{virtual} coffee date

Happy Saturday lovelies!!!

If we were having coffee together I would just gush on the fact that I finally broke down and bought a milk frother, and may I just say it was the best money ever spent!  The picture above wasn't used with it, clearly that is no foam at all.  This baby makes foam.  Real foam.  And it instantly makes my kitchen feel like a buzzing coffee shop.  When you are ready for a homemade tea latte, come on over!!! 

If we were having coffee together I would share with you that back to school night was probably the smoothest it has ever been.  There is something special about this group of parents.  Over the summer I was having a very difficult time with getting motivated to go back to work this school year.  I really relied on God and He is ever faithful.  All of the parents were so amazing, supportive, warm and left me feeling all sorts of loved afterwards.  I'm pretty excited for this school year!!! 

If we were having coffee this morning I would confess that I have a problem.  A bread problem.  It all started with the gluten free mango banana bread.  And then there were these beautiful zucchinis just sitting in my fridge so I decided they couldn't go to waste.  Hospitality has been on my heart, so I decided to bake some chocolate chip zucchini bread for my neighbor and my director to brighten their weeks.  I really want to try to share the love and push myself out of my comfort zone to show God's love.  Well there was one mini loaf left, and throughout the course of the week I've eaten almost the whole thing to myself.  And I've given myself an utterly horrible belly ache because of it.  Note to self: lay off of the baking for a while :) 

It we were having coffee this morning I would tell you that our cat is a funny character.  We have actually been having a difficult time with regards to keeping her with the baby coming.  She is cute as can be, but she is also crazy bipolar.  She likes to bite, nip, and scratch you.  She also has a couple other unfriendly characteristics, and we just knew it wouldn't be right to have that around a baby.  Originally we thought about giving her to a shelter, but my heart just couldn't deal with it.  So in the meantime we are trying to love on her, breathe in the adorable moments (like when she lays in the funniest ways when we get home), and pray about what to do.  We are hoping to find a family to adopt her, but have no idea where to go from here.  

If we were having coffee together this morning I would share that I've been trying to be more productive this week, and it feels good.  All summer long we have been in a huge flux situation with where to live, and I promise I will be back on Monday with an update to that!  So I haven't done anything that I wanted to get done before going back to work.  Now that things are finally settling down, I can finally start crossing items off one-by-one.  I've had a vision for a while to hang antique plates above the mirror in our dining room to add some character.  After I went to the flea market a couple months back and found the plates, I was just waiting to finally hang them.  Originally I wanted to hang them above the frame, but as I was cutting out circles from newspaper (because I finally took my time hanging things on walls) I decided to go a little bit more creative.  We taped the newspaper circles up to see how it would look and the husband give it a thumbs up.  In no time at all were the plates hanging up and my heart was delighted with joy to have this lovely little spot now. 

If we were having coffee together this morning I would tell you that today we are going to Home Depot to paint the nursery!!!!  I'm so excited and can't wait to have it finally painted and start moving things in.  More to come!!! 

it's that time of year

My head is spinning, there are endless to-do lists, my feet are killing me, I'm afraid that as soon as I assume a horizontal position I will pass out and never wake up...yep, it's back to school time!

Summer has almost officially ended.  School starts next Tuesday and I'm in the throngs of teacher week.  I feel like "Teacher week" should be noted as the week where you thought you had things together and then realize you don't, walk around blurry-eyed trying to keep track of all your lists, and feel ever so grateful for one more week.  I must say that even though I've only been working two days, it has definitely taken a toll on me.  And I'm pretty sure this pregnancy of mine is telling me to take more rests, slow it down a bit, and drink a lot more water!  

I thought I would show you just a couple pieces of my classroom to see what all I've been up to...

(Keep in mind it's a work in progress, and lots of the mess all around has finally been picked up)

Our God is an amazing God!  And today was pure evidence of that.  Over the summer our school went through some big changes.  Difficult changes that rocked everyone.  It has left us as teachers with a heavy job of gaining family's faith and trust again.  Our staff has undergone so many changes, so much that a third is brand new.  

Today we had a staff development that just showed the power of God working in and through a community.  We as a staff had to go through lots of different challenges and obstacles, work together, communicate, listen, and encourage others.  While doing so we were always thinking about what the implications were for our jobs.  At the end of our experience we were all just blown away with how uplifting and supportive our staff is.  Everyone was completely on board, they were helping others, and they were committed.  As a staff, we needed this.  We needed to see the hope.  We needed to see that amongst so many changes and challenges, we can rise and meet these challenges head on.  God has replaced our fears with hope.  

Now I'm off to prop these feet up, guzzle a gallon of water, and pass out! 

homemade tea latte {recipe}

This past week, something beautiful happened.  Very beautiful...and dreamy.  

I discovered how to make a tea latte at home!  Side note about Jamie: I have a fascination with frothy goodness lattes.  Whether it be espresso or tea, just give me some of that foam and I will drink it!  

Coffee has always been my first love.  And tea has always been there for when I'm sick, ready for bedtime, or desperate for some warmth.  However, this pregnancy does not like coffee.  I was devastated at first but then counted it a blessing in disguise because it wouldn't be that hard to give it up.  Now don't get me wrong...lattes still hit the spot.  

I've been craving something warm in the mornings, but want it to be creamy and dreamy.  Those two things are a must!  So, I grabbed some tea and researched how to make foam at home, and ta-da!  I had caught onto something amazing!!!  Follow these steps for a beautiful experience at your lovely abode....

Step 1: Get out all of your all stars.  I just purchased this tea from Trader Joe's, slightly hesitant as I'm not a breakfast tea drinker, and it has forever changed me.  Delish! I used coconut milk but almond milk would be just as divine.  Grab some agave or honey (if desired) and a mug that will warm your soul.  

Step 2:  Steep your tea bag for 3-5 minutes in hot water.   

Step 3: Froth your milk.  I used this method using a mason jar in the microwave, but it doesn't make as much foam as I'd like.  So today I'm breaking down and using one of the million BBB coupons to get this frother.  

Step 4: Add your agave or honey. 

Step 5: Pour in your milk.  

Step 6: Let that foamy-goodness settle on top.  

Step 7:  I choose to sprinkle mine with just a touch of cinnamon to add some spice, again, totally optional.  Sip, enjoy, let it warm your soul and melt all your worries away.  

a fit and fabulous pregnancy

Staying active and fit during my pregnancy was something I thought about long before I was actually pregnant.  Being fit, notice not skinny, but fit and strong was a priority of mine before I was pregnant and a key way to my lifestyle-so why shouldn't it be while I am pregnant?  Today I wanted to share with you ways that I stay fit and give you some practical ways to workout and modify exercises. 

When I first became pregnant I was scared straight to exercise.  No joke!  I thought that if I ran I would jiggle this tiny person growing inside of me so much that it wouldn't last.  I also was just filled with a lot of fear in general at first.  But my body was used to working out 4-5 times a week, and these workouts were usually high impact, heart-pumping sessions.  I knew that I wouldn't be able to keep up the intensity of my workouts while pregnant, but that my body needed something.  Working out, for me, boosts my mood big time.  Hello endorphins!  It took me a bit to figure out a good balance between working out and giving myself the ability to rest because I was dog-tired for the first 10 weeks.   Trust me, I rested all right.  But there were days that I would feel so guilty for not working out.  And my amazing husband would gently remind me that I'm growing a baby.  Staying fit doesn't mean just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well.  So I needed to not feel guilty all of the time, give myself a break, and celebrate the times that I was exercising. 

For the first trimester, my goal was to exercise at least 3 times a week.  If got in 3 days I week I felt proud of myself, not ashamed.  I quickly learned that I couldn't keep comparing my fitness level to the pre-pregnancy Jamie.  Now that I'm just at 22 weeks pregnant, I'm still able to run and do so many exercises I did before hand.  

Staying fit and active has SO many benefits.  First off, you use (so I've heard) a great amount of your cardiovascular system when labor comes.  Staying fit will keep your heart healthy and help you when it's time to push.  I've also heard that exercise helps with the aches and pains associated with pregnancy as well.  I'm currently dealing with some sciatica pain, but exercising makes the rest of my body feel great.  Plus, exercising increases your endorphin levels and helps you feel happy-not large and in charge! 

Here are some of my top exercising tips to stay fit during your pregnancy:

1. Do what you did before you were pregnant!  This isn't the time to take up a new activity.  Running, strength training, and yoga were all things I did before hand and can still keep up with.  

2. Know when your body needs a beak!  Being tired all of the time was very new and hard for me to accept.  I'm an on-the-go-gal and I'm used to my body keeping up with me.  Looking back on my first trimester, I'm glad that I backed off the workouts a bit because I feel amazing now and can exercise way more. 

3. 70% is the new 100%.  You can't get out of breath when you're exercising because it cuts off the oxygen supply to your precious baby.  So, scale back the intensity a bit.  This included jumping!  So, instead of doing box jumps I do step-ups on a bench, really focusing on form.  I can still do burpees but  when I'm getting tired I don't jump my feet back in, and rather walk them in one at a time.  I'm still working the major muscle groups and am able to continue the exercise. 

4. Have a buddy!  Daniel has become my new running buddy.  However, he hates to run, so it has forced me to accept less running.  But having a buddy helps because he forces me to walk when he hears me getting breathless, he checks on me to see how I'm feeling, and most importantly- he is watching to make sure I don't over do it.  

5. Drink a ton of water!  Before, during, and after.  And know where the bathrooms are at all times.  When I'm at the gym, it never fails that I have to go right after I warm up.  There's a park by our house with a restroom, and we have become best friends :) 

On a side note: I'm currently IN LOVE with GPP Fitness and their workouts!  They post a daily workout each day, and they are practical, functional, and give you a good sweat session.  I modify the ab moves so that I'm not on my back and either go into side plank or regular plank.  

Next week I'll be sharing the other part of staying fit: what you eat! 

{virtual} coffee date

Happy Saturday lovelies!!!  

If we were having coffee this morning I would first ask the barista when they are officially bringing back pumpkin spice lattes!  I'm craving some fall in this life of mine.  And, this week I've been trying to cut back on a few items to feel a little bit better.  These include sugar, cheese, and coffee.  And as much as I love coffee, this pregnancy has not loved coffee.  I'm calling it a blessing in disguise because I'm a true lover of all things coffee.  Fortunately, lattes still taste amazing and I'm dying for a treat. 

If we were having coffee this morning I would share that my pregnancy pillow came in the mail Thursday, and the Mr. immediately started snuggling with it.  Sadly, I had to pull it away and claim it as mine.  Best. Money. Ever. Spent.  Trust me, I will be doing a review shortly! 

If we were having coffee this morning I would share that the end of summer is quickly approaching and I am not very fond of this fact.  In fact, I'm trying to brainstorm some fun yet cheap date ideas for the Mr. and I.  At the beginning of the summer we decided that we needed to go on lots of dates and be active since it would be the last summer of just "us".  Well, with my nannying and all of the other crazies, that hasn't really happened.  But I'm changing my perspective from the last things we can do as 2 to the amazing things we will be able to do as 3!  We want to be active with our new baby, take him places, and be a family that does life together.  So even if the Mr. and I don't end up checking off all of our summer to-do's, that just means a little guy will join in on the fun next summer! 

If we were having coffee this morning I would share with you that I went into my classroom last weekend and yesterday to do some work, and boy do I feel like my head is going to explode.  And yet, for some reason I'm not forcing myself to get everything done early like I usually do.  God has done a number on this girl's heart.  It will get done.  Like it always does.  And it doesn't have to be perfect, I am not perfect.  Whatever I do is going to be fabulously great.  Just. Like. Me. 

i hope you shine

I'm sure that it's just this little season God has put us in, but finding joy has been hard.  And it is very hard for me to say that.  As one who has always strived to find the bright side, see the beauty, and be happy, this has been a difficult ride.  Me, not smile?  It just doesn't feel natural!  

Yesterday I took the littles I've been nannying to Pump It Up, an indoor inflatable land (aka: heaven on Earth for kids).  I'll admit it, if I had my socks with me, I would've been jumping around up there too.  As I watched them run from one bounce house to another, fall all over the place, and squeal with delight, something started to swell up inside of me.  Maybe it was what the Grinch felt like when his heart grew two sizes larger at the end of the story.  It was a warmth that spread throughout me as I felt the sides of my mouth turn upward.  Their laughter is contagious.  Watching them you couldn't help but feel like a kid again, and it inspired me to find the joy. To find the beauty in life.  To choose to shine instead of letting the worries diminish this light.  

And this week two beautiful memories were made, they were small, and to some they may seem insignificant.  But for me, I don't want to forget these small memories that are filled with bliss, laughter, and joy. 

The other night Daniel was resting his head on my belly talking to our sweet little baby.  He has been rather dormant this week, and the kicks haven't been happening as much as there did last week.  Daniel was growing impatient so he wiggled my belly a tiny bit, and immediately was greeted with a kick in the face.  Smack dab in the face!  It was priceless.  And we laughed for what felt like hours. 

And last night we were on cloud nine because my husband's beloved Duck Dynasty was back on (maybe my beloved as well).  And instead of having all of the serious converstaions that seem to consume our lives lately....mortgage, budget, loan type, HOA fees, yada yada yada...we sat and laughed.  And laughed.  And laughed.  And this laughter just melts away all of the stress of the day, it brings us together, and creates these beautiful memories that I don't ever want to forget. 

So I hope that today you can find a small glimpse of beauty in life today, something that makes you smile, or better yet laugh.  I hope that any stress that is clouding your shine fades away as you embrace the warmth of laughter.  I hope you shine today! 

gluten free vegan mango bread

Two days after graduating college I hopped on a red eye for Costa Rica with two girlfriends, one overstuffed backpacking bag, and a fresh passport that had never been used before.  This trip could have been called the "coming of age" trip for me, filled with so many firsts.  My first international flight.  My first big trip with friends.  My first time using just a backpack.  My first experience with giant crabs attempting to crawl into my shoes.  And my first experience with Costa Rican coffee.  

Oh, that coffee.  

This trip will forever be stained on my brain as it was filled with tons of adventures that changed me, molded me, made me take a chance and use a little courage, and brought out my independence.  

As we traveled from town to town, the first one just stayed with me.  I don't know if it was the frightening yet thrilling zip lining adventure or my first taste of this delectable coffee.  Yes, I'm going back to that coffee.  But to accompany the coffee, the little cafe we sat at gave us fresh mango.  Now this was my first time with a mango.  This fruit always seemed so foreign to me, I had no idea how to eat it, and never really had a chance to.  So when this sweet goodness touched my lips for the first time it was heaven, sweet, sweet heaven.  And ever since that day, the moment this sweet fruit comes near me so do the beautiful, wild, and crazy memories from Costa Rica. 

Enter Joy's Mango Vegan bread.  I first made this bread two years ago, after finally looking up how to cut a mango on You tube, and was completely surprised at how moist and delicious this bread was.  And from that moment it has become a summer tradition to make this bread, and most likely devour it all by myself.  

This summer I came across the ripest mango that was begging for me to take it home and turn it into bread.  But then I got to thinking...how could I make this gluten free AND sugar free?  Now, this was my first time ever experimenting and creating a recipe completely on my own AND it is delicious! 

Oh, and in case you need a little lesson like I did on how to cut a mango go here! 

As I mixed my ingredients together, placed my hope into the oven and set the time, I kept watching the clock-just waiting for it to go off to see how it turned out.  And what came out of the over was something extraordinary!  The first piece was a bit crumbly, but still so moist.  Oh, and this was husband approved, which means a lot since he isn't always a fan of baked goods! 

Gluten Free Vegan Mango Bread

2 large bananas or 3 medium bananas

1/4 c. coconut oil, melted

1/2 c. honey

2 tsp. vanilla

2 c. gluten free flour (I used Trader Joe's)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. salt

1 ripe mango, sliced into chunks

Preheat the over to 350 degrees F.  Lightly grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. 

In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas well.  Add the oil, honey, and vanilla extract, and whisk briskly to incorporate. 

Sift in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and salt.  Use a wooden spoon to mix until the wet and dry ingredients are just combined.  Fold in mango chunks. 

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and sprinkle with coconut sugar if you'd like.  Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. The top should be lightly browned and a toothpick inserted through the center should come out clear. 

Remove from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes before slicing. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

half way there...

 I've officially reached the half-way mark in my pregnancy, and tomorrow I'll be at 21 weeks.  It feels surreal that we are half-way there, and at the same time some anxiety swells up inside of me thinking about everything we have to do still. 

This week was filled with lots of emotions.  The knowledge of the cyst definitely made us think in ways we have never had to think before.  Fortunately, God is so amazing.  He wiped away our worries with an angel of a midwife, and calmed our fears.  And in the midst of all of this, I could finally feel our little guy kick!  I officially know when he is moving, and Daniel has even been able to feel him.  It never fails that as soon as we lay down at night, he becomes very active.  And our nights have become filled with my quickly grabbing Daniel's hand so he can feel the kicks amidst tears brimming in my eyes over our sweet little gift.  

Sadly, sleep has become rather difficult and the last month I have struggled to fall and stay asleep.  But the greatest of joys should be arriving in the mail by this weekend...this body pillow!  After much research and going back and forth between a regular body pillow vs. a pregnancy one, we decided to go ahead and make the investment so that we both start getting some good sleep.  Heavens knows that sleeping will only get worse the farther along I am.  

So far, pregnancy is the greatest joy we have experienced and we can't wait to see our baby boy continue to grow!  

Just for fun, here's a blooper from pictures my ever so patient husband took...

{virtual} coffee date

If we were having coffee together this morning I would tell you that this week has been one where I have had to learn more and more about grace.  It seems that the moment I think I have a handle on grace, God shows me even more of what grace looks like.  I woke up Tuesday morning with only one thing on my mind: reading my bible.  It was all I wanted to do.  And it was as if the Lord was calling me to invest some time in Him, and remind me that I've been spending it in other places.  And that time with Him was precious. 

If we were having coffee together this morning I would share that we had a little scare with our little peanut.  Our "big" ultrasound was last week, and the following morning the doctor's office called (which naturally puts anyone in a state of uneasiness).  What we learned was that one marker popped up on our ultrasound, which is a choroid plexus cyst.  It's where the spinal cord fluid enters the brain and a tiny bubble forms.  Naturally, it scared us to pieces but once they reassured us that it was perfectly okay they then had to cover all their bases and scare us once more, telling us that it could be linked to trisomy 18.  All I can say is that my midwife is an angel.  A true angel.  She assured me that everything was perfectly fine with our baby, that all of his organs are developing wonderfully, that his cardiovascular system is perfect, and she just kept saying the word "perfect".  That amidst this little cyst, he was still perfect.  Not flawed, but made more perfect.  And this cyst will dissipate on its own, just. like. that. 

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you that I walked into Bath & Body Works on a whim and picked up the most amazing pumpkin smelling candle ever.  I immediately wanted cozy weather, pumpkins galore, fresh baked bread, falling leaves, and apple cider.  Yes, my dears, I'm ready for fall.  And it was all I could do to not buy that candle.  However, as soon as I see a coupon it is top priority! 

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you that my patience has been a bit off lately.  I'm usually a pretty patient person, but let me just say...it's been a struggle.  And I was definitely that girl at Redbox last night.  Standing in line while someone couldn't make up their mind, fidgeting like mad because it was driving me crazy, and fighting the impatience swelling up inside of me.  When it was finally my turn I got a piece of my own medicine when the movie I had planned to rent was gone.  Gone!  And then I turned into that person... frantically scrolling through the movies trying to pick something meanwhile ignoring the glooming stares from behind.  So I picked one I had never heard of, but looked like a girly movie, and bolted.  And the movie was terrible.  Lesson learned: work on my patience! 

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you that this week Daniel has been so amazing.  When we got the news about the cyst he came home from work (which never happens) because he could hear the panic rising in my voice.  He came home and hugged me.  And it was all I needed.  After my little overnight adventure with my mom, I came home to the prettiest gerber daisies ever.  I'm reminded daily of how amazing he is! 

80's & fondue

Go check out my sweet friend's blog to see my modeling debut!  She provides some amazing fall fashion tips (hello blazers & boyfriend jeans) and her blog is a must read.  Check it out here!!

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I'm sure that the title of this post surely has you thrown off just a bit, but it sums up the two most amazing things my mom and I took part in this past weekend.  

I am one very blessed girl to have the mom that I have.  We go way back to the days of just the two of us living in a one bedroom apartment, making forts between both of our beds.  I still vividly remember those experiences.  And I don't take this lightly when I say my mom is my best friend.  We share joy and laughter, learn from one another, and also boundaries. 

I've been craving some mommy-and-me time lately, so we packed our bags and did a little staycation Groupon style in downtown San Diego.  And boy, did we luck out using Priceline, because we got an amazing deal at the Westin.  (And can I just for a moment confess my love for this hotel.  They have snacks.  Yes, snacks.  Including dried apricots AND gummy bears.  And they have flavored water.  And I've also heard their gym is phenomenal, including a gear sharing program in case you forgot yours.) 

Once we checked into our hotel and got settled, we made our way to the theatre to see "Mixtape".  This is an 80's tribute musical, featuring every 80's song imaginable in a very fun way.  Let's just say that Tiffany and Madonna were definitely there, as well as an amazing Top Gun mix.  The show did not disappoint and left you wanting to pull on your scrunchie socks and neon spandex, and tease that hair into a side-pony.  

Our night ended as we gorged ourselves at The Melting Pot.  Oh, fondue, where have you been all my life?  This was a first experience for both of us, and I think we are still recovering from the amount of food we ate.  Everything was excellent, including the desserts.  Basically anything dipped in chocolate is amazing, am I right?  

It was bittersweet at the end knowing that this would probably be the last mommy-and-me staycation with no interruptions.  I fully intend to pass along that adorable baby to the Mr. so we can continue to spend quality time together, but while he isn't here I'm going to cherish these moments with my mom! 

nursery inspiration

Happy Tuesday!  

I'm gong to let you in on a little secret....I'm terrified of decorating a nursery.  Maybe it is the intense overload of adorable pictures on Pinterest, or my lack of confidence when it comes to decorating in general.  However, I'm pushing through this to find bits of inspiration to create a space that is not only peaceful and relaxing, but also adorable and inviting.  And I feel that the nursery should reflect this new season of simplifying I'm in.  The motto these days has been to keep things simple.  

So I decided to look for inspiration with bedding.  And the Land of Nod delivered!  Enter the cutest bedding ever that I picked out.  I just think that these little whales are adorable and the colors are nice and simple, add a pop of color, and I think we should be set! 

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The whales set me off into a nautical spirit...

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This nursery instantly puts me in a peaceful mood just looking at it.  The simplicity of the curtains and the bedding, I just swoon...

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 Our furniture is slowly coming together, and we have a crib and changing table that we received as a hand-me-down.  We ideally want a dresser, and once I saw this made out of an Ikea bookshelf I knew we could definitely make this while staying on a budget!!

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This baby was without a doubt an answer to prayers, so I want scripture and life giving verses to fill the room.  I knew to look no further than Naptime Diaries for the perfect prints, which just arrived in the mail last week.  And a gallery wall like the one below will showcase them perfectly! 

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I can't wait until the best part of the nursery arrives...our baby boy! 

link love

Do you ever wake up and think about where you are, what has happened, and where the time has gone?  

Lately all this week (and really these past few weeks) I've just felt like a zombie.  And there has been a lot of "shift" going on in our lives, changes we don't have control over, and decisions that have to be made that make my head spin.  These have seemed to steal little pieces of my joy, and on top of feeling like a zombie, I'm left with ugghhh.  Yep, ugghh.  No motivation, no inspiration.  But I KNOW, and have faith, that it'll pass.  That these moments will become memories that we will learn and grow from. So while I'm lacking some mental inspiration over here, I thought I'd share with you some amazing posts that have either caught my eye, inspired me immensely, or motivated me to get busy in the kitchen.  

Enjoy! 

Naptime Diaries is where I go when my heart needs a pep talk and this week she posted on how we as women fuel ourselves with lies about our body, the worth of ourselves, and how it ultimately affects our health.  Currently I'm struggling a bit with the whole body issue with this pregnancy, seeing my body grow in places it hasn't before (hello love handles?!?!), and trying to stay healthy and fit when all I want is bread, cheese, and more bread.

Coffee Pancakes will be made this weekend!  Oh yes!  This delicious recipe looks too good to pass up from Eat, Live, Run.  We used to always have "Pancake Sundays" in our home, and over this past year we have stopped.  I'm thinking that needs to make a come back and these will work perfectly to kick start that!

Mama Pea is gearing up to travel to Guatemala and she writes about what to pack...and it's not what you think.  Her heart is so beautiful, and she reminded me what truly matters.  It's not the items we are packing, but the ways in which we prepare our hearts.  Humbles me every time I read it.

My free yoga classes are running out, so I'm looking at doing this intense workout to give myself the little extra kick it needs.  It's call the "Depletion Workout" and I am deeply craving my muscles to ache, shake, and tell me "You did good!".

And the teacher in me just has to share how I want to do my word wall this year.  It includes ribbons and looks so simple!  I must get busy on this soon!