Have a Royal Weekend

Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous! Kate looked radiant, Will beamed, Kate's dress was amazing, both looked truly happy and in love enjoying every minute of it, the Westminster Abbey, the tradition, the breaking of tradition, every detail well executed, it was indeed a royal wedding!

Have a royal weekend!

Challenge: I challenge you to do something to pamper yourself this weekend, do something to make yourself feel like a princess.

If you are intrigued like I am, there are lots of Royal Wedding photos found here.

Project 31: Day 2

What makes you uniquely you?

I am turning to a book to answer this question. I love taking personality tests seeing where I fall on a spectrum of introvert/extrovert, what job I “should be doing”, what animal I would be compared to, but recently I purchased, well my husband purchased, Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath for me. You take an online test that takes about 30 minutes and they give you your top five strengths and then a description of each strength and how to optimize who you are. I was blown away by the results they seriously hit the nail on the head. Here are my results in order of things that make me, me...

Empathy- At five years old I remember walking home from school and stepping over the threshold to my house I had this pit in my stomach as I looked at my mom’s usually happy smiley face greet me still with a smile but a different kind of smile. A sad smile. Instantly I knew something was wrong, no words, still a smile, but definitely something wrong. She then told me my dog had passed away while I was at school. “Empathy means I can sense the emotions of others around me and can feel their feelings as if they are my own. I don’t condone the choice each person makes or feel pity for their predictment necessarily but I do understand and have an instinctive ability to hear the unvoiced questions and the unspoken needs. Other people’s happiness brings me pleasure and I am sensitive to the feelings of others readily gauging the emotional tone of the room” (97-99).

Discipline-Having a child really tests this part of my personality, but it’s so good for me. “My world needs to be predictable. It needs to be ordered and planned”. So, I of course when I found out I was pregnant I was drawn to Baby Wise (you can’t follow a book page by page though haha unfortunately all babies aren’t the same and have their own personalities). “ I instinctively impose structure on my world, setting up routines, focusing on timelines and deadlines and to-do lists. The routines, structure, timelines help me feel in control. I not only create order but I crave it wanting to have a place for everything and have everything in its place” (93-95). See how mommyhood can test this. Darn it, I was hoping this description wouldn’t describe me, I think unpredictable people are fun, I think people should like surprises but I am realizing I just may not be one of those haha. Although I do love gift surprises, just don’t plan a trip without me being able to plan out Corbyn details, outfit details, scheduling details, etc. I like to have fun but I like to schedule fun.

Developer- When I played softball for Point Loma Nazarene University we would do community clinics for little softball players. It was fun to run around with them giving them some skills and handing out as many high five and hugs necessary but within three minutes I could pick out the girls that naturally knew how to grip a bat and who naturally could throw a ball further than 3 feet. “I can see the potential in others. Very often, potential is all I see. Each person is a work in progress, alive with possibility and I am drawn to people for this very reason. When I interact with others my goal is to help them experience success” (89-91). I am a cheerleader.

Relator- I still have friends from elementary school in California. I still meet with my friends from high school in Scottsdale. I still talk to my friends from college in San Diego. My phone has become permanently attached to my head when driving since this is my only quiet, usually alone time to catch up with people. “As a relator I derive a great deal or strength and happiness from being around close friends. Friends are my fuel. A relationship only has value to me if it is genuine so I deliberately learn as much as I can about people I meet. Relationships are life" (145-147).

Maximizer- “Excellence, not average, is my measure. Transforming something strong into something superb takes much effort but is thrilling. Strengths, whether mine or others, fascinate me” (137-139). My guess is this is what made me a good student, a good softball player, and a bad loan officer (cold calls, seriously, shoot me, what was I thinking), and continues to make me a good mommy and a good wife (per my hubby).

A few more not so deep, things that make me unique. I use too many commas in sentences, as I always got marked down for not having enough, so I over compensate now. I hate when people post things or send emails in all caps, I feel like their yelling at me; I don’t like being yelled at. I have started probably seven books this year and finished zero. I’ve been to the same hairdresser for 14 years even when I lived 6 hours away and now an hour and a half away. TV is relaxing to me but a movie at home not so much. I look at the pictures of my son on my desk probably 1000 times a day!

What makes you uniquely you? If you don't have an answer or want to even just understand yourself more, I highly recommend Tom Rath's Strength Finder 2.0, take the test first then read it, or in my case just read the strengths you got, its much faster =).

Pictures of me and two of the boys who have helped me become me

I wish and I'm thankful

I wish I could be a stay at home mommy but I am thankful for a job I love and that offers me the flexibility to be there for Corbyn whenever he needs me.

I wish I had Gwyneth Paltrow's legs but I am thankful that I have legs that allow me to run after my son and jump up and down when I get excited and ache after a long jog on the treadmill. And bonus I'm thankful I have enough similarities (mainly long, blonde hair) to Gwyneth that my boy saw her picture in a magazine and squealed "mommy!"

I wish I didn't have cravings for salty foods but I am thankful that we have so many different options of food to eat in our society, some healthy, some not so much, but we have options, heck, we have food.

I wish I still lived close to all my besties from college but I am thankful for long phone calls, quick "I'm thinking of you" texts, weddings that bring us all together, and friendship that transcends distance.

I wish I could see five years into the future to see what life holds but I am thankful for a God who does, a God that I love and can put my whole trust in. He brings peace to this anxious girl.

See, who wouldn't want to stay home with this sweet face.

And use their legs to chase after these.
Peacefulness. I am thankful.

Closet Love: Casual Working Girl

I had to buy a black suit in college. A two piece, multiple button, no character to it but a high price tag, suit. But I felt so professional, so classy as I stood in front of my peers giving presentations preparing for the real world. I graduated and went to my first interview in my black suit, like I was told to by my professors, and I walked into the interview room and almost died. I was way overdressed. I started to sweat. I actually asked if it was ok if I took my jacket off as I was starting to get nervous that 1) I would break out in hives how hot I was in my black suit, in summer, in Arizona and 2) that they wouldn't hire me because I was too stiff. I'm sure a suit is necessary for some jobs and interviews but Arizona seems to have this laid back attire in the workplace. Even at city council meetings the councilmen are just in slacks and Hawaiian shirts.

So for my first job I ditched the black suit opting for more relaxed business attire but then I switched jobs and even the relaxed business attire was too much. And though it is fun to dress up and wear high heels everyday I was excited to wear jeans. Everyone in the office wore jeans. Awesome. So jeans and converse became the usual. Sounds nice but I have been looking for ways to dress down but more put together and this outfit is something that I think would be perfect for a casual workplace, or lunch with friends, or shopping, or a day date, lots of possibilities!

Shirt

Jeans

Shoes

Belt

Bag

Weekend Wind Up: Easter Weekend

"Look at these hands and my side, they swallowed the grave on that night, when I drank the world's sin, so I could carry you in, and give you life, I want to give you life!"- Tenth Avenue North Thank you Jesus for life!

Hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend and are recovering from the jelly bean and robin egg stupor after putting jars out for the kids and then limiting them but not setting a limit for yourself. Wait, what, that's just me? No one else's mom asked them "how many point on weight watchers are those" and thinking no, its a holiday, calories don't count on holidays. Well, if you think calories are negligible on holidays then we can be best buddies ;).

Anytime I can have family surround me, celebrate the GOOD NEWS, have awesome food to eat, and hear the kids laughing it is a good day! This is what our weekend looked like...

1st we planted flowers in our front planter for Earth Day. Actually I confess that I actually didn't know it was Earth day until we planted the flowers but when I found out I felt very earthy. Now, we will see if I can keep them alive.

Then, we dyed Easter eggs with Yaya and Popie. Corbyn was very proud of himself especially when he figured out you can mix the colors.

The finished product.

Easter Sunday family pic
And another. This one totally cracks me up. When Corbyn saw this picture he screamed "kissy monsters".
Corbyn's baseball themed Easter basket for my baseball obsessed son and husband.
We took wagon rides, yup even I got pushed around.
Searched for Easter eggs.
Opened the Easter eggs at the slowest pace ever! Ry was trying to help Corbyn along.
Checked out the goods.

And got lots of kisses from the grandparents!

It was a very Happy Easter!

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Have a Blessed Weekend!

I hope you have a blessed weekend!

It's not about...

Or even this cute little thing...

But this...

He is risen! He has risen indeed! We are blessed!

I challenge you this weekend to do something that is a blessing to someone else (I came home from the grocery store to find my home dusted, vacuumed, and bathrooms cleaned...blessing from my husband and little man)!

(note: I did not take these pics, a bunny would never let me get that close with my bunny history)

Amy Ryland Photography: Johnson Family

They're fun. All of them. You walk into their house and you are met by each child talking over the other, pulling you in each and every direction, eager to tell you the latest greatest story. They embrace you, love on you, laugh at you (with you), and demand you to pick them up and fly them around the house like an airplane because you introduced that fun little adventure five years ago and apparently a child never forgets or thinks their too big.

I am very privileged to call this family my friends. We cherish their friendship and are so thankful that though we don't get to hang out all that much when we see them it is like no time has passed at all, the guys go talk theology while the girls fix every one else's problems =).

Tony and Ali, thank you for your friendship, you are fabulous examples of living out your faith, loving each other, and how to be amazing parents in this crazy world. CK, Squeeze, Lou, and Bean (nicknames from the parentals) you guys are awesome, we love you very much, and have enjoyed watching you grow into little people.

The four kiddos =) I held 3 of the 4 the 1st day they were born
I picture the next four pictures in a lineup.

#1 CK
#2 Squeezy

# 3 The first half of the twins, Lou
#4 The 2nd half of the twins, Bean

Proof that I am funny ;)
Twin Love




The two beautiful people that started it all

Brothers...who have bonded together and posted a "no girls allowed" sign on their door.

Thursday Randomness

By Thursday (my Friday) I am feeling a little scatter brained, in fact, I misplaced my keys this morning and looked everywhere for 15 minutes before I found them...in my purse! Then I looked and thought "where's my phone," so I started looking for it, 10 minutes later I found it...in my purse...right next to my keys! Fail. So here are some random thoughts and findings that go right along with my scatterbrainess.

We just got one of these...I'm getting spoiled.

I'm not a huge fan of Easter decor but this and this will be making an appearance in my house this year

I want this for Mother's Day, it's ok to pick out my on Mother's Day present right?...(bonus: i was in college classes with the designer)

I am going to try and perfect this, I've never been able to get it right.

I will be painting my dresser like this this weekend...I told my husband to trust me.

It's just around the corner, I can't wait to try out this type of shopping

I read this article today, wow, wake up call parentals!

My favorite wedding venue to date I have seen! And it was on a budget...score.

I started running again so I believe I need these and this and maybe these (in a smaller size) to help keep me motivated.

Doesn't this look like so much fun to make and eat?!

Listen to her, she's pretty amazing!

Project 31: Day 1

Project 31 is a way to celebrate beauty, God's given beauty. It is based off of Proverbs 31 and is a collection of thoughts, ideas, and inspiration celebrating your God given beauty and the beauty of the beautiful women and things around you. There are 31 questions, some serious and thought provoking, some fun and silly so for 31 weeks I will be answering a question in the project. Here we go...

Question numero uno: What does beauty mean to me?

He carefully slipped the furry pink socks over her swollen feet. I had never seen her wear pink. In fact, she only ever wore black, her style or lack of style, was to drape layers of black,not too gaudy, not too gothic, but it was her signature look, black clothes, big blonde or red hair, and lots of the newest greatest makeup carefully applied. So the pink made me smile to myself hearing her voice probably cuss at him for getting her pink socks and more than that, they were fuzzy. She wasn't fuzzy. His sole purpose was to make her comfortable. He then leaned over and grabbed the lemon flavor songy swab and gently rubbed it over her lips and into her mouth moistening it. When she made a disgusted look he smiled and said "I know, but its the only flavor they have". He then gently leaned over her raised bed and gave her a soft kiss on her forehead. I believe her eyes filled with tears, though he insists they were jut watery, but I think she was overwhelmed with love and thankfulness.

For four years this was my grandfather's life. For four years he drove across town sometimes two or three times a day, sometimes staying the whole day to take care of my grandma who was in a semi-coma state after a bout with a medication she was allergic to. He sat by her side giving her the Lakers play by play, sometimes he would get to the nursing home at 9:00 at night after my softball game to list off my stats to her and tell her how proud she would be of me and then tuck her in whispering goodnight, he was sure to tll the nurses how to make her more comfortable and would slip them some treats ensuring she was on top of their care list, he befriended the other husbands going through almost the same thing, he carefully analyzed her chart, tenderly held her hand, would brush her hair, and tell her how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. Nothing in return.

His life for four years was lived solely for the good of another and that is beautiful. Beauty is where we can see God's kingdom breaking through.

This is my grandma.

Closet Love: Easter Sunday

I remember Easter was an excuse for my mom to buy my brother and I new matching "fancy" outfits and an excuse to buy a new outfit for herself probably. The whole family would dress alike and we would pose for pictures in our pastel colored Easter clothes, me standing tall proud to show off my new dress and my brother fidgeting with his tie or bowtie ready to rip it off as soon as the camera was put away. Now that I have a family of my own, I believe the tradition should definitely be carried on...a perfect excuse for a new outfit, good job momma ;). Happy Easter week, He is risen!

Dress

Shoes

Handbag (i found it here but i'm not sure you can still purchase it)

Earrings