Celebrate Yourself - The Inaugural Edition...

I am introducing a weekly theme post.  I'm calling it Celebrate Yourself.

We as mom's/women/men/people spend a lot of time working, playing, giving of ourselves to others, and we rarely are recognized.  I want to open up to a weekly forum to tell us what you did this past week that you are proud of.  If you potty trained your child, or you restrained yourself from flipping the bird while driving, or just got something done that you'd been meaning to do, tell us.  Come here and shout about yourself and what you accomplished this week.  Also, if you'd like to build on that accomplishment, and tell us your goal for this week - we'd love to here it!  Please link up, and talk yourself up today!

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I've been talking for the past year or so about the weight I've lost.  But that is not the accomplishment that I have for this week.  This week, what I am proud of, is not only that I have been working out 6 days a week, but also that I have been able to do this working out with friends.  

I have a couple of girls that I work with, and everyday, instead of going to lunch, we lug ourselves to the fitness center and work out.  Once we're done, we go back and eat lunch at our desks.  The funny part about this is that this workout, in only two weeks, has become the highlight of my "at work" days.  It doesn't matter how stressed I am, how annoyed, irritated, angry, or even happy, I still am able to go downstairs, get sweaty, and really enjoy that part of my day.

It's been a great kind of stress relief.  And also gives me time to think about things that are going on in my life, make decisions on how to organize, or on what I need to change.  I can't stress enough how much I am enjoying this daily exercise.

I'm also excited that I have been able to help influence my friends.  I really enjoy the time we have together, and since work has a tendency to get in the way of our socializing, taking the time to "lunch" together, has become special to me.  Thanks, Girls!

Please link up below, or share your celebration in the comments.  I can't wait to hear how awesome you have been this week!

Some "day in the life" shiz....

Here is my first photo back at Instagram.  I can't imagine what I'm going to do when someday I have to move on.  I may have to go to Instagram Instarehab.  Anywho, Mia didn't think that her hair looked pretty up in a ponytail.  So, I took a picture and showed her.  Then, she decided that I was right, she is pretty.

 

We had an unexpected day together last Friday.  We got less than an inch of snow, and apparently couldn't hang.  This is what happens with two rather snow-less winters in Chicago - you lose the ability to deal.  So, after a two-hour round trip to get about 12 miles from my house, and back (one way commute is 36 miles), Mia and hung out at home.  I got some snugly time because I am a lucky mama.

 

A picture while stopped on our snowy drive last Friday.

 

A little later on, my blond snow angel had a blast running through the little bit of snow we had.

 

This is what happens when a 4 year old dresses herself.  Although, I have to say, she matched the skirt and the shirt perfectly to the stripes on the pants.  I loved the look and so did she.

 

You may or may not know, but I really love to cook.  I had found a site (www.punchfork.com) that was like a search engine for food bloggers or food websites.  I have been unhappy that punchfork has recently been acquired by Pinterest, mostly because I didn't use Pinterest for food.  Now, I have moved all my punchfork likes to a board on Pinterest.  You can find me here on Pinterest, if you are interested. This is a chocolate cake, with chocolate chips and chocolate butter cream.  Yummy!

 

This is what I do every weekend.  I plan the meals for my family, then put it in a note on my phone so that I always know what we will be eating and can create the necessary shopping lists as well.

 

Lastly, this is what greeted me when I opened my bedroom door.  Hello Kitty in her birthday suit.

Linking up with Gfunkified for iPPP today.

Apparently fun things only happen at the grocery store...

I honestly don't know what to write about right now.  I've been feeling good lately, so no real need to let my emotions out through writing.  Isn't that funny?  I write when I'm emotionally wound up, so if I'm not writing, that probably means things are just ok to good. 

I'm just going to start with some things that have been going on around here.  A new grocery store opened up down the street.  Within about a 2 mile stretch - of the same road - we have 2 Jewel's, Tony's Finer Foods, Aldi, Dominick's, Super Wal-Mart and Target w/grocery.  So, this new grocery store (Tony's Finer Foods) opens, and you'd think that this was something brand new.  I mean, the parking lot has been so full that I didn't even stop the first weekend.  We finally went this weekend because my weird kids were begging to go here like it was frickin' Chuck E. Cheese or something.  So, we tried the new grocery store.

My littlest blond daughter is such a little love bug.  She is very into 'goodbyes' right now.  She must say good bye multiple times, in many different ways, with many hugs and kisses.  She also will tell you she loves you.  And then, just when you think you're done, she runs back for more.  God forbid you're in the car, and she needs to say "goodnight" to the sitter.  She had a huge emotional outburst because we couldn't go back.  But, don't think that you are special.  Because she shouts "I love you!" to strangers at the grocery store, instead of saying hi.

Speaking of grocery stores and the little: when we were at the new store, trudging up and down every lane to familiarize ourselves with the store, she rode in the cart.  As a bag boy passed us down the aisle, she cranes her neck around me, and starts to sing "Call me, maybe."  We are gonna have troubles with this one.  She's 4.

Here's a story that doesn't revolve around the grocery store.  I've found out why they say dogs are more work.  It's the vacuuming.  Apparently, I will need to vacuum everyday to keep on top of the shedding balls of hair.  I'm sure that our bugs will not be happy.*

Don't forget to think about the new link up I'll be starting this Thursday.  Think of things you want to celebrate, or put down on paper some goals to accomplish.  If you don't want to link up, leave them in the comments.  I'm excited for Thursday!!!

*I really don't have bugs in my house.**

**At least none that we can see