Healthy Habits: Drink Your Water!!

Really, can a drink define you?  I've been with groups of different women where we tell things about ourselves.  I'm always surprised how many people mention a drink - usually a diet soda!  Have you read anything about the sugars they use in soda?  Is it really OK to replace calories with chemicals?  Not in my body!  After reading and researching, my take on diet caffeinated drinks is saved for another post.

If a drink does define you - choose water!  Drink water and LOTS of it.  As you begin to live a healthy lifestyle, make this a habit!  Every day, I drink a gallon of water, easily.  I also exercise daily, which makes drinking water easier.  Water can suppress your diet like no other.  I start off the day with a full glass of water.  If I am kind of hungry and I know I just ate an hour ago, I drink water.  More often than not, I'm not that hungry.  Being dehydrated can make you tired and zap your energy - who needs that?  Water clears up your skin!  As a middle aged woman who gets acne AND wrinkles, I need all the help I can get!  It also helps with cleanse your body and flush out toxins. That's just a few of the benefits.

I have a water bottle within my reach 90% of the day and am constantly filling it up.  Actually, I usually have one filled upstairs and one downstairs.  I have them in my car.  I smuggled them into the movies today.  My kiddos start out their mornings with water bottles, too.  I don't put any fruit in them - I do love the taste, but it is too much work!  We drink our water straight up!  I think one of the best things you can do for your body is to drink your water in.  Spend a day tracking how much water you drink!  A gallon a day - I'm interested to hear if any of you drink that much and what difference do you see?

Shabby Apple Review

Shabby Apple contacted me and gave me the opportunity to review something from their site.  I chose the Adelaide skirt after much much deliberation.  I am thrilled with my choice.  It has a high waist, which helps to straight stick figures like me, a little curve!  I wore it Sunday and the compliments were plenty - gotta love that!  I had so much anxiety over taking a picture of myself.  I had my daughter take one right after I got home from church (I had been there for about six hours after all the meetings were said and done).  I don't know how those bloggers take so many pictures of themselves and what they are wearing!

There are so many options on their site.  I love the fit guide, which helped me get the right size - something I am always worried about when I order online.  I'm really interested in some of the shirt dresses they have right now!

Here's the deal:  Shabby Apple is offering a 10% discount to Ducks in a Row readers.  Simply use the code:  ducksinarow10off.  It will expire in a month.  Also, if you "like" Shabby Apple on facebook, you will receive special promotions and exclusive discounts!  Awesome!  Consider me a huge fan!

Being a Stay at Home Mommy

I'm guest posting over at Karen at Home today.  She's running a series on Stay at Home Mommies and today is my day.  Head on over to see what I have to say.

Grateful Sunday

Thanks Sabrina - this years pictures just might be my favorite ever!  You are awesome and we miss you!

Arts and Crafts Thursdays - Space Shuttles

We missed last week because I was at Girls Camp with the Young Women that I get to work with. My kiddos were so excited that it was Thursday again.  It worked out to be a great motivator to get their responsibilities done!

These week we made Space Shuttles using a lesson from Deep Space Sparkle.  We went to the Museum of Science and Nature on Monday and spent awhile in the space area.

Every child has their own style and every child does their own thing.

I. is very interested in the details.  G. likes color - but usually the same color.  M. is our free spirit and does not like having to do things a certain way.  Love that girl.

Snacks are always involved!  This week it was pretzels and Pirates Booty.

We drew the space shuttle first, then painted it.  While it was drying we painted vapor on a background paper.  Then cut the shuttle out and glued it on.  I try to get projects that involve a little of everything.



I.'s ship




G's ship



This would be M's ship.

Has anyone else started crafting with their kids?  I'd love to hear about it!

Oh - I finally started twitter AND pinterest!  Love to see you around there!

Healthy Habits: Getting Kids to Eat Veggies

I've been doing some thinking, spurred by this interview.  What's the secret to getting your kids to eat vegetables?

Do my kids love vegetables?  I'm sure the word love would be stretch.  Do they eat their vegetables?  Yessiree!!

First of all, I don't think there is a secret - otherwise someone would be a multi-billionaire and it wouldn't be so hard.  I think it takes work and consistency.
I think you need to be an example.  I make myself a salad almost every day with tons of veggies.  When I make a sandwich, I load on the veggies.  I always offer it to them, even though they usually so no thanks.  At least I offered.

I explain the benefits of most food I put in front of them.  We talk about how carrots help your eyesight, how peppers are a good source of vitamin C and what vitamin C does for you, how broccoli is a "super veggie."  Then, my kiddos know the reason it is so important for them to eat them.

We garden and grow our own and get them involved in this.  It helps, but I wouldn't call it the magic key.

They have their favorites and that is what I try to pick out.  G. loves asparagus and broccoli and beets.  M. loves cucumbers and carrots.  I'm not sure I. really loves a vegetable, but she will eat peas, salad, and peppers.

Lastly, keep offering over and over.  There are vegetables served at lunch and dinner.  When they asked to be excused, I usually have to tell them to eat their vegetables first.  I'm OK to tell them over and over.  At least we are at the point where they don't cry at the table. 

What's your magic key?

Tom and I are pretty passionate about living healthy lives and since that is such a huge part of our lives, these "habits" are going to pop up on this blog.  Probably regularly.

Flower Pots

After we added the tons and tons of rocks in our backyard, Tom and I both looked at it and screamed - this needs color!  It was in the end of October, and things weren't as green around then. 
This year, we added 4 pots to our patio.  I filled them up with flowers from the other day.

Kristi helped me pick out mystic dahlias for the center, verbena, zinnias and wave petunias.  By mid summer, those petunias should be hanging everywhere!

We stuck some of the extra petunias in our flower garden by the trampoline, along with some cosmos.  Just looking at this picture now astonishes me.  This bed has grown in so much that you can't see the dirt!  It is thriving and beautiful!  We are having major thunderstorms right now, or I'd go take another picture. 

Everything we've planted is thriving!  We spend a lot of time in our backyard and this makes it much more of a fun place for me to be.  We did put flowers in the front - that's a post for next time!

I did not take my picture, nor is that my child, but it is my dad!  My sister took this and I totally love it!

"With few exceptions, righteous sons and daughters who have attained eternal blessings are not just physically begotten by their fathers. They are spiritually regenerated by the examples and teachings of their fathers."  Ezra Taft Benson

I love you, DAD!  Happy Fathers Day!



HGTV's Lisa LaPorta Interview

When I was contacted with the chance to interview HGTV's Lisa LaPorta - I jumped on that opportunity.  I loved her on Design to Sell.  Her energy is contagious.  Here is our interview:

Now for a few disclaimers.  I wasn't even sure I would post it.  If you listen closely, you can probably hear my oldest pounding out the introduction to The Entertainer on the piano and my youngest is crying for more turkey bacon.  I had spent the evening before at urgent care with my youngest who had a severe allergic reaction to something - we don't even know yet. I was spent and a tad bit distracted, to say the least!  So, there you have it!

Grateful Sunday

First of all, I was chosen as a Fabulous Mom by Cashemere and Carrots - THANK YOU!

In my church, I currently get to work with the Young Women, girls ages 12-18.  I am so grateful for this opportunity to be around these girls at such a crucial part of their life and see them make good choices.  I'm grateful that they are serious when it is time to be serious and silly when it is time to be silly. As we talk, and they  have questions and I try to have answers, my testimony is strengthened.  Plus, I think the leaders are having more fun together than the girls!  I get to be aroud amazing women.  This week, I get to spend some days camping with them and I'm grateful all has worked out so that I can do this.   I'm grateful that Bruce and Sabrina are coming and that I'm not worried about my kiddos (too much).  My kids are counting down the days until they can have their aunt and uncle all to themselves.  By the end of this week, I should be exhausted but spiritually uplifted and even more in love with these girls then I already am.  I just think they are awesome!

Arts and Crafts Thursdays - Pirate Ships

This is a blatant copy from Meg at Whatever.  We started doing this last summer and really looked forward to it this year!  I think Meg and Deep Space Sparkle are the best resources, but I always have my eye on the lookout!

Today we made Pirate Ships.  I don't know why my kiddos are in a pirate kick lately.  They are too young to watch any of the pirate movies, but there is still a draw.

We started first by painting the background.  They swirled different colors together.  G. made his with a sunset.

Next it was time to make the ship.  We talked about the hull, the masts, the sails.  Even little M. got to participate.

We used oil pastels to embellish - I love watching their faces concentrate!

Daddy spent a long time on Sunday building a Lego ship with them.  Didn't it turn out awesome?  I. used it as inspiration.

Didn't they turn out great?  G's ship is above.

I'.s ship.  She is very careful about how she embellishes and takes her time.  One of her favorite things about doing this at home is that there is no time limit.

Three year old M.'s ship

This easily eats up an hour - probably more.  I love doing it.  We play music, eat some snacks and paint away!  We've got the entire summer already planned!

A Summer Dress

Remember my stack of inspiration?
Some of it turned into a little dress for my little one.

It would be great if she would model it for you - but she won't put it on.  She insists that it is a winter dress, and I try to make it a policy to not argue with three year olds who are filled with sass and spunk.

Anyways, I love the little ruffle sleeve.  I added a ruffle to the bottom just because I could.  I think she will look darling in it, if she will ever put it on!

linking up at Serenity Now