Dates, Girlfriends and Church Fellowship

Ok Ok! Its obvious I am kind of a "hot or cold" type of person. I always have been! I am kind of all or nothing when it comes to many extras in my life and blogging is certainly one of them! In fact directly after my last blog about loving working out, I decided to NOT work out until the summer was over! Fortunately it had not effect on my weight loss and I proceeded to reach my goal weight! YAY!!! Anyways, that was a tangent I did not mean to get on. What I would like to blog about is the final 3 "outlets" I have in my life that help me keep my sanity. I am putting them all in the same post because, frankly, I am tired of the topic (I have a difficult time keeping interest in things). But I was raised to finish things I started, so here it goes.

#3 Dates with my wonderful, amazingly handsome husband, Joe

The honest truth is, after a few weeks of a busy schedule, activities with the k

ids

and Joe's long work days, we just miss each other! Joe is always really good about planning dates and finding a babysitter

when he feels we need time alone. We also trade babysitting favors with some of our friends and that way we never need to pay for a babysitter! (Plus we have Grammy in a pinch too:)) Joe is the person I would most like to be with at all times and I find these date nights to be refreshing and they definitely qualify as an "outlet."

#4 Going out with my girlfriends or with the girls in my family

MUCH less frequently I get to go out for a girl night. Mostly these events center around movies coming out in the the theater (in the case of my girlfriends) or birthdays (in the case of my family).

I honestly just LOVE the excuse to get all dressed up and do my makeup a little dramatically and go out for the night. Sometimes these event include a costume party or perhaps

going to someones house and watching a long BBC movie.

Recently, I hosted

a dinner party for some of my girlfriends and I went to Catalina

with the lovely ladies in my family. Friends and family are truly gifts from the Lord and I am grateful that I am able to surround myself with such wonderful ladies in my life.

And Finally #5 Mid Week Bible Study

Joe and I together attend a Shepherding Group on Tuesday nights. It is full of people I care for and those who care for me and my family. The group is full of older and younger people, married couples and single folk, stay at home mom's and working moms etc. We study the scriptures though discussion. I leave Tuesday nights feeling challenged and refreshed spiritually.

ANNNNNNDDDD thats it folks! I finally finished this topic! Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Sweat and Spandex

Outlet #2- The Gym

Working out is the mother of all "Outletting." It is an age old, tried and true form of easing tension, refreshing the mind, letting out aggression etc etc etc. But for me it is a fairly new love affair.

My entire life I have been an active sort of girl, but I was also quite thin and never felt "unhealthy" so I never really cared to commit to a normal exercise routine. In college I had a major achilles injury, which I still struggle with from time to time. Then I got married and was enjoying that too much to care to work out. Then I was working full time and was too tired. Through all of this I still worked out here and there and I still remained thin. But I certainly did not feel "healthy." Then I got pregnant...... (insert sigh). I was sick, I was tired, I was hungry and I gained weight (surprise surprise). Soon after having Elinor, I finally found the motivation to work out consistently. Something woke up within me and I decided I wanted to not only get my body back to normal but I wanted to be healthy...really really healthy.

My workout routine has been a progression and I am sure it will progress some more as I become more fit. But I am really happy with my current routine and for the first time in my life I really feel "addicted" to working out. So here is my current routine

I work out 5 days a week in theory (which is not always possible with 2 kids) And I do a different class each day. All my classes start at 8:30 am and they last an hour

Mon- Advanced Step, Seriously never thought step could be this hard. It is so fun now, but the first week I tried it I cried at the end and almost walked out I was so embarrassed at how slowly I was picking up the steps. Fortunately, I found out that this was a typical reaction to this specific step class (the instructor is a rock star!). People I did not even know where coming up to me and encouraging me saying "it was a right of passage" and that I would love it if I kept with it. So I did and they were right.

Tues- Muscle Conditioning, sort of like a circuit training. We do rounds of leg, stomach and arm exercises. I love this class because it is changing my muscle tone and I LIKE IT!

Wed- BOSU, Seriously the class I dread when I wake up in the morning. This is a BOSU

This class works my every muscle in my body and my endurance until I feel like I am going to pass out. BUT anyone and everyone I have talked to about this class says If any class changes the body it is this one! So far I can agree (however I am still the wimp in the class who is getting water every 10 minutes).

Fri- Power step, This is like a mix between advanced step and muscle conditioning. We take 5 minutes working our heart until it feels like it going to burst, and then we cool down by doing some weight training. This continues for an hour.

Sat- Spin. My first love. This is what I used to do 3 days a week when I was first getting into working out. I still love it, but It wasn't giving me the results I wanted all by itself so I moved on. I will also add that this is the PERFECT class to do while pregnant. It is easy on your joints and your bladder :) I was able to keep it up for the whole 9 months while pregnant with Charley and it made a huge difference in the way I felt after the pregnancy.

So that is my schedule! One day I will run more.....but i really hate running and can't get beyond 3 miles without dying of boredom.

I will leave you with these wise words and inspiration from Olivia Newton John

No Business Like Show Business

I think every Mom would agree that kids can quickly become the center of.......well everything! And it can happen pretty fast whether we intended it or not. We start missing adult conversation, we start losing our patience with our kids way too easily, we start forgetting to pay attention to our husbands, we start thinking "who am I, where am I???" and the list can go on.

So I am going to do a series of posts on the things I do as an outlet.

The first outlet I am going to post on is actually unique because it is not something I do regularly (as in daily, weekly or even monthly). It is something that comes in spurts and it really is a part of who I am. It is Performance in any way, but more specifically I love Musical Theater. I choose this topic first, because I just finished a show yesterday, and it is on my heart and mind.

There are some things I feel I must say about this particular hobby:

1) I am so grateful that this is something my family support me in. They enjoy this being part of my life and if it ever became and idol to me I know they would keep me accountable.

2) This is something that uniquely brings people together. I cannot explain the joy it is to be a part of something with a group of people and know that you have created something great. I have been blessed with making some deep friendships through the performances I have been in. And I realize this is a true blessing from God.

3) I know that God has created me with this love of performing and I am so grateful that I have been given opportunities to cultivate this. But it is only a blessing if it does not get in the way of my relationship with God, or my ability to be the mother and wife I should be, and those things are my priorities.

Ok Let's Go On With the Show (or post in this case):

This past show was due to a Musical Theater workshop that I participated in. It finished off with a Broadway Review, in which all the workshop participants performed as a character they would/could be considered for if they were to actually audition for it. In addition to that we participated in other group numbers throughout the show to make it cohesive. I was given a couple of step out parts beyond "my" song. This was important to me because I felt it showed my ability to change my voice and personality to become any character given me. It was ridiculously fun to be able to jump from a Revolutionary era Newlywed from "1776", to a teenage girl in the 60s from "Bye Bye Birdie", to a peace and love driven hippie in "Hair", and all the characters in between.

Because we performed songs from the show "A Chorus Line" I was required to produce a Headshot. Since I have never actually gone on auditions, I never have needed them. But now that I have them it kinda makes me feel "legit" :) Here are a few of the shots, you'll have to tell me which one you like best

Here is "my song" It is from the play 1776, and I am Martha Jefferson a young newlywed singing about her sweet Thomas and why she loves him so enjoy!:

Here is group number from Bye Bye Birdie called "Telephone Hour." We are all high schoolers who are enthralled with the gossip of two of our friends getting "pinned." I have a solo at the beginning of this song and the first half is definitely the cutest part, the camera man was a little bit behind on getting his camera out :)

And finally, here we are doing our bows at the end. I wish I could show you the whole show! :)

My Mother's Day Wishlist......

Just for fun......no real expectations involved!

Wii- $199 @ bestbuy.com

itouch- $199 @ store.apple.com

1 month membership to Cardio barre- $100 (give or take)

A professional spring cleaning- $200

This Leather Jacket- $346.50 @ shopbop.com

A mommy necklace-$75 @ figsandginger.com $125@ heartandstonejewelry.com

Knife Set- I go back and forth between Cutco and Wusthof, but since my dear friend Annika Velji (www.goodeatssd.blogspot.com) and Ina Garten both swear by Wusthof..... $130 @ Amazon.com

Spinning Cleates- $94 @ Zappos.com

Airbrush Tanning Package $150 for 5 Tans @ www.bliss-makeup-artistry.com

The Fog is Lifting

Moms, you know that feeling after you have a baby where you kind of feel like you are in a fog. Not that its bad, but you are just in a mode of functioning in which your brain is not totally functioning. That feeling where if you worked on household finances or tried to do a meal plan for the month or even thought about all the project that need to get done, you might start crying even though you really are totally fine? Well I can finally say that my own personal "fog" is finally lifting. Here are the factors that contributed to my prolonged "fog":

1. Having Charley- this goes without saying of course

2. Elinor breaking her leg- looking back now, this was a minor event. However, at the time, it was very difficult to process everything working out. She has had her cast off for about a month and so far the doctor says the bones are not growing funny.

3. Finishing up a very long and emotional short sale of our home- We happened to buy our home right before the economic crisis began and before we knew it we were upside down. God has graciously delivered us from this situation and we are FINALLY done with the whole ordeal. It was sad to let go of our home because it is where we brought home both of our babies and we have some sweet memories there.

4. Getting moved and settled into our new home- we are renting a fabulous home in Simi Valley and it is really perfect for our family. It is taking a little bit of time to totally get settled in since we are caring for two kids under two, but it certainly feels like home.

Some things I am really looking forward to now that I am starting to feel like myself:

1. Celebrating Christmas with my family. I bought a book at the Christian store that counts down christmas for kids with an activity everyday. We are going to actually celebrate advent this year and do something special everyday. Things like decorating cookies, reading christmas books, and making paper chains for the tree. Every night we are going to light a new candle, one for every day counting up to Christmas. I really think Elinor will love this.

2. Cooking- cooking is something I really truly love to do. I have had a fascination with cooking (not baking mind you) since I was really young. I love finding new recipes and eating something new all the time. But this is also something, for whatever reason, that takes a back seat whenever I get really busy or overwhelmed.

3. Working out- I didn't want to take Charley when he was so young, then Elinor broke her leg and I was not sure how she would do in childcare, then people started freaking me out about the swine flu...... but I am over it, I tell you! It is time to get back to the gym!

4. My quiet times, It always happens that when I should be in God's word more, I end up being in it less. I have a dream, that one day I will be mature enough that this will not be the case :)

In the end, I can see that God's Grace is truly sufficient through everything. I have a beautiful family and nothing to complain about.

Life with Two

The Day Before

I have to admit that there have been some huge plusses to knowing the exact date I am going to give birth. I have been able to plan out the days before labor to the minute! ;) hmmmmm..... Haven't I learned yet that things never go exactly as planned?!!! Well let's just say we had a slight "hitch" in our schedule when we found fleas on our dog Roxie monday night. AHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I know I am not totally in my right mind right now but someone PLEASE agree with me that this is just about the worst thing that could happen while 9 months pregnant, with an infant coming in a few days and a toddler that enjoys licking just about every surface she comes across. Fortunately we caught it early and though I went into a slight panic waking up the whole house late Monday night to bath, vacuum, strip sheets, and wash clothing, we had it under control quickly. But like I said my in depth cleaning, packing, and memory making schedule was messed up. Thank you Jesus for reminding me you are in control and I am not, I would not want it any other way. And might I add that I have the most amazing and understanding husband in the world!

However, there was one thing that was so incredibly important to me and I am actually rather emotional about the whole thing. And that was purposefully making memories with Elinor before she is no longer my only baby. I have had a plan for a long time now that the day before Charley comes I wanted to have a special day with Elinor. I am so very thankful to God that He allowed us to have the sweetest most precious time together today as a family. I know I will cherish these memories. It is hard for me to put into words all the emotions that are going through me when it comes to Elinor becoming a "big sister" so I will not try. Here are some pictures of our last day before we become a family of 4.

Silly Elinor and Daddy

Winning some tickets at the arcade

"Look what I won!"

Our last Family of 3 Picture

Mommy's Choice for Elinor

Elinor's Choice (the one we actually bought)

My babies

Greek food! She loved gyro

She totally got sick on sherbet