Lent... we are getting deep here.

For the past few years I have not given anything up for Lent. I had stopped going to Catholic Church and have found myself learning and using more of my faith from a new church. When H was 16 months old we discovered HOPE. Even better, it is 3 minutes from our house, and on a Sunday morning with sleepy eyes you can’t beat that distance. You run out of the, “it’s all the way in Cary" excuses. This year, since I feel we have been so blessed to make it through the first year of law school, and law school budgets, giving something up seemed really important to me. I mean hello, when I think about God giving up his son, then I look at mine, it makes a much bigger impact.

I wanted to give up something I felt like I indulge in. Something I take for granted, it left me 3 things. 1. Starbucks, just 5 dollars wasted on a Sunday on my way to my nursery shift, or at lunch on a Target run. (Maybe next year I can give up Target). 2. Meat. I had dabbled in vegetarianism, right before H was born until I needed the iron from meat. Meat isn’t eaten much by the kids so why not. And 3. Celebrate the small things in my life. So often I find myself on the negative train and miss out on the small things.

I think Lent went great. Some people asked me why are you doing this if you are not a practicing Catholic anymore? But, right before the question was asked I read something. It said Lent wasn’t about giving up something, it was about when you are feeling weak in your 40 days and you seek God to give you the strength. And let me tell you when I saw my family eating seem Chick-Fil-A nuggets I prayed. HARD.

Since Lent is over I have had meat 2 times, both times it has made me sick. I am super excited to do some work at a Starbucks and drink a coffee. And, I see the light in my son’s eyes when he smiles, when B lays her head on my shoulder and when Adam tells me thank you.
Finally, I do feel restored in my faith.

So Lent. I liked it, and I can’t wait until next year.

The power of do.

Often when people ask me, "How do you run that?" I reply, I don't know I just do. Often times leading up to a race or a ling run, I think, "I cannot do this."

This weekend I ran my first race solo. Me and me alone. I must admit, on Friday night before the race I was freaking out. I kept thinking, "That 10 you did killed you. - Last week you barely made 6 Shannon.- You know it's going to be cold right." Well 4:50am came around and i felt refreshed. I got over the fact I had no peanut butter, and thought well lets go. I braided my hair extra tight with the 1 bobby pin I had and told my dad i was ready. He had to drop me off at the race and let me know he was upset he wouldn't see me. I told him it was OK and I'd see him when I was done. (Also, the night before in my grumpiness, I told him if it took me more than 2:27, he was going to have to avoid me.)

As I walked alone up to the starting area, they began playing Lady Gaga, I found myself calm. I found my place in line and waited. I didn't even feel dumb all alone, only slightly disturbed by the man who said he was 68 and in front of me, plus he had AMAZING legs.

As, the national anthem played i got teary eyed, this was the beginning of a race that would show me so much more.

As we rounded the first mile a man helping another man off the curb caught my eye. This is when I realized the runner was blind. He was flanked by too friends with one tether. This man was also running the half. I was amazed and teary eyed again. With the amazing lyrics from Glee, I felt myself pushing on to the blue balloon in the distance. After mile 4 i came to a family of four, how cute i thought mom, dad, sister and brother running a half marathon together, thoughts of one day that being my family came to mind, when I saw it. The boy who was about 13, was a child with autism, his dad was whispering to him the whole time. OK yes I pretty much lost it. Incredible.

I pushed on being so motivated by my surroundings. I felt no pain and decided to no longer hold back the speed my body wanted. It paid off, dad and the kids did show up at mile 10. Beastie Boys and once again the same Glee song shoved me off and I bolted (as in as fast as Shannon can go) through mile 12 and 13. At point one I finally felt the high I had heard of. This finish line was special to me, I was energized at the end of the race, I beat 2:27 and I did it alone.

I guess, I am sharing this because of the do factor. Lately my "doing" has been a lot, not only the work and being a mom, but a lot of behind the scenes. The past week I have wanted to quit. A LOT. And some nights i have, just moving to bed at 8:00. Its been hard, and stressful, and I am not though it yet. But I do see the power of the doing and after seeing what I saw and accomplishing the race all.by.myself. I feel a little peace. And at this rate I am going to take all the peace I can get.

*Dad told me later in the day he was pretty sure by my mood Friday night I would not be running.

** Official time proves I have no clue about time and I finished in 2:16. My next goal is to do 2:00.

***If you think Glee is lame then you obviously did not see this.

Makeover!

Making over yourself and your habits is not an easy task. I do not feel as though I am a bad person, a hot mess or anything terrible. I do think there are things that I could tweak. Never to keep a New Year’s resolution, I figured it would be pointless to even make one. And as mentioned before, I love a challenge. I love a full plate. Overflowing plates are good too. I find that it helps my ADD and it helps my stress. Which with 2 little’s and Adam in law school, the stress release is the healthy way. So here is my little list of things I want to do and plan to do.
**Disclaimer: if I do not accomplish these things you cannot hold me accountable

1. Make hair clips. And sell them. Good ones.
2. Learn to sew. Hence clips.
3. Stay on top of sorting kids clothes. (up until Monday H would sometimes be wearing socks for a 12 month old)
4. Set up sewing machine and reclaim my bedroom as a crafty/peaceful place. (Maybe this should go before number 2)
5. Sell, sell, sell. Thoroughly go through the things I want to sell at consignment sales.
6. SAVE, cut back on the spending. I mean Law school is not going to pay for itself.
7. Learn to live with what I have and make it better.
8. Goal weight - only for 1 day. That’s all I ask. BUT, the work to get there is going to hurt.
9. Stop yelling. There. I said it. I yell - I want to stop - I doubt I can stop totally but limits are better.
10. Keep the phone or social media outlets off and away when the babes are around. They deserve all my time when I get the chance.

Those 10 things are a lot. Hopefully with prayer and work they can be accomplished. I feel like I have a good support system, which seems to be getting stronger every day, so I think I’m off to great start!

Blue Buildings and an Indoor Pool

There is one place I love. Ok, numerous places but only one that makes me really excited about organization. (other than back to school season)

It's ikea! In my most recent past life, I had a work schedule that was 9 weeks on, 4 weeks off. I somehow managed to make it to ikea at least 3 times a year. Mom and I began just staying the night. I mean hello, there is an outlet mall right there! Most people think it is insane to stay the night. I think it enhances the experience!

Well anyway. We went this weekend because it is a 3 day weekend and I will not feel robbed of a day off. People also think I'm crazy because I take my kids. But they actually love it too. I mean with the model rooms, colors and hotel stay who wouldn't! The hotel even has an indoor pool and until I cant take the kids to my dream...GREAT WOLF LODGE, the Courtyard pool is my resort. I love how Ikea gives me ideas for ways to maximize my home since its in the smaller scale. It is also affordable and that is always a plus.

This was also the first hotel experience for B with out the pack-n-play. It was also the last. That girl loves her crib. Which means she was a terror to getting sleep without it. She also kicks in her sleep ALL NIGHT LONG. My back, head, stomach, you name it. Then when that cutie wakes up at 5, she sees mommy and is ready to play. As I mentioned before pack in play until she is 18.

Anywho, just a ramble of my favorite organization store. And a cute pic of the baby girl as she sips her milk!

NO.. ok maybe

So once I get an idea in my mind it doesn't leave. It rips away at me. I obsess. I become completely engrossed in the idea. Forever my friends, and now my father, have said, “Do you take on too much? Shouldn't you say no?” I know this about myself and I strive to cut back but I just cannot do it.

Examples you say? OK, marathon. I had never run more than a 5k in my life when I decided I could run a marathon. You know that is 26.2 miles right? Yea, well I did. Twice. Ok that’s awesome and yes I just bragged.

Next, cloth diapers. Gross you say? No. Money saving, awesome. Not to mention cool and trendy. That’s just how I roll. Make my own baby food? Check. Birthday party? Any party? Check. I completely immerse myself. No it doesn’t have moon bounces, but to me they are fun and my kids love them and at the end of the day that is a win.
I hate doing it all and love to moan about being spread too thin, but I think I like the challenge. I work best while stressed. Call it ADD, whatever, it is just who I am.

So what is next on my full plate? Well… photography. I have always loved pictures, and wanted to know all about it. And after some selling on craigslist and eBay, combined with a little Christmas cash, Adam and I combined our pennies and bought a camera! So now I am on that band wagon. Along with adding in my wanting to sew, but I am going to let that one sit a while I look for the perfect table for my sewing machine. (No really it’s in my mind and I am waiting for it.)



So I was all happy in my little box of too much when my friend suggested making hair bows. Haha, in my free time. Guess what I said. Yep. I said oh ok that would be fun! Haha.





Here is to my new, stress free, debt free, relaxing 2012.

“You smell like Craigslist.”

Things in my mind are getting out of hand. The down time at work is getting the better of me. Pintrest has offically ruined my life, and my budget just won’t allow for any more projects.
The deal is this: I want to save money. A lot of it. I think that pinning and to do lists, making cleaning products, and reorganizing my home (which I have to admit is OCD clean), will bring in the dollars. As I go through a room, I determine Goodwill/Craigslist/trash. I cannot help it.

Craigslist, is my go to. I know I should be scared... ok I am I only let Adam do the posting or selling. But I have no time for a yard sale! All the tagging is just too time consuming, not to mention standing outside all day bores me. So I get back to it.

But here is my biggest Craigslist dilemma. When I read a blog, it tells me, “Oh like my new table I sanded, painted, re-sanded, and lacquered? It's from Craigslist for 1 dollar.” Answer me this Blog Mom, what city are you in? Where did you learn those bargaining tools? When on earth did you have time to fix that table to look like Pottery Barn when I have seen your 3 children who are clean and cute?

via http://knockoffdecor.com/refinished-mahogany-farmhouse-table/

Since diving into this blog and DIY world, I decided to check out the goodwill, and guess what - the woman in there looking at pants gave me the dirtiest look I may have ever gotten. So me and my kids high tailed it out of there. I just can’t win, and somehow doing these projects or looking at them seem to be costing me more money. Who just own’s this stuff around their house? And why? Why do you randomly own candle wicks. Ok, I now own them.

See I cannot win.

5 years is wood.

This morning Adam and I went over some of our favorite moments during the 5 years we have been married. It was actually really fun. I think often, we get stuck in the rut or raising kids, chores, work & school. When we glanced over them, we found ourselves quoting moments that in the moment had us dying of laughter. Adam's quote was, “We do have fun together.” Which, side-note, makes me think “does he normally not have fun with me?... Loser.”

Adam's favorite moments were pretty sentimental in my mind; him being one to not show too much emotion, and when he does it’s because I’m pulling it out of him. Want me to recap?
Adam’s moments:
Finding and buying our house. Funny Situation: I was “under the weather” that day after a surprise engagement party for another couple. I had warned Adam I found the condo in that condition and I was feeling pretty positive we’d pick our house that day. I puked in a house we looked at and in the Sonic parking lot. Adam was mad because the realtor was not going to take us to this one last home Adam had previously scanned. With the windows down he yelled in the car, “where’s my ranch.” Judy- 2 seconds later walked up and said, “oh I forgot the one story, let’s go.” Hence our new home was found.
As he put it, “The Birth of our Children.” Funny Situation: well we get a new bout of laughter from them daily.

Shannon’s favoritest moment:
Trip to Charleston. Funny Situation: I LOVE that place first of all. Adam and I decided toward the end of our trip we wanted to stay an extra day, we didn’t have children so that was not an issue. The issue was having to switch hotels and finding a beach. Well we loaded the car and went exploring for one. We had to change into our suits in the back of the Xterra, which by the way was parked in front of someone’s home. So we get to the beach and realize we have no beach towels, and since I am determined, we lay on our clothes, the wind picks up and angry Adam yells, “WE ARE SO POOR.” Ok, you had to be there, it was the best. I may have peed my pants.

Anyway. Those were the days. Here is to you Adam and another 5 years. Or more.