Wordless Wednesday

Setbacks

In the past I've been very open about my life on my blog & social media. I've shared a lot of personal things when it came to my health ~ infertility, cancer and the start of what the doctor thinks is MS. Then I had G and my blogging really slowed down.

I realize people only put out there what they want people to see. Sometimes I can vomit what's going on in my life. That's my way of healing and handling the curveballs that are being thrown at me. 

Ten years ago if I could see into the future I would have said I was being shown the wrong life. Those things happen to other people not me. I've learned I am those other people to everyone else. 

A few weeks back I complained to someone how I just couldn't do all this. Work full time, be a full time mom, and battle 2 diseases. The person pretty much told me I needed to suck it up because that's what all working moms go through. Those comments have stung. I learned though that person has absolutely no idea what I go through in life and really is not a friend. 

Moms take on the world. We take on so much with so little help. We just think we can do it all. Reality is we need help and can't do it all. Sometimes we just need some encouragement and sympathy/empathy. 

I spend a good portion weekly reading/researching about my cancer. Trying to make sure I'm getting the best care available. This is not a normal thing most other mothers even worry about on a daily basis. Sure we all worry in the back of our minds that we will be there for their children life. Unfortunately I get a quarterly reminder how short my life can be.

I try to take that to stop & enjoy each moment I am given. I keep my camera close by because I want to catch every moment I can. I journal daily for G. Part of it so one day I can look back and remember all the little things. Another part is I want him to know how much I loved being his mom. 

I started writing this blog post back in October. I have struggled some with the setbacks I have been dealing with over the past few months. I had an ah-ha moment the other day. I was struggling with the actions of people, why things can be such a challenge and just feeling overwhelmed. In my ah-ha moment I realized I am going through a time of setback right now in life. I need to take a moment to see what I can learn from all this. There must be something to learn in a period of a setback. I have no idea what I am supposed to be learning, but I don't have any doubt that I will learn something.

Menu Monday

The past week I have been eating clean. I followed a FB group where everything was planned out for the group. It really was fabulous. The grocery list to daily menus for all 3 meals were all included. I loved it! Following this group helped me get back on track. I have been eating waaaaay too much sugar lately.

I decided to create my own weekly plan from breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. This way I have a plan for everything I need to eat. When I plan out what to eat I grab much better things. I also can't get over hungry or I eat junk.

I thought I would share my plan with you for the week.

MONDAY

Breakfast - overnight oats
Snack - hard boiled egg
Lunch - Salad ~ lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, walnuts, or whatever else we have around to add
Snack - Celery with nut butter
Dinner - BBQ in a jar ~ I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was adorable. I will make a roast in the crockpot, then put some coleslaw and baked beans in a jar.

TUESDAY

Breakfast - eggs ~ I like to either fry an egg, egg with kale and salsa. I make them different each time
Snack - yogurt
Lunch - chicken, veggie and rice bowl
Snack - fruit with some nuts
Dinner- Fish, sweet potatoes and green beans

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast - Eggs
Snack - Hard Boiled Egg
Lunch - Salad
Snack - Yogurt
Dinner - Burrito Bowls ~ leftover shredded pork, rice, avocado, tomatoes, salsa etc

THURSDAY

Breakfast - overnight oats
Snack - celery with nut butter
Lunch - I have a work thing, so I will get food while I am out
Snack - Apple
Dinner - Cobb Salad

FRIDAY ~ TGIF!!!!

Breakfast - Eggs
Snack - Yogurt
Lunch - Taco Salad (use leftovers from burrito bowls)
Snack - Hummus & Veggies
Dinner - Meat Loaf, Mash Potatoes and a veggies

There you have it! I made my shopping list as I made my menu. I like to look at different blogs or Pinterest while I am making my menu for different ideas.

Vegan cheese

I think I mentioned on a previous post that I have given up dairy. Cheese is the hardest part. Pizza and Mexican food.....oh boy! Thankfully there are so many options these days. Sprout's has a lot of options for a good price. I found Daiya sliced cheese that melts amazing on a grilled cheese. I was looking through the frozen section at Sprout's and found the dairy free pizza below. It really tasted good. The meatless meat on it even was tasty. I would like to find a vegan pizza with actual meat though lol

Earth Balance vegan mac & cheese is really good too. I used coconut milk when I made it. Of course it doesn't taste like Kraft, but it's a good substitute.

There are just a couple of the substitutes I have found that I like.  

Wordless Wednesday

A Journey of 10 Years!

I haven't ever been a big Valentines fan. I use to refer to it as Hate Day. Art asked me out on our first date on Valentines. I refused to go on Hate Day. I did go out with him, but it wasn't on February 16. It is hard to believe this all happened 10 years ago. The past 10 years have gone by quickly in some ways and long in other ways.

October 2006

September 2007

It is amazing how much has happened to us. Our first dance song was called Never Alone by Jim Brickman. What a perfect song for the journey we were about to travel.  I found an old email last week that we had sent to each other when we were dating. I wish I would have saved a lot more emails. It talks about being in love and hoping to be even more in love 10 years later. Art asked me if I love him more now. My response was it is a much different love now. It is stronger and deeper. Back then it was more of a giddy love. We've been through so much together that a love changes and I feel ours has changed for the better.

April 2008

I wish people took marriage more seriously. I wish they put as much effort into marriage as they do the games on their phone or Xboxes. Marriage is no joke. It is A LOT of work! People have the mentality when things are broke you throw it away and get a new one. Same with spouses. Trade them in for younger, richer, or just the thrill of the chase.

We have both had to put a lot of work into making our marriage work for us. We have taken the mentality with our marriage when some thing is broken in our relationship we are going to fix it. Some things we can't fix, other things we fix and some times we have to pray for the other to realize things need to be fixed. Prayer isn't instant either. When those prayers are answered the journey was worth it.

November 2015

Our journey started 10 years ago today and it has brought us along a path neither of us imagined.

December 2015

Legging OOTD

Have you discovered Lularoe? What about their leggings? O-M-G those things feel like butter! Soooo soft and comfortable! I am struggling to understand why leggings aren't business wear. I feel people make uncomfortable clothing the items that we are "supposed" to be wearing. Why not make appropriate clothing the most comfortable! I wear leggings as many days a week as I can. lol I just love them!

Sporting my valentine leggings with slippers! My favorite work outfit when I am working at home.

Here are 4 of my 6 pairs of leggings - the others are in the wash or on the drying rack.

I'm wearing my Lularoe bow Irma top with just regular leggings in the picture above.

These leggings are Old Navy Yoga. They are sooooo comfy! I wear these probably the most during a week. Great to throw on after a day in the office.

The above leggings have arrows on them. You can't tell in the picture because of the poor lighting. These were probably my favorite. The first time I wore them I found a hole. Sadly these are no longer in my wardrobe. They have been replaced by a different design. I miss these beauties!

Wordless Wednesday

Menu Monday

It is that time again to be making a menu for the week. I make my menus on Friday before I head to the grocery store. I have been trying to make easier things. I have a limited time to cook dinner. Usually I can entertain George long enough to cook for about 20 minutes. I either have to lock him out of the kitchen with 2 gates or put him in the highchair with a snack.

I would rather not give him a snack before dinner because then he doesn't eat good. Sometimes you just have to do whatever it takes to get a task done. The other night I decided to give him a snack. I was making avocado sauce to put on pasta. He had one taste of the avocado and he ate a whole one. He was shoveling it in as fast as he could get it in his mouth.

I am still using things from my freezer. I like to buy meat when it is on sale. Here is what is on our menu this week.

Korean Beef, rice and broccoli

Chicken breasts with baked potatoes

Kielbasa sandwiches and roasted veggies

Zuppa Toscana Soup

Wordless Wednesday