Nail Polish Swatches

I paint my nails so often...like every couple of days, sometimes three! If it's longer than that, it must mean that I have been really busy! I figured I could post the last few that I have done in the last couple of weeks.

I love polish, and I get extremely excited when I see a new collection come out!

From L-R:  Essie Mink Muffs, Zoya Reagan, Zoya Willa, Essie Dress To Kilt, Zoya Bevin, and OPI Black Cherry Chutney.

 

 I started "Friday Photo Flashback" because I have so many pictures from my PRE-digital camera days. I thought it would be fun to scan them and share them here with you. I'm having so much fun doing this, that I would love for you to join me, too! So dig out the photo albums and put your scanner to good use! Don't forget to link up so we can all visit and comment on each others blogs!

 
Feels like FOREVER since I did a FPF!!! I really missed updating my blog. Not just for me, but for my kids. They will still read the older posts and I know they appreciate that I documented all those things! I came across an old folder in my email account and had these photos saved from years ago!! I'm so glad I didn't delete them!!!! This was probably about 8 years ago, and my kids were learning to play chess at Awana!! Gosh, they are so little there!!

 

Cookie Heaven

 If I had to use one dessert cookbook for the rest of my life, it would definitely be Sally's Baking Addiction! This is seriously my "go to" book for anything cookies, muffins, cakes, pies, etc.! And it doesn't stop there. I even tried her savory recipes and they were just as delicious!!!

I'm always gain to try something new, and especially when I know the picture will look great on Instagram! For example, these beautiful Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl Cookies!! I kid you not, this is the kind of cookie I would pay $2.00 for! They were so soft, huge, and had that perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter!

And if I don't already sound excited, she is on a book tour and will be in my neck of the woods in February!!!!!

But, seriously, you have to check out her website!!

Me? A Runner?

Never...and I literally mean, NEVER would I think that I'd end up being a runner! I mean, I'm not a marathon runner (yet), but my next goal is to do a 10k which is coming up in a couple of weeks!

I got this great idea back in August to start running with youngest daughter before soccer season so she could get in better shape. Well, that prompted me to google "Couch to 5k" apps that I've seen before. I wanted to follow a plan that I knew we could do together.

When school started again, it was up to me to finish the program on my own, and I did!!! It was so easy to follow, and when I first started it was hard to just run one lap around the track!! By the time I was done with this (and it only took a few weeks), I was able to run 3.1 miles (5K) without stopping!

And it wasn't like I just started to exercise. I have been pretty consistent with my cardio at the gym doing my Group X classes. Running is an entirely a new ball game! I realized quickly that this was a total MENTAL sport, and that I had to motivate myself the entire time! I constantly pray for strength to keep going, and that has been the biggest factor in helping me to reach my goals!!

So, a couple of times a week, I will run my 2 miles, and then on Saturday mornings I will run 4 miles with my friend! She has been awesome in helping me with my runs!!

I can tell there's such a huge difference in my U-Jam classes because of running! The energy I have in class has increased so much!! I'm so glad that I stuck it out and didn't give up in the beginning. If I did, I would never have known my potential!!!

 Just one of the MANY pictures I have of me at the end of my runs!!!

 

And here's a little comparison of me before in 2010 when I was probably at the biggest I have ever been, and then now just a few weeks ago!

Birthday Lunch

When it's one of my kids birthdays, mama (my mom), likes to take them out to lunch individually. This gives her a chance to have a little more one on one time with them. Now that they're getting older, sometimes it's easier that way because of their schedules. It was so simple when they were all little. Just put them all in the car and go!!! Unfortunately, even for us, we may go to dinner and be missing one or two of our kids with us. Ugh, so sad, but that is our reality now.

My youngest daughter just had a birthday, and she chose Chili's for lunch! She's the one who will paint my moms toenails, experiment with makeup on her, and do all the "girly" things she loves to do!!

 Have you had these egg rolls? They're okay if you're not expecting it to be authentic.

 

 I never sway from what I order, so this is what I always get! The sliders!

 Three generations!

 Mama & Nani!!