Today was a rainy and gray day, so this afternoon we decided that we’d go to a mall after nap-time. We went to a mall about half an hour from our house. Well, actually, there are several malls within that distance, but this particular mall had three features that appealed to us the most – a Build a Bear Workshop, The Children’s Place and a really cool carousel to ride. Not to mention the food court AND a Nestle Tollhouse store near where we parked. WOO HOO! Our first stop was Build-a-Bear. This was the first trip for both girls to the B-a-B store. Both girls LOVED it!! Macey got the Cuddly Hugs bear in pink. She named her bear Cuddles. She also got a cute Hannah Montana outfit for Cuddles. 
Mariana got L’il Bunny Big Ears which she named Huggy Bunny. She also got a Hello Kitty Hawaiian outfit for her bunny. 
Aren’t those adorable?! The girls are just over the moon with their new animals. I’m sure they’ll be well loved. Macey already has a little “bed” (a pillow and baby blanket” in her room and Mariana has her bunny already in her bed. So cute!! And, I had a $5 off coupon from a box of Teddy Grahams, so that was nice too. Every little savings helps. After Build-a-Bear we went to The Children’s Place. I’m on a quest to find some jeans for Macey. This might seem like a simple enough quest, but so far it’s been a real challenge. Just about every pair of jeans I find for Macey in size 5 is too long for her, but 4s are too short. It’s SUCH a challenge to find jeans that fit her nicely. And, why do so many of them have such low rises?! Seriously. At TCP I got a pair of jeans to try for Macey. Also got th girls some matching froggy jammies (on sale) and a spring outfit for Macey. All with a 15% off coupon too. WOO HOO! We grabbed a quick supper at the food court and then rode the carousel. The girls LOVED the carousel. Mickey and the girls got treats at the Nestle Tollhouse store on the way out of the mall. They went on to the van and I shopped at Dillard’s since they have 40% off clearance right now. Well, as usual, big department stores overwhelm me. It’s just too much. Too spread out. Something. I don’t know. Anyway, I did see some cute things, but didn’t buy anything. Now we are home. The girls have had their baths and have had their hair washed. They are wearing their new froggy jammies from TCP too. And, they are waiting on me to come brush their hair. So, off I go. We may get snow here tomorrow. Wouldn’t that be FUN?! G’night, Kelly PS: The TCP jeans are long on Macey. ACK! Any suggestions on jeans??
Kelly
Shaping Up…
One of my goals for this year is to get in better physical shape. I have what I consider to be a “milestone” birthday coming up this year and I would really like to lose some weight and get fit by then. I want to have more energy, more stamina and more overall strength. I’m happy to report that I have started getting my act together and have been exercising regularly starting this week. I know, I know…we are only four days into this week. But, I have exercised every day this week (twice on Tuesday) and that’s a great start for me. I’m excited! I’m pumped and I am feeling great about continuing this wellness and fitness trend!! Please, wish me luck.
One cool thing is that I am not in this fitness quest alone. Mickey has been able to start running again and so far this year he has logged over 50 miles in running. (He had shin surgery last fall and has just been able to start running again this year) He is doing SO great! Also, my best friend Terri is working out each day (well, night) as well. She and I text each other when we are just about to start our work-outs and/or when we have just finished. That way we are sending encouragement to the other. And, that is awesome. Even though we are 200 miles apart, I know we’re in this together. We are uplifting and encouraging one another every step of the way. Neither one of us wants to see the other fail, so we are holding up our own end of things so that it helps the other to remain strong. It’s just incredible, really.
The work-outs I am doing most often right now are Biggest Loser Boot Camp and Biggest Loser Weight-Loss Yoga. Both of those are GREAT work-outs. If you think that yoga can’t be a great work out, try this dvd and you’ll know differently. Granted, the Boot Camp is more intense in some ways, but I will say that I break a sweat and feel the muscles working in yoga as well. I highly recommend these two dvds!! I have also done the first segment of Jillian Michaels’ Body Shred and – WHEW- that was tough. It was a great work out, but I did it on Tuesday evening after I had done yoga in the afternoon and it just about flattened me. I guess it’s obvious that I am desperately in need of getting into better shape, right? Well, I’m on my way!! I’m doing it!! And, it feels GREAT!!
First Jury Duty Summons
We were out of town over the weekend and just returned today. Waiting in the mailbox for me was my first ever summons for jury duty. I report in late March. I am SO excited! I have always wanted to get called and this is my first chance. Yay!! I hope I get picked!!
A Random Post…
I couldn’t think of much to post on today, so I am drawing from a “meme” that was recently passed around Facebook. These are 25 random things about me in random order, of course.
1. In general, I am admittedly not very good at keeping up with housework. However, one “chore” I actually like is ironing clothes. I am known to iron all of our things including the girls’ clothes. I just like the way ironed clothes look
2. I really REALLY like coffee. A lot. I like mine with Splenda and skim milk. Sometimes I buy flavored creamers and that’s a nice treat. Coffee = GOOD!!
3. As long as I can remember, I have been an avid reader. I always loved standardized test weeks at school because that meant I could bring books with me and have a chance to read during the day. Love reading!
4. I read the first “Twilight” book and found that I was pretty ambivalent about it. I don’t get the hype. It’s just not for me.
5. I love to listen to “Car Talk” on Public Radio. I only listen to it maybe three or four times a year, but that is one great show.
6. I have a deficiency when it comes to keeping up with socks, especially the girls’ socks. I am known to keep “sock boxes” that my sweet mother-in-law goes through and matches up for us when she visits. I don’t know why, but matching up socks and keeping them together is not something I do well.
7. I almost never know exactly where my cell phone is unless I am out of the house. Around the house, I just use the land-line, so I don’t really NEED to know where my cell is.
8. I recently stopped biting my fingernails after 30+ years of biting them. I hope I can keep this up. Nail biting is gross.
9. I have such a deep hope that my girls will always be close to one another. They are so blessed to have each other and I pray they will always value that. I know they will have their “moments”, but I really hope that more than anything they always appreciate their blessings in each other.
10. Teaching preschool is one of the most fun jobs I have ever done. Right now I just fill-in as a sub on occasion, but it’s so much fun.
11. I played clarinet from 6th until 12th grade. I put it down after I graduated high school and I really wish I hadn’t. I sometimes consider buying one to see if I could reteach myself to play.
12. I really want to be a runner. I have never built up endurance for running because I give up pretty easily due to my lungs feeling like they were going to pop. But, if I could just stick with it, I bet I would like it.
13. Sometimes I like to dress the girls in matching outfits. It’s not a regular occurrence, but it IS fun and adorable. They like it too.
14. After Mickey and I got married, it took me almost a year go get to the Social Security office to officially change my name. We were living in AL at that time, so the lines weren’t as long as they were in metro Atlanta. I kept my middle and maiden names and added our last name to the end of my name.
15. I am so grateful that our God is a gracious God. I have made some mistakes that I never want to think about again, let alone mention, and He loves me enough to forgive me. Without that grace, I’d be sunk.
16. Speaking of mistakes, I’m glad I could learn from the ones I made. I believe that even though sometimes the paths I chose in life were not the best ones, ultimately they got me where I am today and I am grateful for THAT.
17. I rarely ride roller coasters. It’s not because I’m afraid of speed (I’m not) or going upside down (again, I’m not), it’s that I cannot stand that feeling my stomach gets when going downhill quickly. That almost nauseated feeling. Not good.
18. Lately I have been feeling REALLY nostalgic about how quickly the girls are growing up. I always heard that time goes faster when you have kids and that is SO true. I look at them and cannot believe how they grow and change right before our eyes. We’re so blessed to have them!
19. Before Mickey and I even said our first “I love you”, I was pretty sure he was “the one” because he had all the virtues and character I had always dreamed of in a husband. I really didn’t know that kind of man was out there, but he was. Praise God!
20. I am SUCH a pack rat. I have trouble getting rid of stuff, especially kids clothing. I really need someone to come in and overhaul our house because someone with no emotional attachment could get rid of more stuff than I ever could.
21. I maintained an online journal for about seven years. Only recently decided to give that up and it was not an easy decision to make. I just felt like it was consuming too much of my time and I know I need to prioritize my time better.
22. I found out recently that I can still touch my toes. Barely, but I can do it. I think I need to get into Yoga (maybe via Wii Fit) to maintain and increase my flexibility while I still have some left.
23. I would get my hair “done” every day of my life if I could. I love having my hair dried, brushed and styled by someone else. It feels great & it always looks better when the pros do it.
24. I used to keep up with all the current music, across the genres. Well, these days, I couldn’t possibly name even ONE song on top-40. I know new Contemporary Christian songs, but otherwise stick to classic rock, 80s/90s rock and country.
25. I am blessed beyond belief. Truly truly.
Blogger’s Block…
Yikes! I have a case of “Blogger’s Block”! Several times I have signed in, gone to draft a new post and I just come up empty. Or, I come up lame which is really worse than empty. I don’t like for days to go by without posts and yet here I am, struggling to come up with anything postworthy. Not good.
So, in an attempt to help snap this block, I am asking for help from anyone who might be reading my little blog. What would YOU like to see here? Are there subjects you’d like to discuss? Are there any CDs I need to check out or books I need to read? What are the hot topics on your mind? Please share. Seriously. Please. I would love to discuss. And, I’d love to break out of this rut. HELP!!
