THE PRIZE.

I AM CRAZZZY HUNGRY!!!!

My precious mama, father and me...eatin' cake of course!!!

Yes, I am so crazy hungry as I type this.
But I am soooooooooo keepin' my eye on the prize.
And what is the prize?
The prize is getting' these boobski's back into my D bra's and throwing these double D ones away, far far away!  I am grateful they are healthy but I am all set with the doubles!
Ya see  that's when I really knew I gained too much, when the bra size suddenly went up and I guess it didn't suddenly go up, it wasn't like one day they were D's, went to sleep, woke up and boom they were double D's...nooooooooo it was totally me, eatin' way too much bad stuff and sitting my bootie, being way too much on this computer or sleeping' ( I love to sleep!)
The prize is also feel in' physically healthy.....just knowing that my food choices are better for me, for my heart ( especially because heart disease runs in my mom's side of the family).
The prize is being an example to my babies, not just saying' it but really shown' them that mama is moving more and eating healthier.
  Yes, I will always love sweets and all the yummy stuff but I am really learning to control how much and when to eat it.
The prize is feeling my love handles lessening everyday. I wake up and feel a tiny bit lighter in the waist area, maybe it's just my mind mess in' with me but I don't care, it's making me feel super proud and I am just going to go with it!
The prize will be seeing the legs toned up again after many many years!!!!
The prize is going to shop and buying smaller sizes and feel in' a little bit more confident.
The prize is shopping' for clothes with color, colors that POP! No more black, black, black, every single day. I'm tired of it.
The prize is having more energy, takin' less naps and really feel in' just in an all round better mood about life and love!

And though, I just did 37 minutes of JUST DANCE 3 on the wii and laughed my ass off, but not literally, if only that was possible....although I want an ass, just want it toned and bootyilicous ( lol ) But I was LMAO cause it was just me and the wii....kids all tucked into bed. My husband ( aka Big Daddy) playing one of his video games in the kitchen. There I was shaken' it down at 9:00 at night, with my baby girl Mya, snoozing' like this:

  I am  still sooooooo  CRAZY HUNGRY~~~
But I am holdin' it down and have taken a shower, moisturized the crow's feet on the face
and
am off to read, cozy in my bed, right next to my Maxwell.
P.S.  The crazy hungry feelin' subsided(:
I have made it through another day.....
night night.

It's all about patience and strolls.

 I often notice people walking their dogs. I love people watching anyway, but what I notice about many people walking their dogs is some interesting things.  Many big men walk teeny tiny little dogs and many teeny tiny women or just short ( like me) walk medium to big big dogs.  And I think that's so funny.
Also, I see many fit peeps walking chubby dogs.
And then there are chubby peeps ( like me ) who walk very fit dogs.
My Mya girl is all cut with awesome muscles, like I am jealous of how toned and cut she is.

"Did somebody say let's go for a stroll?"

So now Mya and I  have been walking side by side, a lot of times, her pulling me but she is getting a lot better with her walking, plus I have to admit, I love when she gives me a little pull up the super giant hill that leads us back home.

She loves a great stroll around the hood, her ears and eyes light up when she sees me reach for my sneakers and if she even sees me pick up my iPod, she is like "it's on, we are going for a stroll now!"  She lives for strolls and rides in the car.
And for many many years I have lived for french fries and pizza and all things yummy but now I am really really on a mission. I am so invested in being aware of what I nourish my body with.
I must love it all, all it's cellulite, all the crow's feet, all of it!!
Because this body carried my three amazing babies and gave me my babies.  Yes, it's a changed body since the birth of my babies but I can still be in shape if I apply myself to moving and sweating daily!

I use to be a tae bo queen, 6 days a week and I use to walk my babies when they were able to fit in a carriage but life goes on and though they have grown, I must still remember me...I have to make time for me. And it's ok to make time for me.
I am also eating less and moving more and really focused on a positive attitude.
My best friend and I joined WW yesterday. Though it's called Weight Watchers
I like to call it: Watcher's Weight.
Because we are literally watching for weight to come off our mama love bodies(:
We are the Watcher's who wait.
It's a struggle. My bff loves coke/pepsi and chocolate!
I on the other hand love it allll.
So we are having a big REVOLUTION with getting through our days without all the good stuff ( that's really the bad stuff).
But having each other's back and texting each other when we are weak,
or just venting to each other is really what's keeping us going.
I am going to print this out for us, to remind us, to inspire us:

Plus, we have to weigh in next Monday morning at 9:30.
So it's ON!!!!

Many years ago, me, Mikey and my bff, Erica.  Now we getting healthy! YEAH!!!

And we are soooooo Determined this time.

The Four Immutable Laws of the Spirit

Some books I've read, am reading and hope to read soon.
  I did finish Anne Lamott's book "Some Assembly Required", she always writes so sincerely; straight from her heart.
In her book, which she wrote along with her 20 year old son, about her son's first year with his own newborn son, she writes it like a journal, day to day happenings and I, myself, find that interesting. I always like hearing about people's lives, opinions, and on and on.
 Whenever I find something that touches my heart or makes a lot of sense to me, I fold the corner of the page so I can go back to it.  And it was in this book, on page 185 that I was introduced to the Four Immutable Laws of the Spirit:
                                   Whoever is present are the right people. Whenever it begins is the right time.
     Whatever happens is the only thing that could of happened. And when it's over, it's over.

Though in many situations we never want things to be over. The Four Immutable Laws of the Spirit keep it so real.... it is what it is.

The Four Immutable Laws of the Spirit:
Whoever is present are the right people.
Whenever it begins is the right time.
Whatever happens is the only thing that could of happened.
And when it's over, it's over.

Out of Focus: COCO KEYS WATER RESORT and THE DAISY SCOUTS

Gianna, Bella and Cassidy having some pretty nasty pizza before heading back into the water! Oh I am so pissed that my camera is busted and blurry, ugh!

I love how Bella rocks the goggles at all times, like I wear my sunglasses on top of my head, cause it's the only way we don't lose them(:

Last night, was the Girl Scouts field trip to Coco Keys Water park Resort.
We had a blast! (My boys didn't go, cause Jordan was in NH with his daddy and Maxwell was hangin' out bowling with his bff, Alexio!!)

Bella was fearless and got right on the tube in the wave pool with her girls and sometimes they held hands and didn't let go as they cruised around the big circle of water.  Gratefully, the lifeguards are all around as they float by, so even when our baby girls were not in our sight, they were in good hands.  Here the man is making sure they in their tubes securely. Thank you, Mr. Lifeguard(:
I was so proud of my baby girl because every year she gets little less fearful of the water.
I on the other hand, every year get a little more fearful of the water.
Funny how that goes in life.
When we are young we are so fearless...but with age and time...fear takes over. It's just all the stories on the news, the tragic stories about public pools and I just can't help but worry.
Atleast for this worrisome big mama over here, I try soooo hard to not show my kids my fears and to let them go with prayers and faith to try things and be kids, have fun, live it up....but I think as moms and parents we will forever have worrisome hearts for our babies.
I also had no intentions of going in the water because I do not own a bathing suit that fits right now, at this time in my life, lol.
But as I sat there watching my little girl go by in the wave pool on her tube, so fearless and having fun, I really wished I did have a suit and just said "F..it" and jumped in with her. Because we would of had so much fun together. Yes, she had her girls with her and she still had a blast but next time I am so going in the wave ride with her.
I am not going to care how I look in my suit ( which will be just shorts and a tank top anyway) and no one else cares either, we are all there to have fun with our kids!!
That is the lesson I learned last night.
I guess the camera was not the only thing out of focus.......

Coco Keys Indoor Water Park!!!
My camera is busted, I am so sad, I lost my lens cover and I think the lens is busted...so hence the blurry pictures!

My (blurry) Bella chillin' in the wave pool on her tube like a cool chickie mama(:

Peace, Love and Fearlessness to you all!!!

Today's TARGET purchases!!!

"You know what? You're an individual, and that makes people nervous. And it's gonna keep making people nervous for the rest of your life." - Ole Golly in Harriet the Spy 


I love love love this quote and this movie!!! i think I am gone Netflix this movie and watch it with my babies soon.  


Ok soooo Target was lovely as usual! 
Quiet,
Peaceful,
Clean,
Organized, ( so not my house!!!)
Bright,
Pleasant.
And there are my adjectives to describe my TARGET.
And here are my great finds!!

As always the dollar spot gets me right when i walk through those doors..it goes like this?
First, I see myself on the TV as I walk through the doors, or as Bella likes to say "Look we are in the movie!"
Next: Pull a big red machine from the lineup of carriages.
Then:  Dollar Spot browsing begins.
Couldn't pass these babies up, for a buck each, so cute for movie night when my kids all want their own bowl as we munch and crunch.

Now I have been eyeing this sweet skirt for Bella, for the past few visits but today was the day, cause the red clearance tag was on it!! It's so sweet for my strawberry loving girl and now that I look at it in this picture it, she could probably rock it as a tube dress as well.  Super cute! There was a matching Strawberry Harajuku hat which I am hoping will go on sale soon too!  We are loving Gwen Stefani's Harajuku clothing line at Target!

And I can't forget my big boys!  They definitely needed new swimming shorts or as we call them "trunks", does anyone else even know that word?? LOL!  Notice the sweet paw of Mya chillin', resting from her walk.

Yes, I did.  I couldn't' pass this up when I saw it.  A Justin Bieber Singing Toothbrush for my Bella girl! She has just started to get into the  Bieber Fever, putting pictures of him up on her wall! Too funny!  And since she is losing teeth rapidly, it will definitely help her to enjoy and concentrate on good brushing sessions(:  She is going to love this when I show it to her tonight!

Another great dollar spot find, little bright containers to keep tiny scrapbooking goods in. The SMASH stuff was on SALE, so had to pick up another pen/glue stick!! And a big old glue stick, cause the ones on the SMASH pen, go mighty quickly for us girls!

Running low on my favorite Bronzer, I am a bronze girl, always have been, always loving the tan look, though I know the sun is kind of bad for the skin ( and believe me I have paid the price with wrinkles from all my years of tanning) but, I love the sun, the bronze, the color, I crave the VITAMIN D and this BRONZER from Physicians Formula!!! And this nail polish caught my eye to wear for my dear friends baby shower tomorrow, since I am wearing big purple sandals, why not rock the purple toes(:

The main thing I went into Target for was these cause my little man, Max loves his Froot Loops every morning before school.  I did get them but I always leave with soooo much more then what is on my list.
We all have our addictions and one of mine is that I am a crazy shopping girl.
Cheers!

Sippin' on some green tea...Ali & Target.

Taking a break from coffee this morning and sippin' on some green tea with pomegranate & acai, so good and cozy warm on this chilly Wednesday  morning.
The kids are off to school.

We started this morning with a morning Prayer.
I am trying this because I think this will start their day off brighter and more positive. If they are aware and can reflect on all their blessings and to take a moment to Thank God, before the sweet day begins,  I think it can only do positive things for my little loves.
We read the prayer and gave thanks for all God has given us and asked for another blessed day ahead.
I shut the tv down, stopped the cartoons for just 5 minutes but they were the best 5 minutes of the morning.
Of course, Bella is all interested and wants to read more ( I got this book called My First Prayers) and she loves it but Maxwell is not so easy to convince.  He is my challenge but I am up for the challenge and determined to help him see how important it is to start each day off with a prayer of graciousness and love.
I have also been feeling a little down, just because of the sadness of seeing my 88 year old Papa so depressed, uncomfortable and unable to do things for himself anymore. It's a sad energy that has been going around. My mom ( an only child) constantly taking care of him, when she is not working her butt off as a kindergarten teacher all day.  She lives downstairs from her parents, so they call on her for everything. And she is there 100 percent but it's exhausting and sad for her.
So what makes me laugh?  I have been really enjoying Ali Wentworth's Dailyspot, this mama cracks me up! She is always able to make me smile cause she is so darn relatable and real and I am grateful for her.
I am also reading her book, "Ali in Wonderland"...= hysterical!!
I just love her, cause she keeps it real but she mixes in laughs and craziness that we all need to get through this crazy thang called life.
Thank you, Ali Wentworth for keepin' it real and funny!!!

And now I shall take Mya for a nice stroll with my iPod on and then I will go to one of my favorite places in the world, TARGET! And i shall buy stuff on my shopping list and of course, stuff I don't need but just can't resist throwing in my big red carriage.  There is really something so therapeutic and peaceful for me to be strolling around in my TARGET in Revere, just me and the big red carriage, free to explore all the great finds and man do I find great things!!!  I will be back and blog what I got on my daily trip to TARGET!! YEAH!!!

You are my sunshine!

Max checking out his treats after the egg hunt in our backyard.

Fun times decorating eggs with Jalina on Saturday(:

Easter cards, made with love by Maxwell and Bella for their Great Grandparents.
Papa is 88 and he is not well, he just came home from Rehab, from a fall and breaking his shoulder in Feb., it's very sad to see someone who was once so full of life and independent, now so sad and unable to do things on their own. Chick, is 82 and a tough cookie, married for 63 years, the end of the journey is so scary for them and it just breaks my heart....to see them like this.

My babies on their way to Gigi's house on Easter Sunday, bringing their cards to Papa and Chick!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Today we colored eggs, had a little egg hunt, had pizza for lunch and ice cream sundaes for dessert.
And above is some more very sweet Chick pic's of my baby girl, taken by my fabulous friend Renee!!!
I love how she captures Bella's personality and the love she has for animals, how gently she holds those sweet baby chicks.

Easter Week Love

My dear friend, Renee, who has just fought the toughest fight in the world ~ breast cancer and WON! took some pretty amazing photo's of Bella. Every Spring she brings Chicks and Bunnies to her photo studio and takes the most fabulous pictures....Chicks on Babies heads, Bunnies chillin'  side by side with cute little people, they just make for the cutest spring photo's!
This little sneak peak pic, really makes me smile. It looks fresh out of a GAP flyer, plus Bella really is rocking her GAP spring raincoat and sparkle flats.

Thank you so super much, Renee for always taking the most precious pictures and for being one of the bravest, strongest woman I know! We Love You XOXOXOXO

A little Easter baking:
Here are some yummy Easter cupcakes that we made to bring to our friends house, just added super cute bunny toothpicks, which we got at TJMAX ( one of my favorite places!)

Then we just added some pastel food coloring to some store bought dunkin hines vanilla frosting, shook some pretty sprinkles on and ta da!

Then this past Saturday, March 31st, we visited our sweet cousins, "twins" Ava and Lily and had our traditional egg decorating fun!  Unfortunately my boys, are too cool these days to participate ( Video games just seem so much more appealing to them):  it makes me sad.. but anyway,....Bella and I had a blast hanging out with the cousins.  Bella adores her 8 year old twin cousins, they are like big sisters to her! They give her piggybacks and even drew the sweetest "Welcome" sign on their front door, to greet us. So sweet!

It' looks like someone's sipping on a Dunkin's coffee, but it's really a grown ups...lol

Thank you, Ava and Lily for giving Bella the super cool pink Bunny spoon, it works great for dipping those eggs!!!

HAPPY EASTER!!!
WISHING YOU,
CHOCOLATE BUNNIES,
FUN EGG HUNTS,
BASKETS FULL OF TREATS AND LOVE,
WARM SUNSHINE
AND
A BEAUTIFUL DAY WITH THE ONES YOU LOVE!!
GOD BLESS(: