tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65150863389936181722024-03-12T19:29:54.771-04:00A life worth living.You'll probably read about my kids, husband, faith, crafts, and life experiences.Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-81909137211353662932012-08-30T11:23:00.000-04:002012-08-30T21:40:49.712-04:00Vegetarian Pizza RollsI made vegetarian pizza rolls for my family last night and everyone loved them. I got the recipe from my friend Becca. Instead of serving my family those yummy, unhealthy pizza rolls I tried this recipe for healthy, full of flavor pizza rolls. It's so easy. It takes about 20 mins. to prep and 15 mins. to bake... not bad. <br />
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Here's what you need:<br />
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1 Tbsp. olive oil<br />
1 red pepper (chopped)<br />
1 onion (chopped)<br />
2-3 garlic cloves (chopped)<br />
1 package of mushrooms (chopped)<br />
Package of Won Ton Wraps<br />
1 jar of natural pizza sauce<br />
mozzarella cheese<br />
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Here's what you do:<br />
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Spray your baking sheet with cooking spray and lay out as many Won Ton Wraps that will fit onto the sheet. Then saute the red peppers, onions, garlic, and mushrooms with the olive oil until soft.<br />
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Once veggies are cooked to your liking, scoop about a tsp. of veggie mixture onto the middle of each Won Ton Wrap then cover the veggies with another Won Ton Wrap. Wet your fingers and squeeze the sides shut. Once they are all sealed up spray the top of the pizza rolls with cooking spray. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.<br />
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Warm up pizza sauce according to directions. Scoop about 1/4 cup onto plate and sprinkle with cheese. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't add cheese to mine.</td></tr>
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Some tips:<br />
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1. I used Nasoya All Natural Won Ton Wraps. You can find them in the produce department by the tofu food.<br />
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2. For all my Weight Watcher friends out there. Each pizza roll is 2 PointsPlus and 1/4 cup of natural pizza sauce is 1 PointsPlus. The pizza rolls are a good size and will fill you up pretty fast.Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-82893952081884375142012-08-29T12:27:00.000-04:002012-08-29T12:27:23.199-04:00Damn cake.My first week on weight watchers wasn't a complete fail but it certainly wasn't the best. I know what I did wrong this week and what I shouldn't have ate. I'm woman enough to admit it. I had a baby shower, birthday party, and bridal shower all this weekend and when the big question came around about wanting cake, I just didn't say no. (btw, a piece of cake is 30 pts., that's a days worth of pts. for some people.) You see cake, cookies, chocolate, and any other baked goodies are my weakness. sigh. They are the biggest temptation for me and probably a lot of other women out there too. I now wish that I would of said no to them. <br />
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I will eventually come to a point where I will say no to these temptations and they won't even sound good to me anymore but this weekend was not one of those times. I am making change, old habits die hard, and I will be successful. Every choice is a new beginning. A gentleman at the WW meeting said, "The next meal is a new moment to change and start over. Why wait until tomorrow?" So true! I'm one of those people that says tomorrow is a new day and I will do better than today but from now on I'm not waiting until tomorrow. I'm taking control of my sweet tooth now!Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-26551858681275771972012-08-28T12:36:00.001-04:002012-08-28T12:36:45.582-04:00Tis' the season to start thinking.Can't believe I'm thinking about Christmas already! Every year I tell myself that I will start buying and getting deals all year so that when Christmas comes around I don't have to spend a big chunk of money all at once. Go ahead, ask me if I've gotten even one present yet...<br />
NO! I haven't gotten anything! I can hardly keep up with family birthdays. We have 5 birthdays in October alone. I need a good, solid plan. I wish I could think of some cool, homemade gifts to give away this year. You'd think that with all the time I spend on pinterest I would have everyone's gift idea at least picked out. Does anyone else start gearing up early for holidays? If you have a good method that works for you send it my way! PLEASE!!<br />
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<br />Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-88272740732925740252012-08-24T12:23:00.004-04:002012-08-24T12:23:59.912-04:00The Fam.Happy Birthday to my nephew Alex!! He is such a fun, loving little man! He turns 6 today... it's hard to believe! It'll be weird when I'm wishing my kids a happy 6th birthday. Yesterday Levi was 8 weeks old on the dot. Also yesterday, we got our first family picture taken as a family of five! Unbelievable! Remember in my last post how I posted a link to the awesome photographer that took pictures of my friend's product? Well <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kalaina.Jolene.Photography" target="_blank">Kalaina Jolene Photography</a> took us out last night and got some awesome shots of our family! I'm so happy with how it went and the way the pictures turned out. If you live in the West Michigan area and are looking for a great photographer you seriously need to get a hold of her! On top of everything, she was even great with my kids and very flexible as far as me wanting certain pictures. She took tons of pictures and I'd like to share a few with you all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-86rULxgWzSc/UDeny_ojR8I/AAAAAAAAAK4/QgOkQ98jJlk/s1600/309265_465717103449286_971880714_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-86rULxgWzSc/UDeny_ojR8I/AAAAAAAAAK4/QgOkQ98jJlk/s320/309265_465717103449286_971880714_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A precious (and brief) moment of my kiddos.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s59DyZQ5gGY/UDeoFN51EFI/AAAAAAAAALA/R1_TF9aUy2A/s1600/253840_465877556766574_2103529257_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s59DyZQ5gGY/UDeoFN51EFI/AAAAAAAAALA/R1_TF9aUy2A/s320/253840_465877556766574_2103529257_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's breathtaking.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister by chance, best friends by choice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxY2rS5wqxo/UDeoOhH5p_I/AAAAAAAAALQ/oY3c7tWZN-Y/s1600/603447_465877416766588_8445856_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxY2rS5wqxo/UDeoOhH5p_I/AAAAAAAAALQ/oY3c7tWZN-Y/s320/603447_465877416766588_8445856_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dreamers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family of FIVE!<br /><br />Everyone have a great weekend and remember to check
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kalaina.Jolene.Photography" target="_blank">Kalaina Jolene Photography</a> the next time you want professional pictures! She's well worth every penny!</td></tr>
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<br />Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-64949227732809235512012-08-22T11:14:00.000-04:002012-08-22T11:49:55.572-04:00A steal of a deal.Today I have a great opportunity for you all to get some good deals on custom designs for the fall. My good friend Carrie from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CJKalaszCreations?ref=search_shop_redirect" target="_blank">C.J. Kalasz Creations</a> makes the cutest hats, tutus, dresses, headbands, and more. She makes all sizes because she's that good. She is really crafty girl and is now starting to share her talent with the world! Thank goodness for us because she is one of those people who truly cares for others and makes sure that every item is perfect. Believe me, I talk to her for hours a day... we're pretty much besties by now. Truly she has a heart of gold and her stuff is really well priced, a lot cheaper than etsy, and right now she's having a sale. (Sale is posted after pictures at bottom) Okay I can't take it any longer, I have to share some pictures. (All photographs used on my blog are taken by Kalaina Jolene Photography you can check out more of her photography <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/Kalaina.Jolene.Photography" target="_blank">here.</a>) Here are some of my personal favs!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lTBPCq5IoSI/UDS_g5jn2jI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/NRn2WABIgxg/s1600/602525_322924101133205_1471510710_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lTBPCq5IoSI/UDS_g5jn2jI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/NRn2WABIgxg/s320/602525_322924101133205_1471510710_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dress starts at $40</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2j2H65Tl4mE/UDS_s2PFIbI/AAAAAAAAAKM/IHrVDgUOdTk/s1600/infant+nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2j2H65Tl4mE/UDS_s2PFIbI/AAAAAAAAAKM/IHrVDgUOdTk/s320/infant+nest.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Infant nest $25</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpKcx6tPy-w/UDS_rAK0hEI/AAAAAAAAAKE/2zrE8JyFxiQ/s1600/boy+owl+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpKcx6tPy-w/UDS_rAK0hEI/AAAAAAAAAKE/2zrE8JyFxiQ/s320/boy+owl+hat.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys owl hat $18<br />
(She also makes a cute pink one for girls)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJnIQY-i_fY/UDS_vgiEScI/AAAAAAAAAKU/TTKyG7-ffyA/s1600/monster+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJnIQY-i_fY/UDS_vgiEScI/AAAAAAAAAKU/TTKyG7-ffyA/s320/monster+hat.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monster hat $18</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_o4aUlRVuKk/UDS_xU8AL5I/AAAAAAAAAKc/hlCfCpfzjDQ/s1600/monkey+hat+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_o4aUlRVuKk/UDS_xU8AL5I/AAAAAAAAAKc/hlCfCpfzjDQ/s320/monkey+hat+girl.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl monkey hat $18<br />
She also makes boy monkey hats.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KWYtZEXkL8k/UDS_0HAkANI/AAAAAAAAAKk/5VZNBOW5l-c/s1600/cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KWYtZEXkL8k/UDS_0HAkANI/AAAAAAAAAKk/5VZNBOW5l-c/s320/cupcake.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupcake hat $18</td></tr>
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Aren't they just adorable? She does custom orders too so if you don't see something she's already made, I'm sure she's willing to give it a go. Right now she is running a 15% off sale over on her page and if you mention my blog or name you can get an additional 10% off. PEOPLE THAT IS 25% OFF of an already great price. So the custom hat that you really want for your cute little kiddo this fall would be only $13.50! Whoop! She's local and has an amazing talent so don't wait any longer because all sales will end August 31st and you will be sad if you didn't order anything. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/KalaszKrafts" target="_blank">Happy shopping</a>!<br />
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Amanda.<br />
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P.S. Message her on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/KalaszKrafts" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a> to get both the 15% off and 10% off. Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-80812590101986724442012-08-21T10:29:00.004-04:002012-08-22T11:50:31.548-04:00Shrimp anyone?Yes another shrimp recipe that was a success! I really enjoy shrimp and surprisingly my kids like it too. This recipe I found on <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/quick_shrimp_enchilada_bake.html" target="_blank">Eating Well</a>. It's called Quick Shrimp Enchilada Bake and it was a nice substitution for either beef or chicken enchiladas. Not to mention it was super easy to make. I heart easy recipes, they can make my whole day better. lol.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1bgyW1GMFUE/UDOaXxHZcdI/AAAAAAAAAJo/3_oxM1fdbqQ/s1600/quick+shimp+recipe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1bgyW1GMFUE/UDOaXxHZcdI/AAAAAAAAAJo/3_oxM1fdbqQ/s1600/quick+shimp+recipe.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/quick_shrimp_enchilada_bake.html" target="_blank">Eating Well</a>
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Add this recipe to your grocery list and try something new next week. It's always fun to switch it up. Also I thought it would be good to add some chopped green onions to the shrimp mixture. I'll try it next time I make it. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday! Ta ta for now.Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-59648125357793896412012-08-20T11:18:00.000-04:002012-08-22T11:50:57.286-04:00The fresh water.<div>
Mondays are so much work. There's so much catching up to do from being on the go all weekend. Wouldn't you agree? Hubby and I had a stay at home date night with the Hunger Games and Pop Secret on Saturday and yesterday after church we went on a picnic and to the beach with my family. (That would include Mom and Dad Wags, Marie (sister), Tony (Brother in law), and their kids; Alex, Madilyn, and Jaxson.) I love living close to Lake Michigan! The guys went hiking while us girls went down to the water with all six of the kids. (Keep in mind that 2 of the 6 kids are nursing.) Of course we went down to the water without the kids' swim suits because we thought it was too cold for them to swim but we should have known they wouldn't care, they ran straight for the water anyways. Needless to say, they ended up swimming in their underwear. lol. Of course they were freezing when they got out but my mom said it's about memories. Here's proof of the daring children.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G0tQhda8_sI/UDJTiuxMIHI/AAAAAAAAAJM/14_JqUFPx40/s1600/kylie+in+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G0tQhda8_sI/UDJTiuxMIHI/AAAAAAAAAJM/14_JqUFPx40/s400/kylie+in+water.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Kylie (My middle child)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l3j4hh8YnWc/UDJTgBCOoJI/AAAAAAAAAIk/7kLdWJsEWBU/s1600/Freezing+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l3j4hh8YnWc/UDJTgBCOoJI/AAAAAAAAAIk/7kLdWJsEWBU/s400/Freezing+kids.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The freezing part. Very happy kids though.</td></tr>
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I told my husband and sister, "I need a strong drink after that experience at the beach." Never again will I think it's okay to bring 6 kids to the beach without our husbands. What were we thinking? They had fun though and that's what matters. </div>
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Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-85034239385061425982012-08-17T20:49:00.000-04:002012-08-22T11:51:22.519-04:00"BELIEVE because it works"I know I just had a baby 7 weeks ago so no one needs to remind me when I say I am starting Weight Watchers (WW) next week to help me lose the babies weight. The reason I say babies is because I'm still holding onto 25 extra pounds from being pregnant with Mya too. My kids are 21 months and 18 months apart. I'm hoping to get a break from being pregnant so that I can drop this extra weight and feel good, become the athlete I use to be. I have 45 lbs to lose. I am excited to get back to that healthy weight because when I see myself in the mirror now I see a beautiful woman but I'd love to see a fit mama looking back at me. Does that make sense?<br />
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The reason I chose Weight Watchers is because I've done it before back in 2007-2008 right before I got married. I loved it! I lost the weight and felt in control. <br />
Here's what I looked like before three babies:<br />
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Now this is my most recent picture. It was taken last week with my cousins at the Unity Festival.<br />
What I look like these days:<br />
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So here's what I'm hoping to do. I would like to post at least every other week about my weight loss journey. I have a hard time remembering sometimes so if someone wants me to update a picture of my progress then let me know. I'm making the change and hoping to make it perminate. </div>
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So here's to making the change! Wish me luck.Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-11882037735147813942012-08-17T00:55:00.000-04:002012-08-22T11:50:31.544-04:00You can have it too.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is <a href="http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/09/crispy-southwest-chicken-wraps.html" target="_blank">Mel's</a> picture... I do not take credit for it.</td></tr>
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Oh how I adore and waste tons of time on Pinterest! Hours go by and it only feels like minutes to me. Anyone else find themselves doing the same thing? There's just something relaxing about dreaming of DIY projects, food, future home ideas, fashion, and having all the time and money in the world to do everything I pin. lol. If you're not following me on Pinterest then you are missing out on some great repins, but you don't have to miss out anymore because you can see what catches my eye at <a href="http://pinterest.com/akmoran87/">http://pinterest.com/akmoran87/</a>! You won't regret it because I have great taste. lol. To prove it, I will share with you one of the recipes from my food board that I made this evening for dinner. Yup, I put one of my pins into action AND not only was it a success, it was a hit! The whole family chowed down. I even made some to bring to a couple at our church who just had their first baby. (Adorable baby btw) Ready for the recipe? It's called <a href="http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/09/crispy-southwest-chicken-wraps.html" target="_blank">Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps</a>. It's healthy too! I found it over at <a href="http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/09/crispy-southwest-chicken-wraps.html" target="_blank">Mel's Kitchen Cafe</a>! This is just something she "whipped up real quick with ingredients she already had" LOL. I wish I was that good. Seriously though, you have to try this even if you have to go out and buy the ingredients. Just put it on your next grocery list. It's super easy and I will even leave you with a few tips that will make this meal even easier and better:<br />
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1. You can cook the rice earlier in the day since it only needs to be room temperature or warm and if you don't have leftover chicken just boil your chicken while your rice is cooking. Wala, longest part done.<br />
2. Ever used a <a href="http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?productId=240&categoryCode=CE" target="_blank">Pampered Chef Food Chopper</a>? A.mazing! This baby will have your cilantro chopped within a few seconds. If you don't have one I would suggest finding a consultant and making them your friend. I seriously use it all the time. Not to mention it's an awesome stress reliever... those that have one know what I'm talking about. ;)<br />
3. For those of you who aren't counting calories, try this with the new Mayo Chipotle Sauce. Awesome!<br />
<br />So if you try this recipe leave me a comment and let me know how you liked it. There's no way you can mess this recipe up if you just follow the directions. Enjoy!Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-91866101264698948962012-08-15T21:25:00.003-04:002012-08-22T11:51:43.862-04:00Beer goggle moments.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My family has been through some tough times the last few months. Sometimes I tend to ask God, "Why?" Does anyone else do this? I'm sure we all have at sometime in our life but at the point of brokenness and being desprate for an answer I tend to feel so alone in the world. Now, I KNOW I'm never alone and it just seems that way, but it's hard to see outside of my selfish little world sometimes... it's like I have beer goggles on. To best describe it, it's the moments when everything around me is crazy, confusing, and giving me a major headache. I just can't see straight to the truth when I'm a hot mess. <br />
<br />The truth is:<br />
God comforts me through my heartache and brokenness;<br />
God has control of the chaos around me;<br />
God gives me clearity when I am unsure;<br />
And He will never leave me nor forsake me!<br />
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Psalms 9:10- Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.<br />
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Psalms 55:22- Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.<br />
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Philippians 4:7- And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.<br />
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Psalms 111:10- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.<br />
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So it really is okay to wonder why hardships keep coming after you one after the other, but it's improtant to know that God's got everything under control. In other words, He's got your back no matter what! Thank the Lord!</div>
Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-18694838288652644102012-07-26T22:36:00.000-04:002012-08-22T11:52:13.232-04:00Breasts are the best.I feel truly blessed to have been able to nurse all three of my children. When I started nursing Levi I forgot how much I missed that bonding and closeness you get from breastfeeding. Since this month is breastfeeding awareness month I thought I might share a few encouraging thoughts and some links that I find interesting. I honestly believe that breastfeeding is the best choice I made for my kids. I do understand that some women cannot breastfeed and really want to. My heart goes out to them.<br />
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For me when I started out as a young first time mom, at 21 years old, I wasn't too sure about the whole breastfeeding thing. My mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law were the ones who pushed me to try it and stick to it. My S.I.L. is one of those women who didn't get a fair chance at trying to breastfeed because her milk didn't come in fast enough for the hospitals liking so they pushed giving her son formula but she was an awesome big sis and stayed to fight off any nurses who would try to pressure me to give Mya formula. Love her!<br />
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Not only was it great to have the women in my family back me up and encourage me to breastfeed but I joined a breastfeeding group at our hospital. (I know some churches have boob groups too.) These girls helped me through more than just breastfeeding Mya. Since we all had kids about the same age we asked a million questions to one another and had play dates. We still get together even after 3 years. I guess boobs and babies really create lasting friendships. lol. We did go through a lot together and they know things about me some of my closest friends wouldn't understand. So I would highly recommend finding a support group you're comfortable with.<br />
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Something new I am doing this time around that I didn't do when breastfeeding the girls is donating my milk. My good friend told me about Helping Hands Milk Bank. You donate your milk and for every ounce you donate Helping Hands donates $1 to the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer. How awesome is that?!? So by donating you can help TWO causes. The reason my friend started is because she recently had a preemie baby who had to be in the NICU. She said to me, "You just don't think about the need that preemies have for breast milk until you've been there in the NICU." I'm pointing a finger at me because I never thought about donating before until she made me aware of the need. It can help save infants lives. If you're interested in donating or just checking it out you can find more info at <a href="http://www.helpinghandsbank.com/">www.helpinghandsbank.com</a>. P.S. when you donate 300 ounces they will send you $300 to reimburse you for your breast pump. Helpful... Right?!?<br />
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Now onto an interesting blog post I read today that just floored me and opened my eyes once again to the world of advertising that I sometimes forget about: <a href="http://knockedupknockedover.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/stop-it-enfamil-right-now/">Stop it Enfamil! Right now!</a> Advertisers can be so tricky. They know exactly how to ween their way into our thoughts... The right wording, statement, fact, or simply by using a picture. The same e-mail used in this blog post gets sent out to 1,000s of breastfeeding moms who maybe struggling or having a hard time with sticking with exclusively breastfeeding. The formula company sends the e-mail out at the perfect time, when mom is just finishing up those 6 weeks of taking it easy, has to get back to work, or has things she wants to do. They made it sound like breastfeeding can't be convenient for moms on the go. It made me think twice about formula companies motives for "encouraging" women to breastfeed. Did you know that most formula companies have a 24 hour breastfeeding hotline? I've called the Simulac breastfeeding hotline at 3 am because I had a serious nursing concern and had no idea what to do or if I should go straight to the ER. I found it completely strange before but now it makes perfect sense because chances are if you use them in a time of need like that you'll use their product in the future. Just read the blog if you haven't already and you'll know what I'm talking about! <br />
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So to wrap things up, I hope more women can be encouraged to breastfeed their babies. There is no shame in doing it and it is not disgusting. It is the best thing you can do for your baby when they're out of your womb. (Plus is can burn up to an extra 500 calories a day. SCORE!) I've never met a woman who has said she regrets breastfeed her child or has said she wishes she would of given her baby formula sooner. I have heard women say, "I regret not even trying to breastfeed my baby" or "I wish I could have breastfeed." For me personally, I breastfed Mya for 11 months and Kylie for only 3 or 4. I now feel selfish and wish I wouldn't of given up so quickly with Kylie. I can't go back and change it but I know I will breastfeed Levi for as long as possible. Yes, I am even one of those moms where I will breastfeed my child past 12 months. It's not harming the kid but I understand nursing past a certain age or stage isn't poplar. We all have our limits but when you see a mom nursing next time do all the breastfeeding moms a favor and say some encouraging words to her. She is doing a good job and in some ways she's brave for stepping out and doing what can be an unpopular thing. It will brighten her day and make her want to keep going. Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-46386855708974212402012-07-23T15:54:00.000-04:002012-07-23T15:54:55.179-04:00Howdy Partners.Got my new double stroller finally so the littles and I took our first walk just the three of us! It took me a while to get them all ready so we didn't get to go out until noon. Yikes! Hot! We still walked for a hour though! I put both the girls in the stroller and I strapped baby boy on me. We had so much fun. Mya pretended we were cowboys the whole time and called me "Partner". LOL. She also kept yelling at the people we passed by, "YEE HAW!" Love that girl. So here's my partners.<br />
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So now I just have to get one more hour of workout in for the day. I'm thinking I'll stick the girls in the kiddie pool and do some squats, push ups, jumping jacks, ect. So happy to be working out again. Happy Monday everyone!Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-64243273834776802412012-07-20T22:49:00.004-04:002012-07-23T16:04:10.454-04:00I'm baack.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a long break from blogging I've decided to start up again. Since you last heard from me we've become a family of five! We had a little boy, Levi! He has stolen our hearts! The girls are doing really well with him! Mya is like a little mother and Kylie loves to snuggle him. They are such good kids. So not only am I adjusting to being a mother of three while hubby works full time but I'm also starting a weight loss journey now. I have 40 lbs. to lose until I weigh what I did when hubby and I got hitched. I can't wait to reach my goal weight! My birthday is in October and I want to lose at least half of the weight by then. My plan you ask? Eating right, nursing, and exercising. I need tons of encouragement because after having 3 kids back to back to back I feel like it gets harder every time just to take off the baby weight. I know I can do it though! So wish me luck, send me recipes, and/or give me some good pointers. Have an awesome weekend everyone! We'll be spending our days soaking up the sun by the pool. Tootles.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">38 weeks pregnant... I was huge!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-59830377593127482472011-12-14T20:47:00.000-05:002011-12-14T20:47:01.974-05:00Christmas Time is Here.I love this time of year! People tend to give more this time of year. I want my girls to grow up and know what it is to be a giver. Not just at this time of year but all year round. You see that someone has a need and you help with a joyful heart. Simple as that. What are you doing to help someone in need this holiday? This year we participated in the giving tree at church. So fun to shop for other people. Toys for Tots is always a fun one for kids too. <br />
My other favorite part of Christmas is the lights! Tonight we went and saw Holiday Road for the first time. The girls loved it. It was a whole neighborhood that was syncronized to holiday music. So cool. The neighborhood does it every year and asked for donations for different cherities. This year they are giving to the special olymipics. How cool. Mya didn't want to go home. She kept saying, "More songs!" I think I may want to make that trip a tradition! <br />
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Well everyone have a wonderful rest of the week.Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-47448424273838634252011-12-10T21:59:00.000-05:002011-12-10T21:59:09.545-05:00A new edition.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbQ6ROl3SBo/TuQbtDtKMXI/AAAAAAAAAF0/QxytIsqOwhY/s1600/10+WEEKS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbQ6ROl3SBo/TuQbtDtKMXI/AAAAAAAAAF0/QxytIsqOwhY/s320/10+WEEKS.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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We are having another baby. This will make baby #3. It's funny how people are comparing us to the Duggars when we are no where near 19 kids. lol. We're excited and can't wait to meet our newest edition. Our due date is on June 30th. A summer baby? I'm a little bit nerveous to be pregnant in the heat but if other woman can do it I'm sure I'll survive. =)<br />
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It was weird because this time I knew I was pregnant right away. I told Marcus that I was pregnant a week after we got pregnant. I took a test to be sure of course and I was right! Well that is my big news.<br />
I hope everyone has a good weekend. God bless.Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-62213873674209061772011-11-27T21:06:00.000-05:002011-11-27T21:06:19.453-05:00Decorating.The holidays are here. Yippie! I love this time of year. Just put up our Christmas tree and decorations. This house is decked out!! I put lights around Mya's bed and she is loving it! So with Christmas cheer spread throughout the home it's time to jump on that Christmas shopping. I already have the girls done and shopped for. woop woop. Just have to get the nieces and nephews done. Hopefully everyone will get to have a relaxing holiday. Next time I blog I will have a BIG announcement!Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-61227208118304492692011-10-19T21:17:00.000-04:002011-10-19T21:17:45.240-04:00Wall decore.<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-itTuijeX3x4/Tp90eHOCXeI/AAAAAAAAAFU/Lxv7AAGglWo/s1600/wall+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-itTuijeX3x4/Tp90eHOCXeI/AAAAAAAAAFU/Lxv7AAGglWo/s320/wall+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
About a month ago I blogged about how I dream of organizing and decorating my home! Well I did some of that today! I'm so excited. I had a bare wall earlier today and when I went to spend my gift card from my mother-in-law today at Hobby Lobby I decided I would spend it on decorations. Best decision! I love my new wall. Please don't mind the baby hand prints on the mirror. lol. Kylie was looking at herself right before I hung it up. <br />
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I have a Close To My Heart party tomorrow so I'm excited for my family and friends to see the new look. Oh and of course I got deals on all this stuff. I brought coupons so the mirror, bird, and 2 letters were $26.00. What a steal. Well I better go clean that mirror now. Have a blessed day readers.Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-40018294434214525682011-10-18T00:13:00.002-04:002011-10-18T00:32:01.723-04:00One of THOSE days.I had one of those days where everything was going wrong until my husband came home from school. Let me break it down for you. <br />
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FIRST, I was discouraged when I woke up this morning and came down my stairs to a messy house. It felt overwhelming. Before hubby left for school he sensed my mood and immediately gave me a kiss and ran out the door. lol. <br />
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NEXT... I had plans with my girlfriend Dani to work out doing Zumba. Getting the girls ready and out the door is a task by myself. As I was trying to get the girls in the car Mya took off running into the middle of the road. I set Kylie, who was already strapped in her car seat, down and ran after her. (Of course she is giggling thinking that me chasing her is a game) The neighbors probably think I'm a lunatic as I'm yelling for her to stop. She trips in the middle of the road and just sits there crying (she is not hurt, just sad the chase is over). About gave me a heart attack... thank God there were no cars in sight!<br />
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AFTER THAT... I lock the car seat with Kylie in it into place and she quits breathing, moving, blinking. (Mind you she was in her car seat before we got out to the car because I had brought the car seat in the house earlier to adjust it so she can fit in it with her coat on.) My heart drops as I thought I had just lost my baby in a quick second. I started tapping her, trying to get her out of her seat as fast I could, and saying her name over and over again, trying to make her aware, move, breathe, ANYTHING. She was still unresponsive. After the longest seconds of my life she just looks over at me and smiles. I have no idea where she went those long seconds. Was she in a deep daze? Did she seriously stop breathing? What ever happened I am just so thankful to the Lord that she is alive and breathing this very moment! Every parents worst nightmare is losing their child.<br />
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THEN... I didn't get to finish my workout at Dani's because Mya had one of "her days." The kind where her terrible twos is shining threw. Oh well. Life goes on.<br />
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BUT, just when I thought things couldn't get any worse Mya spills her entire bowl of cereal all over the diningroom floor. As I go to clean it up I just start laughing. It's funny how God shows himself sometimes. Through all my events today I was reminded that life is precious and I'm so thankful that God is there to pick up after all my messes in life... when I'm being careless, being selfish, saying things I shouldn't, and the list goes on. When I realized this and said a prayer my day turned around.<br />
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NOW I got a new vacuum that Marcus surprised me with and brought home, along with a $20.00 coupon off our next grocery bill. (The lady in front of him didn't want her coupons so my awesome hubby snatched those suckers up! lol.) <br />
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AND he helped me clean and organize a lot of our house today. God has blessed me with an amazing husband. I love that he sensed my need this morning and went out of his way to make my day better. He had no idea how my day was shaping out to be and I would have to say that overall my day was good and blessed. God is good ALL THE TIME!Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-87472943772735913892011-10-05T10:18:00.001-04:002011-10-05T10:20:50.708-04:00My girls.It's been a while since I've kept up with my blog and read up on others. I just wanted to share a little. The girls are doing well. It makes me happy to know that my girls love each other. They are to the point where they play together now. I caught Mya teaching Kylie how to dump out all the toys from the little toy box in the living room. Bless her heart for teaching her how to be messy. lol. It was great though because the whole time they're cluttering the living room I kept thinking, "Aw, they're bonding." Then a few days later when Kylie was crying, Mya walks over and says, "Hi," suddenly Kylie was all giggles. What the...? What a special bond they have. God is good.Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-10820082468488148782011-09-13T15:16:00.000-04:002011-09-13T15:16:08.421-04:00Getting there.I would love it if eventually my home was organized and decorated all cute. This is my dream and I know once we buy our own home and I feel like we're going to stay put for a while I will be decorating and creating things for my home like crazy! For now I look at pictures of other peoples homes and droole and dream. We'll get there and when we do the girls will be old enough that I can put "pretties" out and not worry about it getting broken. Kylie is crawling everywhere and soon will be pulling herself up on everything... I remember this stage like it was yesterday with Mya. I even had to get rid of my coffee table because it was a hazard. --> up side: more space in my living room. (Trying to look at the positives.) The day when toys are not covering every inch of floor will come, but by then I'm sure I'll have baby fever. lol. I'm sure someday, hopefully someday soon, I'll get around to all those projects I've been working on... Preject Life, the girl's scrapbooks, the lamp made from a metal bucket, and the frame with chicken wire as backing so I can hang my pictures! Hey, if I'm going to dream I'm going to dream big! Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-47970868057928899602011-08-30T13:37:00.000-04:002011-08-30T13:37:53.762-04:00Cultivating A Good Life.<div class="uiSelector inlineBlock mlm hideSelector uiSelectorRight"><div class="wrap"><a ajaxify="/ajax/feed/feed_menu_personal.php?ministory_key=5644451593662489676&profile_fbid=301573840173&story_type=22&story_id=stream_story_4e5d1d5e160636255974523&story_fbids%5B0%5D=301573840173%3A10150767629175174&remove=0&is_spam_filter=0&reportable=1&flag_link=%2Fajax%2Fspam_action.php%3FobjectID%3D10150767629175174%26objectType%3D125%26paramString%26action%3Dmark_spam&report_link=%2Fajax%2Freport.php%3Fcontent_type%3D125%26cid%3D10150767629175174%26rid%3D301573840173%26profile%3D301573840173%26h%3DAfjeiXuFSYtPgTTb%26is_permalink%3D0%26stream_id%3D301573840173%26story_div_id%3Dstream_story_4e5d1d5e160636255974523%26story_fbid%3D10150767629175174&actor_id=301573840173&object_name&app_id=0" aria-haspopup="1" class="uiSelectorButton uiCloseButton" href="http://www.facebook.com/#" rel="toggle" role="button" title=""></a></div></div><h6 class="actorName actorDescription" data-ft="{"type":2}"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: small;">"Part of cultivating a good life is determining at least one thing you can do today that will make it a better day than yesterday." -Becky Higgins</span></span></h6><h6 class="actorName actorDescription" data-ft="{"type":2}"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Love this quote! The last few weeks haven't been easy but I won't complain because I am thankful for all the things I learned from my experiences. That quote has been on my mind day after day and making everyday better than the last. What a joy! Spending more and more time with my girls always helps make my day brighter, or eating right and going for a run, or working my hardest to serve others and bless someone else. These are a few things I've been doing to make each day better than the last. What will you determine to do today so that today is better than yesterday? </span></span></h6><h6 class="actorName actorDescription" data-ft="{"type":2}"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </h6>Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-22275299480177774392011-08-19T09:37:00.001-04:002011-08-19T22:03:26.446-04:00Joy.The house is quiet this morning. It feels strange. It makes me think of what life will be after all the kids move out. Somedays, I'll be honest, I can't wait for that day to come. (Those are the days I usually call up my mom and bag her to take the girls and don't give them back until they are under control. lol) Other days, which is most days, I'll think I will miss them and miss hearing them laugh, cry, needing me, hugging me, and all the other little things we do together as a family on a daily basis. I feel so blessed to have married my best friend and know that we can make it through anything, and the beautiful babies we created just add to the happiness I feel when I think about my life. I can smile. A smile seems so simple but there is power in it! It can brighten someone's day, or make someone who is crying feel better, or build a connection. So smile about your life because everything works out in the end. When it seems real hard and you don't see an end to the madness, someday you'll look back and be happy that you had that experience because I bet you learned something about yourself you never knew. I know I do. So find something that makes you happy and hold onto it during the ups and downs... you'll need it to see some calm in the storm. For me it's Jesus. I cling to him at all times. He brings peace and understanding in my life. What brings you joy?<br />
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I hope everyone has an awesome day.Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-6054200434484978922011-08-09T23:54:00.001-04:002011-08-10T16:14:12.136-04:00Blessed Beyond Words.I have a BIG vision! A big vision will result in big results if I commit, stay excited, and push threw! I stinkin love my job and I'm so happy God has brought this blessing into my life. He knew I would need Premier. Seriously, ever since I've started selling Premier Jewelry I've seen God's hand more in my life than ever before. I'm loving it! <br />
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I got a phone call from my brother today (he's in Afghanistan right now). That made my day until my phone died on him. Seriously, my phone is always dying. LAME! Anyways, he is coming home soo soon... I just can't wait! My little brother is one of the coolest guys alive! If you don't know him then you're missing out! <br />
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On another note, everyone have a blessed day!<br />
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Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-71648806843190484792011-08-07T23:41:00.001-04:002011-08-07T23:46:48.629-04:00Oh How He Loves Us."But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" <br />
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How many times do you check yourself in the mirror daily? How many times do you make a negative comment about your body? If you're anything like me it's too often. I am critical about my outward appearance when clearly that does not define who I am. I am an unique individual full of gifts that the Lord has blessed me with but I let my insecurities hold me back too many times. This is so silly to me when God clearly states that the heart is what matters. So I'm getting to the bottom of why I do this to myself... <br />
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I need to get over myself and being so concerned about what others think of me... So hard when this world is geared toward looks but that doesn't mean it can't be done. I need to be secure in who God has made me to be... live out the plan He has created me for. He does have a plan for me and I can't wait to unfold it... He IS working on me daily, molding my heart to look more like how He wants it to look. <br />
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Dropping all judgement and just loving others. Encourage one another. My challenge this next week is to compliment someone not only on their outward appearance but also on their character every chance I get. What will you do this week to encourage someone?Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515086338993618172.post-73314163981211407992011-07-12T20:22:00.000-04:002011-07-12T20:22:47.191-04:00A New Adventure.So I held a Premier Design Jewelry show at my home and came to the conclusion that being a stay at home mom is right for me. SOO I quit my job and became a stay-at-home mom and jeweler. That's right, I am now selling Premier Design Jewelry! I'm super excited for this and I'm so happy to be back home again with my girls. It's weird that I have to adjust back to being a full time mom. lol. I did it for the last 2 years and I get a job for 2 months and it I have to relearn how to keep my cool so I will be a HAPPY mommy. lol. I think this will be the perfect balance for my family. I get to pick my own hours and get out at night to hang with the girls. =) Please keep me in your prayers as I am training and trying to kick off my new business! I'd appreciate it!<br />
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I'm sure I'll be doing some giveaways on here too. Now what woman doesn't want free jewelry?!?<br />
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P.S. Mya just put a hole in her balloon and is now crying that "it broke... Baby did it." Baby is taking a nap. LOL. Everyone have a great week!Mandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05307703876064891430noreply@blogger.com2