Thankful Thursday...

Today, I am giving a holler to my awesome hubby for the coffee he had brewed, hot and ready for me, not just today, but EVERY morning.  Yes, I know I am a bit spoiled, but don't tell him:)  At about 7am, I slowly made my way down to the kitchen, Jake had already left for work, Gia snug like a puzzle piece onto my hip and Sophie holding my hand.  I head to the cabinet and choose the largest coffee cup I could get my hands on, a Sisters mug Bre got me, perfect. I set Gia down and let go of Sophs hand to pour a delicious cup of Joe, but not before pouring a couple tablespoons of my delicious Bliss, Vanilla Creamer, because seriously, what is coffee without a little added sweetness?:)  I'm consistently working on focusing on the little things in life that matter.  Life is rapid, hectic and chaotic at times, why not stop to embrace what's good in it, if only for a moment.

So tell me, what are you thankful for this lovely Thursday?

Cheers!

Hump Day's Hot Topic: The Squeeze on Lemons...

Have you ever been to a restaurant and the server asks, "Would you like lemon in your water?" To which you respond politely, "No thanks."  Well, think again peeps, before tossing that perfectly sliced, juicy lemon aside. Thanks to my awesome sister and our conversation about these lovely little nuggets, I will never underestimate these beauties again. I've listed a few of the health benefits that will have you ordering a double shot of sour for your otherwise tasteless water.  

1. Lemons with an abundance of vitamin C, help to boost your immune system.

2. Aids in digestion...I'll save you the gory details:)

3. Flawless skin is something we all aspire, am I right? Lemon water helps to release toxins from our blood which helps clear skin. Also, with all that vitamin C packed in a squeeze, will help reduce wrinkles and blemishes.

4. Lemon water is a natural diuretic which helps to flush out nasty toxins from the body.

*Dr. OZ suggests making a chemical peel with 1 cup of water, 2tsp of lemon and 1TBS of Brandy applied directly to the face for exfoliation. I can't wait to try this. Let me know what you think!

5. Everyone knows that water hydrates our bodies, but adding lemon can help to boost your energy too. Bonus! I can feel it pumpin already!

6. There is a little thing called Pectin Fiber, yeah I've never heard of it either, but this lovely addition in this delectable fruit, helps to ward off hunger. I'll give that a double squeeze!

Recently, since jumping on the sour water band wagon, I juice half of a lemon in an 8oz glass of water to kick start my morning in a healthy way.

Who is with me??  Pucker up friends and get to squeezin!

Tasty Tuesdays: Oh Deliciousness...

      

       Oh the happiness that comes along with the breeze blowing, robins singing and the sun shining. Bring on the tan lines baby!  Isn't it funny that with the change in weather comes a beloved shift in mood? I noticed a few weeks ago while at the Old Drum Day Festival in downtown Warrensburg, that not only my mood had lightened with the fresh air, but it also lifted from those around me. Everyone seemed to carry a grin on their face, while taking a leisure stroll through the historical area. It was refreshing. Which leads me to talk about an amazing, out of this world, most decadent with flavor, one of my favorite colorful salads ever! It's perfect this time of year and all through summer months. Get ready for your taste buds to be submerged with tantalizing flavor. 

Recipe




Don't keep it a secret, do tell...what's your favorite salad?

Moody Monday: Positive Vibes For Your Week Ahead!

Fancy seeing you here!

This blog began shortly after I had Sophie five whole years ago! I looked forward to sharing parenting ideas and journaling about our daily experiences. While Jake was deployed in the past, I would soul search doing what I have always loved, which is reading and you guessed it, writing. I have journaled from the time I began to write sentences on my own, which I believe was roughly the cultivated age of seven. I have a compilation of journals from many eras of my life, some are easier to turn the pages of than others, but over the years I have learned to embrace them, because after all they are a vivid reflection of who I am.

This brings me to my point, I have decided to start blogging again. I am excited to share recipes, motivation, hot topics, etc.! I am also delighted to announce that I am embarking on a new endeavor. It commenced in the fall when I enrolled in a Memoir 101 class and I have continued taking classes steadily ever since.  I have decided to write my memoir, more specifically details of my whirlwind decade of my 20's. I've decided finishing this memoir is a non-negotiable and I believe making writing a more frequent routine will be the best recipe for completion.

Thanks for stopping by. I look forward to hearing your feedback and learning more about you too!

Daddy's Girl

Sophie has been asking when Papa is returning from Guam since roughly day one or two of his deployment. She really is such a Daddy's girl and is already counting down the days until he returns. The reason she is so head over heels for him, asking, "Papa will you marry me in Jamaica?" is because he is just as crazy about her:) When he is home he always makes time for family and he genuinely loves spending time with our girls and that is all I could ever ask for.

We love you high as the sky, deep as the sea Daddy-Papa!

I thought I would share this amazing link about Daddy's and their daughters that Jake sent to me today.

http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/50-rules-for-dads-of-daughters

Baby Zzz's and I'm sad because...

I was reading Baby 411 tonight, the section on sleeping gave information on how ages 4-6 month old are capable of soothing themselves. Gianna, my precious little one, has been a non-sleeper thus far. I mean, Sophie at three, sleeps more than she does at three months old! Bless her heart she just fights and fights until she finally caves and passes out and naps...forget about it! If she is set down, her wide eyes pop open instantly and she looks at you like, you aren't really thinking about putting me down are you??

I mentioned to my Mom what I had read about sleep training. We wrapped my little Italian burrito up in her swaddle, she gave out a scream, we stuck in her binki and started bouncing and walking the way we always do. That has been the routine her whole whopping three and a half months of her life...until tonight. My Mom decided she would try and lay her in the crib awake. I thought for sure 2 minutes, 5 minutes tops that would actually last. Much to my surprise she is still in there now, my little sleeping beauty and I am actually a little sad! I know crazy, right?? It's just that this is the farthest I have slept away from her since before she was kickboxing in my belly! I have always found comfort knowing at anytime she was there right next to me or somersaulting in my tummy. This new sleeping arrangement could be great or it could make me a crazy Mama waking up all through the night checking on my little peanut, looking so small in that crib. Ok, ok I need to get some rest and try to appreciate a room to myself, well at least for tonight:)