Mom and Dad in Marshalltown.

This is for you, Mom and Dad. 

 

BOUNCE Summer Camp

It has been awhile but here is a bit about how I spent my summer....
BOUNCE is an evidence based camp for middle school girls that focuses on fitness, nutrition, and self esteem. This is our 2nd year having it and it is a great camp. Middle school girls are targeted because they are at an age where they can start to make their own decisions regarding health. Camp is Mon - Fri from 8:00-1:00pm for 4 weeks!

Yes, it is tiring, exhausting, and lots of fun. Just in case you are wondering, here are some of the things we do to entertain the girls.

- Visits to the YMCA twice a week
- Kayaking
- Hiking
- Zumba
- Turbo Kick
- Water Aerobics (yes..with the old folks :)...they loved having us)
- Hip Hop class (instructor: Kelly Talley, Dallas Cowboys Hip Hop Dancer and Baylor Cheer Coach)
- Cooking Classes 3X a week
- scrapbooking
- Baylor Challenge Course (think walking a course 35 feet in the air strapped to a harnest)
- HEB Scavenger Hunt
- Basketball Skills Camp
- Lots of Fun!!


It takes sooo much energy to be "with them" and keep them entertained but when you see the progress and increase in knowledge, it does make me smile inside (and out).

DIY Date Night.

Every week we try to go on a date, usually Friday. I realize that this is a luxury that is not afforded to everyone. I also realize it becomes more difficult as a family grows so I am not taking it for granted.

Sometimes we get caught in a rut.

 "Where do you want to go?"  

"Are there any movies you want to see?" 

In an attempt to spice up our date nights, I created a DIY date for the two of us.

 This was the scene of our date:

At the kitchen table with music playing in the background.

I put out all the supplies we would need and explained the one "rule" - paint me. 

We sat across from the table and painted each other's portrait. 

Yes, we realized quickly that it is harder than it sounds!

We quickly made a promise to each other that we would not laugh at the others.

But, I couldn't help laugh at my own.

Our masterpieces....

See the similarities?  :)

I thought it was fun and it was easy on the wallet, too!

I think they are adorable and made for very unique quality time :)

Any ideas for future DIY dates???

Happiness Commandments.

A few months ago I mentioned "studying" happiness. One of the books I read, The Happiness Project, caught my full attention. In it the author researches happiness and tries to manipulate small parts of her life/personality to become happier. In the process she develops her personal Commandments of Happiness. I thought I would try. These are small things I can focus on to make day-to-day life a happier place.

1. Be intentional.

       If everything we do has purpose behind it, everything is worth doing - A workout routine, kisses,  conversations, etc.

2. Anything that can be done in 60 seconds or less needs to be done. Now.

 I have realized that much of my procrastination involves things that are tedious but take no time at all. Plus, I think we forget how long a minute actually is.

3. Make the bed every morning.

Nothing beats coming home to a peaceful resting place.

Clutter stresses me out so if the bed is made, I tend to be less stresed out.  

4. Pray with my husband daily.

Lots you can say about this one but it helps to have a teammate in life :)

5. Act the way I want to feel.

This came from the book but I think about it ALL the time. And it works.

If you want to be happy, smile, fake being happy and eventually you are.

Also, if you want to feel sad (which sometimes I do), mope, cry, etc.

6. Learn to say NO.

I am a people pleaser and if someone asks me to work late, I do.

Make avacado dip for the 4th time this month for another potluck, I do.

Sit on a committee for something I am not passionate about, I do.

Everyone has limits, though. 

7. Look good, feel good. Feel good, do good.
I don't intend to be vain or dwell on looks but I do think that there is happiness associated with a fair level of confidence. 

These are just the few I thought I would share.

Minnesota. Gull Lake. Nisswa. Happiness.

There is nothing like a good family vacation. 

This time I got to have a double family vacation...both my parents and my in-laws.

We stay at the family lake house on GULL LAKE and it is perfect.

 

 The weather is always nice for 

sailing......

 tubing...

 jetskiing...

water skiing, boating, tanning, games, food, walking, biking, ladder ball, carpet ball, and shopping. 

I had such a great time and got in some much needed relaxation.

I already can't wait till next year :)

Free Letter Art.

Personalized gifts are my favorite. 

Nowadays, it is much easier not only to find ideas but to find resources.

I found this website through Pinterest that has 100s of FREE letters. 

Using only that website, I created this anniversary gift for my new parents.

I think they would be great on coasters for a family or newlyweds, a poster in an office, on wood chips for a matching game...the possibilities are endless!

I'm all about sharing resources...so enjoy! And show me what you make :)

It is August.

I cannot believe it already August! I love August!

- High School starts

- Vacation occurs

 - Mom's Birthday

- Dad's Birthday

- Baylor football is gearing up

- It is closer to fall weather

- The Olympics are on

Its going to be a fun one! Stay tuned!

I love my little life :)

Live Well Waco Commercial.

I am so grateful for the creativity I am allowed at work. Sometimes it takes the form of creating posters, or wellness programs, or tshirts, or in the case a commercial. Through a grant we received, we have the opportunity to by ads on TV, billboards, and radio that will send healthy messages to the community. After inspiration at a conference, I worked up an idea to highlight some of the outdoor opportunities that Waco has to offer. I worked with our graphics department and we put together this commercial.

We have decided to build a whole campaign around this commercial and "I'm Healthy and I Know It" .

I think it came out great and turned out just the way I thought it would.

Nursery Art.

Just a quick look at nursery art I created for a friend. 

It is a Jungle themed nursery so this seemed like a good idea. I used giraffe print scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby and 14inch MDF letters. I painted all the letters first. Then I cut out all the giraffe spots and glued them on. The little animals are just extras.

Painting Tile.

Our fireplace has been bugging me since day one. I love having it, but it is a boring and the colors just dont match with the rest of the house. The surround is the same as the entire floor! Just has I made up my mind to reface the surround with plywood, Pinterest came along to save the day. 

I found a picture of painted tile! Why had I not thought of that? I have painted almost everything else!

So I took the plunge. I started by taping and priming. I used Exterior white paint that we had left over from our porch and used a foam roller brush.

 BEFORE

AFTER

 It looks great and since this is a VERY low traffic area, I'm thinking it will hold up fine. This is the same paint I used for the kitchen cabinets as well, and those still look great.

You can see the trim we added around the insert for a more polished look. Also, some of the old grout color was showing so we used liquid nails to put it up.

For a $15 project, I think it made a big difference. It feels so much brighter and bigger and it matches much better. We have plans to do the floors soon anyways so I'm sure it would have needed a change anyways.

My life in Numbers.

IN JUNE....

2 seasons of The West Wing completed

3 years of Marriage

8 tv interviews for job related activities

9 dresses Meg tried on to find "The One"

13 Scrabble tiles to finish.

25 BOUNCE summer campers to recruit

41 days till vacation

875 mustache cups to make.

$4,000 left on ALL my school loans.

15,000 + miles on my 'new" car

June is going by soooo fast! Considering I don't have summers off, I guess thats a good thing.

Happy Fathers Day.

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!
Especially to the only 2 men I know that read my blog regularly - My Dad and Father-in-Law!

I hope you both had a great day! Even though we are not in the house anymore, we love you more everyday!