food...nutrition...dieting

I must first start with this. Yesterday, I tasted Nutella for the first time. Oh My Gosh. I dipped my strawberries in some and it was a little piece of heaven. I had it again today and even Olivia loved the Nutella.

So, there is no denying that I like to eat---and cook---and bake. But those three things seemed to have packed a few extra lbs. on me as of late and I jiggling in places that really, are not meant to jiggle.
So Monday, I am getting serious. I am going to begin the Woman's Day, Slim down with Joy Bauer program. Step 1 is kind of intense and I am already mourning the loss of my one Coke per day but I can do it, right?! I am telling all of you in hopes that you will keep me accountable. I can do anything for one week, or at least I really want to believe that. I believe this could be a great way to jump start some healthier habits. So goodbye Nutella, hello Skinny Soup. I sure hope I like it once I make up the 12 cup batch! Although there are a ton of Off Limit foods, there are plenty of eat all you want foods too...they just happen to all be vegetables :)

It seems like I have made myself crazy over this and am preoccupied with either eating all the things I will need to avoid, or I am making grocery lists and going over all the things I will be able to eat. Sigh...I really do like food. Pin It

more quilt as you go blocks

I could not quite string them all up but I now have 9 blocks completed. I first saw the quilt as you go blocks here.

Here is a sampling plus Skipper the Dog.

Aren't they pretty?! I placed a reinforcement order at Whimsy Dots on etsy (ETA: TODAY HER FABRIC IS 25% OFF!) to get a bit more variety in my sheet selection AND because I am going b i g g e r. I quickly moved beyond pillow (unless I make 9!) and decided against a baby quilt b/c I really don't want to give this away and have instead set my sights on a picnic blanket. I have a large thrifted sheet already for the backing.

Here are some close up shots of some of my squares. It is beyond hot and humid outside but also overcast, making it prime picture taking time.

So, I have a renewed desire to find more thrifted sheets but I don't find them often around here (SW OH). Any thoughts or suggestions?!

I shared this at Today's Creative Blog. Lots of great ideas over there.

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in download mode

We were lucky enough to spend a few days at Norris Lake with my sister in law and her family.

Mr. Mason conquering the wake board.

Miss Shelby air drying on the boat.

4 of the 5 kiddos checking out GIANT fish at a Marina where we ate lunch.

And a nice view of the boat tied up at the dock at the rental house.

It was a great time but so physical and tiring. It inspired me to step up and try to get in better shape.

Although I don't have any of these on my camera(s) {Rebel, small Sony and the I phone!) there is actually photographic evidence that I jumped off a 15 foot bridge into the lake and I went "tubing". I know, I am c r a z y.

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more on our hectic july...

With both girls' birthdays this month, the routine of no routine for the summer and the wonderful invitations for fun...we have been busy but in the best kind of way.

Yesterday was Miss Shelby's 6th birthday, complete with a Build A Bear birthday party which was very sweet, well run and perfect for girls this age.
I ordered the most perfect cupcake toppers of all time, hand created with fondant. They were super fragile to deal with but otherwise wonderful. I cannot wait for the next occasion that calls for cupcakes b/c they will get a treatment like this.
I also had a few recent photos printed at Costco to send with the thank you notes that we owe half the world. At the same time, I printed my vacation poster, 16x20, for a whopping $5.99. I love it and once I put it in the frame it really became what I had envisioned from the start.
Visit my original post for the free template to make your own. Next up, where to hang it?!

And on the horizon, another opportunity to enjoy this. See, I told you we were lucky. Pin It

pool time

Sure, I take loads of pics and plenty of them include the girls in our own pool. What is different about these is that I am at the foot of the pool by the shallow end and down low. I was so pleased to see the different perspective. Typically, I am seated to the side of the pool and snapping from there. These seem so much more personal, so much more them and more action oriented.

I have also been getting IN THE POOL, which has not been my thing in the past. But darn, it's been hot and humid and the girls get so excited. These photos are from last week but yesterday I swam with them. A few things they requested and I obliged:

-me jumping off the diving board
-the three of us jumping in together holding hands
-me going under water and coming up with a "hairdo"

The simple things can really be the best.

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