feelings ever.  When my kids head to school in the morning, I tell them I love them too.

2.  Live for today.  Don't worry about your past, it's in your past.  Don't worry about tomorrow, wait for it to come.  We sometimes get too caught up in what happened before, or worrying about what's to come that we forget to appreciate what we have now.

3.  Go with the flow.  I know this one is hard for a lot of people.  But you just need to let go.  I am a firm believer in everything happens for a reason.  Sometimes we'll know the reason, sometimes we'll figure it out down the road, and sometimes we'll never know.  I think this one goes hand in hand with living for today.  I know my brother always tries to analyze everything little thing and what it means.  I'm always telling him to go with the flow, and I know it's hard for him to just let go like that.

4.  Choose your battles.  This is a BIG one, both in your marriage, and as a parent, but really in any relationship.  Some things are just not worth the time and the energy.  You can't win everything, even when dealing with your children.  Should you give in every single time?  No, but you need to find the right balance.  Knowing when to stop, or when to say you're sorry is big.

5.  K.I.S.S.  Keep It Simple Stupid.  Or, when I was in the Navy, Keep It Simple Sailor.  No need to complicate things, try to keep it simple.  You can apply this to anything, and everything.

6.  Be the change you want to see.  I know we've all seen this before, or heard it before, but it's true.  If you want something to change, then DO IT!  Don't just sit back and talk about it.

7.  Spend time with your family/children.  Before you know it, they will be grown and gone.  Take the time to sit down and create memories with them.  Don't be the person 20 years from now, looking back saying "I wish".  Create memories and cherish them.  

8.  Jealousy is a wasted emotion.  This is a BIG one.  I used to be one of the most jealous people EVER.  I mean, every little thing set me off (relationship wise, not day to day life).  Let me tell you, green is my favorite color, but it did not look good on me!  Looking back, I made a HUGE ass of myself...ALL the time too.  I was such an idiot LOL.  Learning to let go and not be jealous has been SO great for me.  I think this can also go with my going with the flow.  Learn to be secure in yourself, and everything else will fall into place.

9.  Take time for yourself.  As a mom, we get so caught up in taking care of everyone else, we forget about ourselves.  I know I am guilty of this.  During the year my older 2 kids both have band, baseball, softball, football, and cheerleading.  Add in dr.'s appts, and school functions, plus the things I do with the younger 2 kids.  Then add in day to day household chores, couponing and grocery shopping, and any other errands I may have to do.  Where is the time for me?  You have to make time for yourself, don't get so caught up with your family that you forget who YOU are and what you enjoy.  Take that hour long bubble bath.  Curl up in your room with a book you've been wanting to read.  Go get yourself a mani/pedi.  Have a girl's night out with your friends.  Don't feel guilty about it either.  You need time to yourself to be yourself and to re-charge so you can continue to take care of your family.

10.  Have a date night with your Hubby!  This is along the same lines as the take time for yourself.  You and your husband need time alone, together, without your kids.  Time to recharge, and to remember why you love each other.  Maybe it's just dinner, or going to the movies, or even both.  Maybe you get a sitter and spend the night at a hotel together.  Spend the day together at an amusement park, just the 2 of you.  Whatever it is, do it.  It will help your relationship with your husband.  Sometimes you get caught up in the day to day business of life, this is a chance to get away and help to keep you close to each other.

11.  Be yourself.  I can't stress this one enough.  Don't worry about what other people think about you! We're suppose to be different, that's the beauty of individuality.  There is nothing wrong with marching to the beat of a different drum.  Life would be boring if we were all the same.  Embrace your differences and enjoy being you!  I love this quote "Life isn't about finding yourself, but about creating yourself" ~ Anonymous.  While I'm at it, I should include one of my favorite quote's ever.  "Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind" ~ Dr. Seuss.  What a wise man Dr. Seuss was!

12.  Laugh.  Seriously, it makes you feel better and can help reduce stress.  There is a quote, "Laughter is the medicine of life".  I don't know where the quote originated from, but it's a great quote.  

13.  Treat others the way you want to be treated.  This is called The Golden Rule for a reason.  If you expect respect, you must give respect.  If you are nice, people will be nice back.  I know this can be hard at times, but it's something I always try to remember.  When you call customer support to complain about a problem, remember the person on the other end of the phone is there to help you, they are not the ones who caused the problem.  If you call them up, yelling and cursing, guess what?  They won't want to help you!  If you are nice to them, they will want to help you as much as they can.

14.  Take time to read a book.  I LOVE to read, and find it's a great way to relax.  I love this quote about reading "The more that you read, the more things that you'll know.  The more that you learn, the more places you'll go"  ~ Dr. Seuss.  

15.  Don't judge.  This is a hard one, even for me when it comes to certain things, but I try.  I hate when you see other mom's bashing each other over their decision to breastfeed or use formula, to cloth diaper or use disposables, to circumcise or not, to pierce their daughter's ears or not.  We are all mom's, all doing what we feel is best for our family and our circumstances.  We should be supporting each other, not tearing each other down.  This goes for anything life related, but I figured that was a good example of how a lot of people judge and tear people apart.  It's not our place to judge.



I am not perfect by any means, and sometimes I fall short on all of these things too.  But, I feel these are all great life tips and they are all things that I try to do.  Is there anything that you would add to the list?


Summer #BlogChallenge #13 How I see myself at the end of the year

Going Green with the Grizls

Today, I'm suppose to write about how I see myself at the end of the year.  It's not something I ever really think about.  I'm very big on taking one day at a time, and living life to the fullest.  I am also a very firm believer in everything happens for a reason.  As long as I am with my family, and we are all happy at the end of the year, that's good enough for me.  I guess maybe I am a bit boring because of that, but I have no real goals for this year, other then taking the time to sit back, relax, and enjoy my family.


Summer #BlogChallenge #12 Worst injury I've had, and how it happened

Going Green with the Grizls

The worst injury I have ever had isn't gory, or gross, or anything like that, which I guess is a good thing for me.  For you too, since you don't have to read about anything awful!  But it is something to took years to diagnose properly.

The worst injury I have ever had (and still have) is torn cartilage in my right wrist. Many years ago, back in, I believe 2007, I was walking out of the kitchen in and I slipped on some water.  As I started to fall, I of course flailed my arms around like an idiot and slammed my arm/wrist into the kitchen counter.  I had to call Josh, and he left work to take me to urgent care (we only had 1 car at the time).  They did X-rays which came back with no issues.  The Dr. even commented about how surprised he was that I didn't break anything, since it looked like I had hit it pretty hard.

Fast forward to 2009.  I had occasional wrist pain off and on throughout the last 2 years.  I never really thought about the time I had hit my arm.  I thought maybe I was getting carpel tunnel.  Sometimes the pain was bad enough I would have to wear a wrist brace.  In 2009, it was just getting to be too much sometimes, carrying around the car seat from my son.  Sometimes I would hurt my wrist just wiping myself when I went to the bathroom (TMI, sorry!).  Finally I went to a dr about it, and they sent me to an orthopedic Dr.  The orthopedic Dr. ordered an X-ray and an MRI.  They said the X-ray 'might' show where I had a small tiny break, but they weren't 100% sure.  The Dr gave me a cortisone shot (ouch!) and a wrist brace and sent me on my way.  I went in and had the MRI done, and went back to the Dr to find out the results.  he informed me that the cartilage in my wrist, on the right side was torn, and that is what was causing the pain.  There was nothing I could do, and I would have this for the rest of my life.  For now, it is under control, they said as long as it wasn't causing issues in my day to day life they would just let it go.  If it ever got bad enough to interfere with my day to day life, then they would consider surgery.

The one nice thing, is that now that I know what is wrong, I try to be a bit more careful, and I have really only had to use my wrist brace 2 or 3 times in the last 3 years.  

What's your worst injury?


Summer #BlogChallenge #11 Best day of my life

Hmm...this one was kind of hard.  Obviously the birth of all 4 of my children were extremely happy days in my life.  Really in the end, it came down to the birth of my oldest son, because that is the day I became a mommy for the very first time, and the day I married my husband.

In the end, I have to go with the day that I married my husband.  I just can't place the birth of one child higher then the birth of another, they all made me very happy.


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge #10 Cost aside, famous art piece I would have in my home

Cost aside, famous art piece I would have in my house....this one is an easy one.  I actually have 2 answers for you 8)

First, is my absolutely favorite painting of all time.  Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Van_Gogh_-_Starry_Night_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg


I think his work on this piece is beautiful, I just love everything about it.

Next, would be just about any piece from a Wyland Gallery LOL.  Wyland is my favorite artist of all time, and I have had the pleasure of meeting him on 2 separate occasions.


Wyland, painting a picture at one of his galleries in Hawaii, July 2010.


Wyland and I after he signed my book of his. Hawaii, July 2010, I was 4 months pregnant with my youngest 8)


Me, with the painting, before we left the gallery for dinner.  It wasn't done yet, but he was taking a break to sign some stuff.

You can see more of his beautiful work at www.wyland.com.

Summer #BlogChallenge #9 My worst cooking disaster

Going Green with the Grizls

My worst cooking disaster...this is an easy one LOL.

My older 2 kids are both very active in sports.  In the fall, my son plays football, and my daughter does cheerleading.  We have a huge program out here called JAAF (Junior All American Football).  In August it is 5 day a week practices Mon-Fri from 5-8.  Then in September it goes to 3 day a week practices Tues-Thurs and games on Saturdays.  Needless to say, we do a LOT of slow cooker meals during football season.

One day, I decided I was going to make vegetable beef soup.  I even went out and bought a bag of frozen mixed veggies for it.  I have a cook book that my mom made for me that is full of mine and my brother's favorite recipes of hers.  The vegetable beef soup is one of them.  I had never made it before (and to be honest, I haven't tried it since, either!!)   I go through all the steps, do everything the recipe says, and off to practice we went!

We come home, and the house smelled amazing.  I head into the kitchen as the kids all headed to their showers.  I go to check on the soup and I grab a spoon.  I sampled the broth, which was amazing, great flavor.  Then, I tried the meat...and that my friends was NASTY!  Words can't describe how awful it tasted.  I yelled to my husband that  thought maybe we should get fast food for dinner instead.  Being the loving, supportive husband that he is, he insists that it can't be nearly as bad as I claim, and insists on having a bowl of the soup (I also believe part of it, was him not wanting to spend any money! LOL).  I serve him up a bowl....he takes a bite, and agreed with me, maybe we should get fast food for dinner.  At that point in time I knew it was bad....it is the ONLY thing I have ever cooked that he didn't want to eat. There have been other things that I didn't like, or where I thought it was off, but he insisted it was good and still ate it.  Not this time.

So there you have it, I fail at vegetable beef soup *hangs my head*, of all things, you'd think that would be an easy one, but something was just not right, and I haven't tried to make it again.  Do you have any horrible cooking experiences?

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge #8 Besides blogging, what is my guilty pleasure?

Going Green with the Grizls

For starters...I LOVE to read.  My husband and I both do.  We have 2 bookshelves overflowing with books, we really could use another bookshelf, plus we each have our own kindle.  My favorite author is Nora Robert's, I recently started reading her In Death series as J.D. Robb.  Thanks to my mom, I have books 1-15 ready to go on my Kindle...I am currently on book number 8.

Here's a link to books 1-5 to get you started if you want to check it out!





I also love music!  I listen to quite a few different genre's, classic rock, alternative, metal, country, trance, house, and more.  My favorite singer is Janis Joplin, I love that woman!

I also have a sweet tooth.  That's why I love to bake so much...because usually I am having a sweet craving, and baking is the best way to help fulfill my craving!

Do you have any guilty pleasures?


Summer #BlogChallenge #7 Picture of something that makes me happy



A Picture of something that makes me happy.  My kids.  They are my world.


Summer #BlogChallenge #6 Nicknames I have and why I have them

Going Green with the Grizls

I really only have 1 nickname...Nerdlips.  Yep, Nerdlips.  To be honest I can't even remember how it even came to be, but it's the nickname my best friend gave me.  Of course, I retaliated with just as goofy of a name for her, she is Dorkfish lol.