Spring is in the air... fun new colors everywhere!

This makes me want to have a spring party.....

I take it all back...

www.my-calorie-counter.com The webs free Carb Counter

Back in January I decided I was never going to diet again. I was just going to eat what I wanted and exercise when I could get to the gym. Just go with it, not stress....

WHO WAS I KIDDING.....

I can't DO that! I gain weight! I eat crap and then I get mad at myself for not fitting into those jeans or having the muffin top. I'm 36 and I don't have that 22 yr old body or metabolism that I use to have. I have had 3 pregnancies, and weight up and down but honestly ladies these hips are just NOT THE SAME. :)

I'm always striving to do something, accomplish something that I can be proud of.... .that is just ME.

I need to reach that goal. Gotta just keep moving forward.

I enjoy going to that gym and feeling like i'm doing something. I walk out with energy and excitement.

So, with that said..... I'm back to loosing weight, AGAIN... I have my brothers wedding in 6 weeks. Between now and then I WILL loose 10 pounds. It is not just about loosing weight it also about being healthy, not having my back problems and being able to get out with my boys and PLAY.

Cheer me on... Any one else want to join me? We can boost each other up.

I put a weight loss ticker on my blog. I personally need the constant reminder of what my end goal is. I have lost 2 pounds so far. Whoot whoot.

So when I say I take it all back, I take back my life of exercise and making good choices of food. Feeling good about every avenue in my life..... One day and one bite at a time. :)

An amazing Sunday....

This past Sunday we had such great lessons and talks. I have to admit I have been thinking a lot about the topics since I left.

Sacrament meeting, I was only able to hear one talk, (that was of course before I had to go chase my 22 month old down the hall...) it was on REVERENCE.

She pointed out that when we get to church, sit and listen to the music, it brings peace to our souls that will help us feel the spirit during the talks. I know having small kids can, shoot IS a huge distraction for Steve and I and probably others. Yet, she talked about being prepared, bringing things for your family that will also bring reverence. I know I walked away having a desire to do more. She encouraged us to really practice the principles and learn from the lyrics in the song "Saturday is a special day":

"Saturday is a special day,
It's the day we get ready for Sunday;
We clean the house and we shop at the store,
so we won't have to work until Monday;
We brush our clothes and we shine our shoes,
And we call it our"get-the-work-done" day;
Then we trim our nails and we shampoo our hair,

so we can be ready for Sunday!"

We have all heard this song.. now to just apply it. This is something our family is going to work on.

Gospel Essentials class was about Repentance: Ya know I always use to think, well shoot i'm not, stealing, committing adultery, I haven't murdered anyone. I obey the 10 commandments..

I was doing good, what do I need to repent for? And then the spirit spoke SO clearly to me. Sure Alicia you are not doing the big huge things but are you doing the little things. Nope... I don't read my scriptures, I don't pray, yes I pray, but REALLY pray, oh and the biggest one that hit me hard was my sweet boys. Oh how I could be more patient towards them. YES, yes I did have lots to repent for. I wasn't doing the real bad things that will take me to the Bishop but I was not doing the things that I really SHOULD be doing, the small things that would give me that spiritual nourishment, which would help me raise my boys. That hit me hard. When I was talking to my sister, about the "Miracle of Forgiveness" Book it talks about how "Impatience is a sin". Wow!!! Patience is not one of my best qualities so I know I have something to work on, repent and ask for forgiveness. I learned so much from this chapter in the book...I loved how the teacher broke down the different steps. It sure gave me something to think about and work on.

Finally to finish off my wonderful day, in Relief Society we talked about TIME: Our teacher encouraged us to SLOW DOWN, spend more time with our children, our families, don't over schedule, take time to enjoy each other. I really took this to heart. It is Wednesday and this week I have found myself doing as many chores/computer time & daily spiritual uplifting as I can. Choosing to do it when Henry is sleeping and Hunter is in school. When they with me I want to make the best of the day, laughing, playing, learning and nurturing. These kids really are young once. Now don't get me wrong there will still be days of CRAZINESS. Some distractions will happen, but they won't be distractions from the "world", computer, t.v. etc. Dinner will have to be made but that is something Hunter loves to do with mommy, and that would be TIME with my son. I know at the end of the day I can honesty say "I know I did my best with my children and family and that they are all happy".

What a great Sunday! I'm grateful for what I learned and that the Holy Ghost and my Heavenly Father love me enough to have patience with me. Continue to teach me and mold me. I'm sure grateful for still small promptings.

Here are some fun pics with the boys this week.......

I love watching them play and grow up together.

$30.00 Good deal or Not?

I really tried to use coupons and Extra Care bucks to get the most for my budget. So whatcha think, Good deal?

Temple Trip... Ladies Only.

There is just nothing better than hanging with the ladies... 4 hours full of great convo, laughter and silly lady time. Add some japanese food, and to finish it off.. do some service for the Lord. Gotta love it.



Thanks to my dear friends Lauren & Lacy and my sweet sister Emily for spending the evening with me at the Temple. We had a fun girls night working on our family history.

I was SOOO excited to see my little sister Emily. These are some of the most amazing woman I know. Can't wait for the next Girls night.

One Fun, Stressful, Beautiful, Crazy Day.....Schools Out.

Dawn and I ventured out on a beautiful Monday morning. School was out... so we headed to St. Augustine. 4 Kids, 2 moms ... we were out numbered. It was a fun day for the kids, they got to explore the fort, see sail boats, run, run, run around like crazy, Oh did I mention they drove there mommies crazy... ha ha No really they did. But it was an over all beautiful weather, pizza eating, exploring day. Thanks Dawn for the idea.

Pizza, Pizza, PIZZA!!!! Dawn suggested the best Pizza place in St. Augustine.

The boys were nice and hungry when we got there. Yumm!

Henry had a blast trying to keep up with the "Big Boys" he would

fall down, dust it off and was back to going again.

Learning how cannon's where made.

Hunter and Cohen were very excited to see the Fort and Cannon's.

SNAKE Lady..... ummm about this...

Hello, anyone in there??

Checking out the scenery.

Hunter kept asking if he could jump in the water,

how high is it mommy?

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

Ice Cream!!!!!!! This made everyone happy.

I finally did it... saved more than I spent.

I was so excited to text my husband and tell him I

spent $74.00 and SAVED $103.25!!!

He said WOW and he wanted to see how I did it.

Lots of coupon cutting and trying to figure out the best deals.

The one thing my friend asked was did I get meat. NOPE... But I did get vegetables and fruit..50 cents for bags of cheese because I had a $1.50 coupon

Veggies in the bag where $1.00

2 boxes Dishwasher soap (which I swear by.. I love this stuff.. POWER BALL "FINISH") $5.50 with coupon.

I also found 2 coupons that I could use that were $5.00 off if you spent 30 dollars in publix and $5.00 off if you bought a certain brand. Well all the brands where on sale so it totally worked for our benefit.

I was trying to think of the other great deals... oh well.. see for yourself, we got lots of goodies. Fresh salad bags, fresh peppers, strawberries, bananas and so on....

YEAH!!!!

Shout out to LAUREN

Lauren Towers is the most amazing mother, friend and woman I know. She has an enduring love for her family that radiates from her and she is such a sweet friend to me and so many around her. Her smile brightens my day and our daily talks always leave me laughing and smiling. She is one Hot Momma!!!

Happy Birthday to our sweet Lauren......

(Cathy, Dawn, Lauren and Me) Hanging out at BJ's.

Dawn and I wanted to treat Lauren to some good ol pampering.. The pedicure was perfect!

Conversation was fun and laughter is always guaranteed!!!!

I'm an official CVS junkie...

Saving money and getting deals, I'm all about it! When my friend Stacey told me all about CVS, it took some time to wrap my head around the strategy but I started small and I got a pretty good deal.
Here is the link:http://www.southernsavers.com/2011/02/cvs-shopping-a-beginners-guide/

$9.00 for diapers, toothpaste was FREE... with 4 bucks for next time.... I scored!! I'm pretty excited for next week and being able to save money. My hubby was even impressed. No more spending so much on diapers. Oh this makes me happy.

Thanks Stacey for the great tips and ideas!!!

Six spring trends always in style - I LOVE SPRING...

By Lashonda Stinson Curry
Staff writer

Published: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 4:53 p.m.

With the cold weather and gray skies, it's hard to imagine that spring is just around the corner.

Although the spring weather isn't here yet, the fashions are slowly filling the store racks. But before we go out and try to covet every spring 2011 trend, let's remember a few trendy looks of the past that have now grown to become timeless style staples.

Floral

Whether they are bold and oversized or soft and subtle, a floral print will never disappear from the spring fashion landscape.

The styles may change from realistic to abstract, but flowers in fashion have true staying power. The floral look is undeniably feminine and fun on blouses, skirts and dresses. In recent years, floral has been so popular, it's found its way into the accessory world with handbags, scarves and even shoes.

Black and white

Over the past 10 years, this color combination has topped many spring trends lists and for good reason. It's a look that's chic, versatile and one that any woman can wear. A black and white ensemble can be perfect for a day at the office, a weekend outing or a cocktail party. Even a store is dedicated to this winning color scheme.

Stripes ("nautical")

They're not just for sailors. In fact, stripes are the cornerstone of the "nautical" fashion look and a fixture in Americana style.

Every other spring, they resurface as a big trend, but it has never been or never will be outdated. They are fresh, classic and completely laid-back chic.

Cargo pants/shorts

When this style first emerged, many thought it was a fleeting fad. But, nowadays pants or shorts decorated in pockets are the norm — especially with men's casual wear.

When it comes to women's fashion, cargo pants can be casual or dressy.

The look can be standard length, cropped, cuffed, capris or even "skinny."

In the past few years, the cargo look has gotten a makeover with a more sleek fit, flattering knee-length or "Bermuda" length, details such as ankle drawstrings and zippers and nicer, dressier fabrics.

Wedges/Espadrilles

Ever since the wedge made a comeback to footwear in the late 1990s/early 2000s, this flat-but-tall shoe style has continued its reign.

Each season it gets revved up with more style — higher heels, added embellishments, cooler colors. And the most classic of the wedge is definitely the espadrille. With its comfy fit and neutral rope-like sole, it's a footwear favorite for spring and summer looks.

Safari

Khaki, wood jewelry, animal prints — these are all elements that make up the safari look that remains popular. The earth tones of brown, tan and olive complement practically every skin tone and styles such as shirtdresses and belted jackets and tops are universally figure-flattering. No matter the year, safari-inspired pieces are always around.

Quote for the day.... Oh this one was perfect for me today.

Obviously, the personal burdens of life vary from person to person,

but every one of us has them.

Furthermore, each trial in life is tailored

to the individual's capacities and needs as known by a loving Father in Heaven.

~ Howard W. Hunter

Sometimes it is altogether human to wonder why we have to endure hardship and difficulty, why we must suffer heartache and pain. We wish, in a sense, to "return to Eden" where there is constant beauty and ease, no suffering, no sorrow. But we never really know deep joy unless we have know distress and turmoil. It is opposition, burden, trial, and trouble that allow us to experience the profound joy and peace that passes understanding or utterance (Philippians 4:7). We can take comfort in the fact that our trials are taylor-made by a loving God for our ultimate growth and happiness. He knows what we need and must experience in order to develop his attributes and heart. He will give us the courage and strength to press forward to Zion

Back to coupons...

I'm totally excited about coupons again. I took a break for awhile because I would forget to get the newspaper, or print off the coupons. But now i'm back...and in full force. We get the paper delivered and I really focus on what we can stock up on each week. That is without breaking the bank. :)

My goal is save more than I spend... My trip to the store today was...

Spent $36.78 SAVED - $21.87

I found coupons at the store that where very helpful.

.85cents for Milk with a $2.50 coupon on 2 Oreo bags. STEVE LOVES OREO's... So I stocked up.
Ego - BOGO $2.59
Flowers for Hunters teacher - $5.00
Lysol $1.69 for 2 BOGO and coupon
Silk Milk $2.49 with coupon
Deodorant BOGO $2.99
Dawn soap - $2.00 Not sure if that was that great of a deal.
Bananas and Strawberries... $5.50

: What Matters Most

Love One Another

Tough Love

Sometimes I look back at my childhood and think of the things I had to do as a child. That is the things I HATED to do because I got in TROUBLE.

One thing I remembered was when my mom made me write out I will not.... (whatever I did wrong).

So today my sweet Hunter boy had to write I will obey, 9 times!!!

All you moms out there... give me some ideas. PLEASE!!

My little man just won't listen, for example. He said mom i'm going to go over the fence and see if the cows have food. (the cows do not belong to us ) they are on our land but not ours. So I said no.. please don't go over that fence.... Not even 5 seconds later he was over the fence in the the field. REALLY!!! Was I just talking to the air?

I know every kid does things like this but I need to figure out how to get him to OBEY and listen. I feel like he just disregards what Steve and I say and he thinks it is funny.

No it isn't a big deal that he wanted to see if the cows had food, but the point was I asked him NOT to go. It is not safe, what if the cow came close and stepped on him. The cow could have gotten spooked because it did just have a new calf 2 days ago.

So you see, I need help to get him to OBEY.

I felt totally helpless and over ranked when I saw him just go over the fence and do what I JUST asked him not to do.

The only thing that came to my mind was have him write... and I took all his privileges away for the rest of the day.

I hope having him write down I Will Obey will actually help him to see why mommy and daddy asks him to do things. (or at least he will get good practice at writing... ha ha ha)

Anyways, thanks for listening.... any tips are welcome. I know kids aren't perfect, I just would like some tips on how to get the response as parents/child relationship we should be getting.

P.S. Stop laughing... I know I can't believe i'm posting about COWS and not going over fences... we so are living a country life. :) :)

Hunter's Valentine Party

Chocolate, Sweethearts, pencils, and CANDY..

that is what made up the Valentine Goodie Bags!!

It was like a mad rush to put the yummy party plates together.

The kids where so excited!

This is Mr. P!

He is shipping off to the Army next week,

the kids are sad to see him go.

He volunteered 2 times a week.

He is such a fun dad and the kids loved him.

One of the other moms brought in a Valentine craft to do.

It really turned out cute.

Hunter had the best time giving out his "Phineas and Ferb" Valentine Cards.

Mrs. P and Me, we have had fun planning class parties

and volunteering in the classroom.

I will be sad to see her move in May.

Happy Valentines Day!!

Puddles

Hunter gives me a whole new meaning to "playing in the rain".

Fully dressed WITH school backpack!

I drove in the driveway and Hunter jumped out of the car.

Before I had Henry out of the car Hunter had already jumped, ran and played in the puddle.

He was soaked from head to toe.. He had the best time!!