Feel the Burn, Love the Burn

I didn't wake up at 5 this morning and run, like I usually do. Instead, I hit snooze and dreamt that I watched a Jennifer Aniston workout video. She wore a black rain poncho over her denim frayed miniskirt (to keep modest when bending), and worked out at Red Butte Gardens. She did all of three shakey squats, bent down to rub her ankle, and said, "I love the burn you feel after doing squats."

Then I woke up.

My Five:

1. Water, water, water. To drink, to swim in, to clean with.

2. Blogging. I'm glad I'm back into it.

3. My son, who provided my desk with new art: a pencil drawing of various Hero Factory Lego guys.

4. Chocolate. Even though I haven't had any for a disturgingly long amount of time. Hmmm.

5. It's Friday!

The Mom/Woman/Worker Bee Mantra

Call me a nerd/awesome human being/weirdo, but I'm always looking for ways to be better/smarter/skinnier. One thing I hear over and over is to say self affirmations - positive words to yourself. If you say/write/think positive sayings over and over, they will come true. Actually, if you say/write/think negative things over and over, they also will come true. But let's stick with the positive.

I have never found/made up a self affirmation statement that I liked as much as this one. I got it from Hannah Keeley's website. The trick is to say/write/think it as many times as you can, with positive emotions (i.e. excitement). At least that's what the books/websites/CD's I've read/watched/listened to have said. I'm gonna try it - so watch out world!

Here it is, for you to enjoy/mock/learn from:

I am blessed beyond belief.
I am beautiful beyond compare.
I have the greatest career on earth and I will perform it to the best of my God-given ability,
With gratitude, not grumbling;
With determination, not defeat.
I will rise to every challenge.
I will overcome every obstacle.
I will be productive and positive with every moment and minute I am given.
My words will bless;
My actions will build;
My thoughts will empower;
And my life, my family, and my home will be abundantly blessed as a result.
I am strong enough, smart enough, and creative enough to squeeze every bit of juice out of this ripe, delicious day.

Yes - I think the last sentence is corny, too. But the rest is great, no?

My Five:

1. Pea pods and baby carrots. Part of this delicious lunch.
2. Graham crackers and peanut. See number one.
3. Diet Coke - only because I have a THREE hour meeting this afternoon. THREE HOURS! I'm NOT grateful for that, but thankfully, Diet Coke will help me.
4. My daughter's back. Thanks to my sister for giving her fun, work and excitement for three days. She slept like a log last night. I missed her, and am glad she's back.
5. Tomorrow is Friday!

Throwing Blueberries and Other Sports

So last night was family night. Without every member of the family, though. My daughter is staying with my sister for a few days and I miss her terribly. Her brothers, on the other hand, are enjoying the girl-free time (read about it here).

But I digress. We decided to go take a walk in the park and visit the library for FHE. A nice, pleasant walk, right? To see the ducks, enjoy nature, spend quality time together. Enjoy each other's company. Enjoy some leisure time. You get the picture.

But did you know that the city park has juniper berries and wild blueberry bushes? Neither did I until I got a blueberry thrown down my shirt. And my son had a juniper berry bounce off his head. Soon, we had an all out war. Picture two adults and two boys frantically picking berries and thowing them at each other. First everyone was against Dad (he started it, after all). Then adults vs. kids. Then every man (and mom) for themself. Eventually I had to call it to a halt because I realized I was wearing a white shirt.

The four of us, sweaty and laughing, then headed off to the library for some culture. There are no wild berries in the library.

What has been your favorite FHE?

My Five:

1. Families
2. Meetings are over for the day.
3. Our FHE treat: berry jello (notice a theme?)
4. No stains on my white shirt.
5. Journals.

Movies seen and missed

Hi,

Hope you all had a great 24th of July holiday. I know we did.

It started out by going on a double date with my sister and her husband. We sneaked Blizzards into the theater, left our kids home with their kids (and there were no broken bones - just a broken laundry holder), and saw Inception. The most I got out of it was that Leonardo De Caprio looks like my brother in law. Except my brother in law looks better.

Then we went to see Despicable Me, but long story short - we only made it to the curb of the movie theater before ruining the kids life and going home.

Anyway, have you seen any good movies lately?

My Five:

1. A double date!

2. Dinner at Red Robin with the kids. We're not that mean of parents, after all. It was my first time going, and I really liked my fish and chips.

3. I. Am. Not. Tired. Seriously. It must have been my iron, because now I'm taking supplements. I even tried to take a nap yesterday afternoon, and didn't fall asleep. Instead I closed my eyes on the couch and enjoyed snuggling with my husband.

4. Snuggling with my husband.

5. Artwork from my kids. My daughter made the cutest flower out of pipe cleaner and sprayed it with perfume so it smelled like a flower. It came with a note apologizing for using my perfume.

Got Cats?

Another guest post by my blog partner:

this is my cat we have two cats and we got them a couple of years ago.

and this is my cat again and she is very playful.

Success

What's your definition of a successful day? When I was a stay at home mom, it was clean counters and the laundry done. I knew with three toddlers the floor would never be clean, but the counters I had control of.

At work, the definition varies. Sometimes I judge a successful day by the amount of problems I find. For example, yesterday, a report I ran printed in wingding font. A problem! Yesterday was a success. One week I kept track of all the problems I found: 16. Success!

Sometimes I judge success by how many problems I solve. If that's the case, yesterday was also a success (never got the wingding problem figured out, but solved a few others). Today would be a complete failure, though.

Sometimes if I just stay awake, it's a successful day. Failed today, then, too.

But the day is not over. Maybe the wingding problem will get solved today. Success!

What's your definition of a successful day?

My 5 for today:

1. The third and fourth floor balconies of my building. Lately they accommodate my naps when I take my breaks.

2. Finally a doctors appointment tomorrow! I'll figure out why I'm so tired. And cold. I'm freezing lately.

3. A homework-free three day weekend. What a treat.

4. Darin, who patiently waits it out when I give him the silent treatment. Patience is a great quality.

5. This talk. I love Henry B. Eyring.

success!

If I Were a Rich Woman

I'm on my lunch break and watching Fiddler on the Roof while I blog. I'm talented like that. I blame it on the Dr. Pepper. Which I blame on the tiredness. Which I haven't figured out yet. Why am I so tired? I've gone to bed at 8:30 the last two nights in a row and am still tired.

But no matter, what matters now is that Zidel is engaged to her sewing-machine-wanting lover instead of the old, ugly butcher. That's what matters: love. I love Fiddler on the Roof.

Here are my Five for Today:

1. My walks in the mornings.

2. Todays salad: beets, mozzarella cheese, lettuce, raisins, croutons, chives, and a homemade balsamic vinegar dressing. I wouldn't say it goes great with the Dr. P, but - wait a minute - EVERYTHING goes great with Dr. P - what am I thinking?

3. Cheesy musicals, including but not limited to: Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, and the High School Musical series. Also VeggieTales.

4. A three-day weekend.

5. Taking a nap in the sun. (I tried that before I succombed to the Dr. P. It didn't help, but I still enjoyed it.)

back from fishing

My son is guest posting today:

this is me burping.

i am holding some of my grandpa's fish that he caught

this is a picture of the lake that we fished in

Gotta Hurry - I'm on Break

1. Cherries

2. Watermelon (or Wa-Wa-Melon as my toddlers used to say)

3. Speaking of toddlers and saying things - one of mine used to say "decor-recor-recor-ation" whenever he was asked to say decoration. It's one of my favorite words now.

4. Fresca - my non-caffeine fix

5. Cough drops. I think I'm getting a cold.

It's About Time!

I'm back, but only for my sister Jess. You see, for five short months she worked in my office, and we spent nearly every lunch break together.


She quit.


For a good reason, really: her and her husband are headed to Ohio soon for medical school. And because I am going to miss her, and I have my lunch breaks to myself, I will blog so she knows what's going on here in Utah.


Plus, it's good for me to remember to be thankful for 5 things a day. So here are my 5 for today:


1. Salad fresh from the garden, peas fresh from the garden, grilled chicken breast, Ranch dressing and fiber buds (trust me - they are sooo good on salads!). That's today's lunch. I am thankful today for my daily salad.


2. My family. I just love my husband and kids. And thanks to my sister for taking our family pictures!


3. Another class finished! I need to finish my current summer class, and then I only have 4 more to go until graduation! It's within sight!


4. Books on tape. Sure makes the long commute better.


5. Fresh flowers.


Here are more family picts. You enjoy them while I enjoy my Ranch-covered fiber buds...