Category Archives: Uncategorized

Back to School

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First grade and Pre-K.
New book bags & lunch boxes, fresh shoes, crisp t-shirts, hot breakfast {thanks to the microwave lol}.
Notebooks, sharp pencils, bright markers and colorful crayons.
New schools, new friends, new teachers.
Yummy lunches, healthy snacks and happy hearts.
Sweet notes left inside lunch bags and kisses left on cheeks!
P.S. My {FREE} Firmoo glasses finally came in the mail today-eeeek!
What do you think?!

Makeover

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Remember this post about changes?
Well my friends it’s time for some changes around here too,
and I cannot wait to unveil them!
Maybe you’ve already noticed one of the changes?!
As we speak I am in talks with a designer for a new blog layout 🙂
We’re coming into a new season {FALL} which is almost my favorite season so I thought it was the perfect time for a little project on the blog.
A face lift, overhaul, and makeover in one.
I’m sooo ready to take this blog to the next level!
So stick around you won’t be disappointed…I promise!

Psssst!  Here’s a little hint: 
{Because I just can’t help myself!}

Do you hear what I hear?

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I’m reading a book right now by one of my new favorite authors Lysa Terkeurst.
She’s an amazingly honest, funny, pure in heart and down to earth Christian author.
She’s also a momma to 5 children 
and she keeps it real through all of her writing!
It’s very refreshing 🙂
Have you ever heard that voice telling you to do something for a stranger, a friend, a neighbor?
But your not quite sure where it’s coming from?
Do you ever feel that impression upon your heart tugging at you to do a kind deed?
But your feel silly acting on an “impulse” or not sure why you’re feeling the way you do?
Maybe it hits you when your sitting in traffic and see a pedestrian walking down the street in the hot summer heat. 
 There’s a voice telling you to offer them a bottle of water.
The firemen who are doing a coin drive in the middle of the freezing winter?  
You have this feeling that a fresh coffee would help warm them up.
Ever been standing in line at WaWa and you feel a pull to the person behind you?
Maybe you’re supposed to pick up their tab.
Maybe your not sure why you have this overwhelming sense of trying to do good for someone else…but I am about to tell you.
It’s all about listening.
Listening to Him and what He lays on our heart.
How many of us can say we listen when He speaks to us?
Can you honestly say that every little thing He lays on your heart your listen to?
Not just listen to but act upon?
I know I don’t.
Lysa explains to us how not listening to Him is like missing a big ole surprise party thrown for us.
If we listen to him and follow where He leads us then we will be shown love, joy, light, and gentleness that we didn’t know before.
Can you imagine that?
A whole world of good, laughter, peace, joy and happiness waiting for us.
Simply by listening and doing.
The choice is ours.
Just as we raise up our children to listen to their mothers and fathers and build that trust/love relationship He is after the same relationship.
He wants us to listen. 
To grow.
Maybe we don’t think we have the strength, or resources.
But we do.
Oh how we do!
He is our strength, and our resources.
He will provide.
And in the end we will reap the benefits of following what he has laid on our hearts.
We will grow in so many life changing ways.
We will get to experience all the joy, laughter, happiness, and gentleness we are made to experience!
That He wants us to experience.
So next time you hear or feel something urging you don’t second guess yourself.
Act on that tugging in your heart…and I promise you will not be disappointed.

Piles, piles, everywhere

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This weekend was a blur.
Like it went so fast I don’t even know where the time went!
Totally in a good way though 🙂
I can say though that it was productive, very very productive.
We did a major overhaul on the big boys room.
You have no idea how badly this was needed.
Desperately needed.
You know that space in the kids room behind those doors?
The space where things seemingly pile up by themselves?
Yea that space…the closet!
Well the boys can finally use theirs now.
I actually found a cute way to help organize them for the school week since they will both be going to school 5 days a week this year.
It.was.so.simple!
And my handy little project helped me pin my very first picture to pinterest woot woot!
Follow me here.
We completely emptied their closet…found some pretty interesting stuff {including pictures, diaries, and my high school diploma-but that’s for a different post!}.
We started making piles.
Trash, keep, pass on, good will, etc.
At one point there were piles EVERYWHERE…
and I love you guys so much I am posting a picture of it!
Eventually we dug ourselves out and were able to make sense of everything.
We still need to paint the room but so far this is a huge improvement!
Bonus?
They got bunk beds 🙂
They are beyond thrilled!
We went to Target on Saturday to pick out their bed sets…which was a very trying experience to say the least!
Maybe it was because we couldn’t find a set in our price range {that they liked}- maybe it was because it was LDW-maybe it was because it was during lunch time for them.
I’m not sure.
Whatever the case lets just say there was a lot of tears shed, running off, and temper tantrums-thrown by everyone.
It’s safe to say by the time we left the bedding aisle everybody was exhausted!
I even made a little bit of time to run into my most favorite make-up store  {ULTA} and pick up a little somethin’-somethin’ for momma as well!
My first major eye makeup investment…yup I’m all grown up 🙂
We finished up the weekend with a BBQ with family-and you know me there is no better way to spend time than with family!
Rain tried to put a damper on the evening but we decided to make the best of it and let the kids play outside in the warm summer rain 🙂
They had a blast!
How was your LDW?
{Yummy eye candy}

{My first pin}
{Organizing attire made by yours truly}

{One of our finds in the closet-from my baby shower for HIM!!}

{Piles, piles, piles}
{Summer rain party}

I’m gonna let it shine

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This little blog of mine…
I’m gonna let it shine…and me too!
This blog is literally helping me to shine!
I process life by sitting down and writing.
Maybe some of you are the same, maybe not.
It is extremely therapeutic for this momma.
Through my writing I am able to get my emotions down and that is an amazing feeling.
Being able to get down how I’m feeling, my struggles, my victories all in one place has really helped me, not just through my latest struggle, but to process life in general.
Writing it all down- and keeping it real– usually lets me walk away feeling lighter than when I first sat down.
You know what else?
I have a new found confidence that I certainly didn’t have 2 months ago 🙂
2 months ago I would never have even thought about going so far outside of my comfort zone
 so frequently.
I used to have all of these ideas and notions in my head that I thought were silly.
Now I actually speak them and put them into action.
I am growing and it’s beautiful.
A few months ago I was resting on a laurel.
It’s sad to say but it’s true.
I was content with where I was…
 but not pushing myself to be all that I am capable of.
Now I want more.
I want to see, do, and explore!
Now I wake up in the morning {sometimes with a plan, sometimes not} and take advantage of each and every opportunity that presents itself to me.
2 months ago I would never have taken so many pictures of myself for fear of no makeup, not having perfect hair, and rejection etc. 
Nowadays I have the opposite outlook.  
I forget all of that jazz and focus on just.being.me.
And I couldn’t be happier!
I embrace those candid shots not caring or even thinking twice about it.
Who cares?  Not me {at least not these days}!
I know what I am doing makes me happy.
I’m accomplishing and filling a goal of mine.
I am developing this little blog of mine.
This blog might be little but it’s my own.
My own space.
My own world.
And us momma’s don’t get that too often 🙂
Now without further ado a very first on this little blog of mine.
Some candid shots {taken by our 6 year old!!} of me during a family outing.
I’m embracing this new found confidence I have and love for growing!
Have a great weekend 🙂

Lions and Tiger and Bears, Oh My!

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Yesterday was gorgeous- hardly any humidity-it was only a high of about 80 degrees- and a nice cool breeze.
So we decided to spend the day out of the house =)
You know to let the kids get some fresh air and run around.
Get rid of all that built up energy.
{Who am I kidding? It was for our sanity too!}
We decided on the zoo which is only about 30 minutes from our house…and FREE 🙂
With 3 little guys Free is always good!
Now unfortunately we live at the “Jersey Shore” {and no we do not resemble Snooki and J-Woww or any of their friends!} so summertime and “shoobie” season here in Jersey mean we have to carefully plan when we do anything out of the house because everywhere around us becomes extremely crowded.
Extremely crowded + traffic +  hot weather + 3 kids= no fun!
So we hopped in the car and hit the zoo at about 3 o’clock.
Let me tell you we couldn’t have timed it any better!
It was a weekday and most of the people in the zoo were headed out as we were headed in-score!
The kids were able to walk/run at their leisure, see the animals that they wanted {most were out for us to see} and we even let the baby run free from his stroller too!
The zoo, my kids, our family {no fighting-well hardly any!}…
it was a WONDERFUL DAY!

P.S. Sorry for all the exclamation points//happy face but I can’t stop smiling and being grateful for how great of a day yesterday was :)!!!!!

On My Heart

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Frustrated.
That is how I feel today.
Let me preface this post by saying that today was my first day of Occupational Therapy.
Today was a series of tasks and questions related to Gross motor skills.
Looking at pictures figuring out which didn’t belong, putting keys into the correct holes, matching up shapes-you know Sesame Street kind of stuff.
Sounds easy, right?
Not the case.
It was hard, like really really hard
and super frustrating.
Tasks that I normally wouldn’t have to think twice about doing prior to July 23 have now become huge mountains for me.
Or when given an activity I think to myself I’ll complete this with no problem.
And then when I can’t make a choice fast enough, then comes the frustration, and later comes the wanting to give up completely-even though I know I have to complete said task.
And then I have to try to regroup and compose myself {easier said than done}
Do you know how frustrating it is to think you are going to ace a test and then fail?
It’s just so hard to come to terms with how much this stroke really has set me back.
I guess days like today make me realize more than other days just how much of an emotional roller coaster I am on.
Yes, physical therapy has helped out tremendously and from the outside you would probably never be able to tell this all happened.
Yes, I am able to move around more easily and am more self sufficient that before.
The inside though, that is different.
The fine & gross motor and cognitive skills are hurting.
It feels as though my mind is constantly filled with cobwebs and fog.
Fog so thick you can’t even see your own hand in front of you-let alone where you are going.
Forget about multitasking-and as a mom that is one of our survivor qualities.
Each and every day is a battle to make it further than the day before.. even just the tiniest bit further.
Some days are better than others.
On good days I’m down on the floor playing with our kids.
But my bad days are really really bad.
Like drop an entire tray of lasagna out of the oven bad {last Friday}
or
feeling defeated because I can’t do things how I once used to.
My days are now filled with lists, timers, and sticky notes.
And feeling physically and emotionally drained by noon.
This post is not meant to be sad, or to throw myself a pity party {not completely!}
I want to write all of this down, get all of my feelings out so that 3 months from now I can look back and say “Wow, I did overcome a lot.  I can’t believe how frustrated I once was.”
So I decided to come home from pt//ot, make a cup of coffee, and sit down to share my feeling with all of you.
And you know what?
I feel better already, so thanks for listening 🙂
I also found some really inspirational quotes on Pinterest to help me get through these tough times.


Character

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Have you ever had one of those days where everything was off, just a little? 
Your plan for the day and the universe’s plan had two very different blue prints? 
You tried your best to see the positive in every situation that came your way but at times you though it just wasn’t possible? 
Today was one of those days for me.  
I woke up determined to make today productive.  
Our first stop was to meet up with someone who was selling two mirrors {future craft project} VERY cheap!  Check. 
 Next stop (unplanned-but hey I was going with it right)? The bank. Check.  
Next stop? 
Oh wait I forgot to throw out the garbage and we were now lugging around trash in 90 degree weather…
so that’s what that smell was 😦 
Back home we headed to the dumpster.  
Now we were on the road…a quick pit stop at Wawa and we would be good to go.  
Only these days with 3 kids in the car a stop to Wawa is never quick.  
One kid wanted this, one kid wanted that, both kids wanted to go inside-it went downhill fast.  
Throw in my trying to have a conversation with a work friend of mine on the phone while being in the car with 3 small kids and it.was.not. fun! 
Next stop? Pediatrician’s office to pick up Ayden’s shot records for his new preschool…and queue the teaming rain just as I needed to run into the office-as well as for the remainder of our trip to run errands!  
I’m sure you can imagine the slew of events that continue to happen for the rest of the day with 3 very active,  loud, and strong-willed little boys so I’ll spare you the rest of the nitty-gritty.
The point to this story is I chose to have a good day.
I chose to keep the day upbeat and light in the midst of the chaos.
I could have taken one look at the first chain of events and said to our kids, “that’s it.  Let’s pack it in and head home.” 
But I didn’t.
And that shows character.
New character for me at least.
Character that I didn’t have 5 weeks ago.
Character is something we develop.
It’s not something that can be bought at every convenience store, or over -nighted to your front door via Amazon.
Character is something that takes discipline, work, and for me-prayer.
As soon as I had my stroke and realized tomorrow is never promised I made a pact with myself to make the best out of each and every situation.
A pact to develop my character for the better.
Also, as a Christian and a mom I need to show my children and others that it is always right to have good character-even when we don’t feel like it, or even when it’s not easy.
It’s not always easy, but it’s always right.
Sometimes {who am I kidding most of the time} it doesn’t come easily!
So today I know I tried my darn hardest.
I put on a smile and brave face through the loud car ride, the fighting, the thunder and the rain.
When my head hits the pillow tonight yes I will come before Him and pray for forgiveness for raising my voice, not having more patience, and not relying more on him to get me through the tougher times today.  
I will pray for more strength, patience, and character for tomorrow and when{at times} I could have had more good character today.
But the great news?
That doesn’t make me a failure.
I know He sees me progressing.
As long as I keep trying, that is what matters.

Sunday

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Today was a successful day.
We accomplished back to school clothes shopping for 3 kids 🙂
No temper tantrums…well almost none!
No melt downs.
Not even anxiety attacks from me with overly crowded stores.
Not even from Mom and Dad.
And that my friends is a huge success.
We found a dirty water hot-dog lady for lunch with soda’s and chips too!
Today was fun – it was just a great family day!
We took advantage of the gorgeous weather and  we had and even played the part of shoobies posing for pictures that we usually wouldn’t have!
Enjoy!

Redecorating

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I’ve got a lot of free time on my hands these days…between the physical therapy, occupational therapy, doctors appointments, kids, baths, getting ready for back to school, etc.  
Well maybe I don’t but I certainly feel like I have more free time on my hands lately because I’m not adding in the 40 hour work week!  
There has been a lot of date nights with Pinterest and oh how I am in LOVE! 
Like that butterflies in the stomach new puppy love…
I need help, I know!
My interest is quickly becoming an addiction– but don’t tell Mr. Wonderful Life!
Reading through all of these boards, DIY’s and tutorials makes this house-ridden mama feel like I can rule the world with some paint, hot glue, fabric, and my creativity!
I can’t drive yet so if I’m stuck in the house I might as well go Martha Stewart on it 🙂  
My first plan of action is our living room.
With all of the {ahem} free time I mentioned before I’m even hoping to do a before and after as well.  
Our living room doubles as a play room for the kids so that will be the tricky part.
I am going for modern chic look-but still kid friendly and somewhat spill/dart/wrestling proof!
I’m also still in the process of figuring out how to separate the kid part of the room from the adult part of the living room.
Suggestions are most welcome!
Right now we have a forest green color which I was in love with about 3 years ago.  
Fast forward to now and I’m not so in love with it.
It’s time for an over haul…
An update if you will.
In 3 years our taste has changed, my sewing/crafting abilities have changed, and so has our family.
I’m a person who craves the sunlight, trees, and fresh airy spaces.  
I would love to do a grey/teal/yellow color scheme and am thinking of incorporating the following prints, wall decor, colors, etc.  
I’ve already got my mind set on light grey walls, and handmade teal chevron curtains to let the light come through more.  
The rest will fall into place…hopefully!
I can hear the peace, tranquility, and openness calling my name already-or is that one of my kids?!

And the best news of all?
I ran the plan past Mr. Wonderful and then slipped in the “so do you think I’m crazy?” {to see if he was on board} and other than having horrible flash backs to his last painting of our living room 3 years ago and me saying I would NEVER let him paint again {poor guy} 
he gave his usual answer, “I always think your crazy…but I’m always behind ya!”  
I’m pretty sure that was a compliment 🙂  
And so we are moving forward with the living room re-do.
What room in your house would you love to re-do?