so long 2012

Because you can never have too many photos of your shoes ~ 12.31.2012

Happy New Years Eve!

It's been quite a year, hasn't it.

I, for one, am happy to start a new year, especially this one... 2012 had way too many 'end-of-the-world' connotations for my liking.

2013.

That has a nice ring to it. Plus, I turn 33 in 2013. I've waited my whole life to turn 33. I'm pretty sure it's because I wanted to outlive Jesus. He was 32. And we have the same initials. I know, that's weird. But, well, that's me.

Moving on.

I've been playing around with the ideas of joining in on the following:

Ali Edwards : One Little Word

Project Life : Elise Blaha edition

A Beautiful Mess : 365 Photo Project

I know, I know... all three of these together seem quite ambitious, but if you break it down, they all kind of intertwine together and that is what will make each of these project successful! Sidenote, I'm not making any promises that these will get completed, but the best of intentions are always there.

Usually the list of "resolutions" include such over-played and under-achieved goals such as:
- Lose Weight
- Quit Smoking
- Exercise More

I am not about to set myself up for disaster, so I'm gonna skip all the resolution crap. I do have a list of intentions... wanna hear them. Okay good.

I intend to stick with CrossFit in 2013. In fact, I hope to never stop CrossFitting, as it is quite addicting and much better for me than other addictions like smoking or drinking or doing drugs, all which I am against.

I intend to take more photos in 2013. Hence the above listed projects. But hear me out real quick-like. My babes are growing up and soon they won't let me take photos of them. Sucky, but you know how it is, growing up all teenage-like. Grr.

I intend to blog more in 2013. Can you believe that I only blogged 78 (this is post 79) in 2012!! Cray-cray! I'm typically a 100+ annual blogger. I sucked at blogging in 2012, and I had better make it up to you peeps. Bring on 2013 and the year of blogging we will name as poetic-ramblings-of-a-crazed-30-something-mom-of-teens! Rolls off the tongue, eh? hehehe

Okay, so enough babble. Do you have any resolutions? Any intentions? I wanna know, because I'm nosy like that. lol.

In all seriousness. I wish each and every one of you much love and many blessings in the new year. Good tidings of health and great joy. May peace and love be with you every day. Promisecakes!!

to the last of the greats

This is my Grandma Mickie. 

Her real name is Agatha. 

She turned 90 on December 9th, 2012.

Can you imagine... living on this earth for 90 years, especially the past 90 years. She lived through the Depression Era, she grew up in a time where girls didn't go to school after 8th grade, she worked on her parents farm, left home at 17 and was married and with child by 20. She has lived through her husband's passing, her only daughter's passing, and her only son's passing. She's been through seven wars including World Wars One and Two, Vietnam and the Gulf. She knew life before microwaves and computers and when they called cars "automobiles". She's seen the world change.

Yesterday, December 27, 2012 

at 10:19am

She passed away.

This was her wish. She was ready to go, and we were ready to let her go. On angels wings she flew up to be with her family. We will miss you Grandma, but we are at peace because you are finally at peace.

Christmas Decorating

Hi Guys!!

So..... are you decking your halls! I am! If you're following me on Instagram or Gramfeed you've seen that I have been into the Christmas decorations...



(Only in my house will you find Santa in Hunter Orange and Camouflage. Lol)

Decorating is always a tinge painful, so many boxes have my Dad's writing on them, and it's just another fresh reminder that he won't be here with us this Christmas. Daddy was always all about decorating. Presentation is everything... as he used to say. He took so much pride in getting the house all decked out. And I know that my Mom takes the same pride.

The Christmas lights are up around the house. The (fake) tree in my bedroom is up.


The real tree is up too, just not decorated. ((I'll get to that.))

But I did manage to get a few gifts wrapped for the in-laws (they have to mailed out).


The Christmas movies have been playing 'round the clock... Mickey's A Christmas Carol is one of my all-time favorites!


I can't decide what I love most about prepping for Christmas... the decorating, the wrapping of beautiful gifts, the movies, the music... oooh, the baking... that's to come. Stay tuned, for sure!

What's your favorite part?

howdy-ho neighbor

Hey, guess what??  I'm home sick today. Perrrfect day to catch up on le blog. Are you ready...


First Topic:  Paleo Challenge

So, the Paleo Challenge ended Saturday, November 21. The bad news, I wasn't First Place. The good news, I was Third Place! But really, if you stuck to the program, we were all winners. Wanna see my results... okay, here's the deets:

• Food Points : 168 (that is a PERFECT Score... 6 points a day for 4 weeks straight... no cheats here!)
• WOD Time : 7:19 (my WOD time at the beginning was 8:10... I shaved off nearly an entire minute!)
• Lost Inches : 5.66 (2.8 on waist, 1.8 on hips, .06 on chest, gained 1.9 on thighs... we squat ALOT, 1 on arms)
• Lost Body Fat Percentage : 3.7% (I took first in this catagory for girls... kinda a big deal)
• Lost Pounds : 8.2 (yes, in 30 days!!!)

True story people! This really happened to me! I was totally on cloud nine about my results. So much so, that I have continued to eat strict Paleo. I did have a few cheats during Thanksgiving (more on that later) but overall, I'm in it to win it! The positive changes occurring in my body are affecting everything else in my world. I'm becoming mentally stronger, physically stronger, and spiritually stronger. It's like I'm totally aligned with myself. It's wonderful, and so amazing to me that so much of the way we feel has to do with the food we put into our bodies. It's legit science, I read about it as much as I can on the internet and ebooks. So crazy!
Anyway, it's the path I've chosen to go and so far so good. I'm taking things one day at a time. I'm making small goals and achieving them at rapid pace. It's exciting and inspiring (yeah, I'm totally inspiring myself. Crazy!)

Second Topic:  Thanksgiving

How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was lovely! We spent an entire 4+ days back home in SoCal. It was lovely! We left out on Wednesday afternoon and made the 5 hour drive. I had enough time to get all the Paleo Desserts made that night. Wanna see what I made... these photos are borrowed, btw.

Source: paleomg.com via Ann on Pinterest

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Cheesecake
The only was I know how to describe this is freaking ah-mazing! I nearly ate the entire thing to myself... not-even-kidding! I don't know if I was just starved for sweets (totally my downfall) but this was totally Paleo so technically I wasn't even cheating!


Pumpkin Butter Truffles
Seriously delish, and so incredibly simple to make. I did choose to add some ground up flax seed to help as a binder (a suggestion from a CF friend). Also, next time I don't think I'll use 72% Cacao chocolate. I forget that not everyone is a dark chocolate fan and it can get bitter to some. (Although, it just means more for me! hehehe)

Source: againstallgrain.com via Against All Grain on Pinterest

Grain-Free And Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie
I know, I know, doesn't sound legit, but it was soooo good! Until I burned the crust, but whatev's. I cooked it the night before and left it in the oven to set (because seriously, there was like, no room anywhere in that kitchen). So, come Turkey morning we turned the oven on to preheat and you-guessed-it... the pie got baked, again. But... the inside was totally edible. I mean, the whole thing was technically edible, but the crust was dark indeed. Lol. We decided to put in on the counter with a spoon and as people walked by they'd take a scoop out. Hey, we're all family so we all have the same cooties. It totally worked out. A sweet appetizer, if you will.

Turkey Day was good, the ma-in-law and sis-in-law kept me company in the kitchen and we all stayed busy. We had Turkey and Ham, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Mashed White Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts with Onion and Bacon, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, and Cresent Rolls. I kept it Paleo, and for the first time I think Ever, I didn't overeat and that felt awesome. I cleaned up and did the dishes, and before I knew it I was mid-breakdown. Emotion caught up with me, and I deeply and painfully missed my Dad. Things like this happen, and I let them run their course. I hope they never stop, because even the pain of missing him makes me weirdly happy.

Turkey Day morning the hubs, the dad-in-law and I got in a good workout.... we did Cindy, a 20 min AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) of 5 Pull Ups, 10 Push Ups, 15 Air Squats. Friday we were able to visit Crossfit Kinnick (home of the Games competitor Jeremy Kinnick) and get a parter WOD in. (This is the dad-in-law's home crossfit box). "Black Butter" was a 30 minute AMRAP of 200 meter run (together carring a 35# kettlebell), 10 Clean and Press at 85#, 10 Burpee Box Jumps at 20", 10 Kb swings at 35#. It was my first RX'd workout and I rocked it (along with my partner Katie). Wanna see me all beastly...

Yeah, that's me... gettin' it done! Light Weight! hehe
Friday during the day we spent making Tamales, a family tradition. Saturday we went up to Grampa's. Grampa is 90 years old, and he is my kids Great-Great-Grandfather. How cool is that! He lives in the mountains and has the most amazing old cabin filled with schtuff... it's an American Picker's dream! Sunday was drive home day and settle in before the work week. Great trip, all around!

Third Topic: Christmas

Are you ready? Because I sure am not. lol. I'm usually the lady that decorates the week before Thanksgiving, I love Christmas That Much! But this year, I didn't get things decorated until this past weekend, and even then I sifted through my decorations and got rid of A-Lot! I don't want to be cluttered this year. I'd absolutely love to buy new decorations, but you know how that goes... do you spend the money of decorations, or on the kids. Kids win every time. But when they're old enough to know better, I'm gonna get me some serious Christmas decor. Watch out!
The hubs and I did most of the shopping this past Sunday. We're not doing big gifts for the grownups, just the kids. That's the way it should be. Daddy always said Christmas is about the kids. I like to spoil them, both mine and my sister's. But I also try and put them all in check, they get so much that I constantly remind them about the kids who get nothing because they're poor.
Now to wrap the gifts I have, which funny enough is becoming one of my favorite things about the holidays. Even though the kids just rip it right off, I enjoy making pretty presents. hehe
The kids are having a Christmas party next weekend. I'd better get planning. I think we'll do a few minute to win it games and fill them up on lots of holiday sweets. Paleo sweets. hehe


Okay, it has taken me for-ev-er to type this blog up. I'm gonna go relax on the couch with some Kombucha and hot tea and a holiday movie. Until next time... ttfn!