To Read on the Journey

Monday, July 9, 2012

4th of July, 2012

Linking up with Cuppakim and Katygirl  
with our 4th of July highlights


My husband, Michael, grew up enjoying the fireworks show from a boat on Bass Lake with his family every 4th of July.
It has become a tradition for our family, too.
It's a tradition we couldn't wait to  share with Michael's brother's sons for their first time!

Dessert in a jar is perfect for the boat.
Blue n' strawberry shortcake. 

We arrived at the in-law's dock to board the boat and met the 4th of July week renters,
 who have been renting the in-laws lake house for independence week for 21 years!
They recognized us from the photos displayed in the home,
and started hooting and hollering
when they realized Michael
was the infamous Jones who they refer to as
"Mullet Man."

{In the early 90's -before we met- "Mullet Man" had some serious
"business in front, party in the back" going on}.

We loaded the boat, laughing at "Mullet Man,"
and made our way out on the water to join the hundreds of boats headed for the show.


The lake is really fun on the 4th. Many boats are decorated in their red white n' blue, and patriotic tunes are heard from one end of the lake to the other.  
The nephews, Luke and Nicholas, were loving it!

Dessert was a big hit, too.
Once it got dark, I cuddled up with "Mullet Man,"
who became my sweetie 19 years ago on the 4th of July,
and watched the show.
Nicholas was in awe of the show.
*love*

My favorite is always the finale and listening to the crowd on the water and surrounding the lake erupt with cheers!
 

These sounds make me,
"proud to be an American."
The full moon rising over the mountain as we made our way back to the dock,
 while listening to
Michael Jackson's greatest hits blaring from the boat beside us.
How did you celebrate Independence Day?

Thursday, July 5, 2012

beware of bares {instagram}


linking up with jeanette, 
and
life rearranged


it's been a busy week here in our neck of the woods. 

 the maui cousin's, luke and nicholas, are staying with us for 6 days!
my kids could not be happier. 
because we only get to see them once a year, we are squeezing 
every ounce of memory making fun into our week together.

we began with a memorable hike to the bass lake falls. 
we hiked clothed, 
but a bare was spotted. 
beware.
 
the kids enjoyed swimming and sliding down natural water slides. 
michael and his brother, christopher, enjoyed seeing 
their kids playing together in their childhood backyard.  

****************

ice cream from miller's landing was a post falls must. 


****************
 
on our maui cousin fun list was 
a nacho libre dinner/ outdoor movie/camp-out night.


****************

 michael and christopher grew up watching the fireworks from their 
family's boat on bass lake.
so seeing luke and nicholas experience the 4th of july on the lake was a must! 

   these yummy blue n' strawberry shortcake jars 
were the perfect dessert for the boat. 


****************

 not pictured is that i took the kids {minus josie} to see 
the amazing spiderman movie.
it's not pictured because for the first time ever
i did not stay with them! 
they enjoyed the movie, 
and loved their independence. 


****************

Josie loves being fabulous.  
50+ bracelets,  3 tutus, red sunnies, and a shining personality
  make fabulous possible. 
 


****************
 
she does not love king snakes discovered in our yard.
{*shiver*  i'm with ya, josie}
maui cousins want to take it home as a pet.


****************
in non-cousin news, 
 pinterest is the devil.
for fun i searched for pixie cuts.
a few hours later i walked out of a salon looking like this. 

What's going on in your neck of the woods this week?
  

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Hello Monday. Hello July.

Joining Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday

Images from tubing on Bass Lake during Maycation.  
These expressions are a hoot! 


Hello  cousins, Luke & Nicholas, visiting from Maui all week! Hello to making memories together; Nacho Libre night,  camp out & breakfast-in-tent, swimming, 4th of July on Bass Lake, hiking, and more.   



Hello 19 years together on the 4th of July!  At the ages of 19 Michael and I said a happy "goodbye" to our independence and became a couple.   Hello to our history together exceeding the history we had apart.  

 Hello July 14th, and to welcoming another teenager into our home, Emilie!  I'm not afraid of 13.  Emilie is going to be a fabulous teenager

Hello to adding color to our home with July's  painting projects: 
painting a table/chairs/bench- yellow & turquoise,
painting Emilie's room- robin's egg blue,
repainting bathroom cabinets- black,
painting my bathroom- "dusty jones" (custom color),
painting the inside of the front door-red. 

(Heads up August, you're going to be swamped with July's unfinished painting projects)  


Hello to all three kids going to camp for 2 weeks!  They have been "campsick" all year.  Paper-chains are counting the days till they reunite with camp friends and staff and have their faith increased at the "home of the world's greatest campers."  
      
Hello to a long weekend get-away with Michael while the kids are at camp.  We need a get-away and time to fall for each other again.

       What are you saying "Hello" to this week and month?


Friday, June 29, 2012

insta-summerfun-friday


linking up with jeanett, with a week of instagram pix.
life rearranged


the kids camped out in the back yard all. week. long.
their rooms have been sparkly clean all week long, too. 
#summerfunlist
my sis and her family visited.
we introduced the bro-in-law to the s'more egg roll. 
i'm his favorite now. 
emilie sewed pillows for her bed.
#summerfunlist
josie baked bread again.
hello 9lbs i lost on the south beach diet. 
#summerfunlist
reading "A Horse and His Boy" to the kids
while they work on a 1,000 piece puzzle. 
#summerfunlist

play battleship. loser has to do winners chores!
#summerfunlist
 "big emily" with our emilie.
we have known "big emily" for 19 years. michael and i were her Young Life leaders.
i love how friendships happen.
i do not love that my emilie is taller than "big emily!"
{"big emily" isn't big at all. we've just called her that since our emilie was a baby}.
now  "big emily" has her own baby. kate.
and
a lovely little girl, libby.
we love watching "big emily" be a mommy.
she is good at it.
 i have read my bible everyday for 6 months
{first time in 38 years}.
1/2 way through!
God is cool, and His word is cool, 
and it's stirring me, and undoing me,
and that's good. 

draw a portrait of a sibling.
#summerfunlist
sand, prime, paint. 
one chair done.
 3 chairs, 1bench, and table to go.
#summerprojects
campfire, s'mores, and worship 
in our backyard.
#summerfunlist


what has kept you busy this week?


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

SBD believer


i've always been the anti-dieter.
i've watched and been mindful of what i inhaled, refrained when i added a few extra lbs, walked as needed, and called it good.

every spring {after "the most wonderful time of the year," girl scout cookie season} i tend to up my game to rid myself of the winter lbs that have been hiding out under my baggy red winter sweatshirt. 

however, this march when the sky's turned from gray to blue; extending me an invitation to begin walking, i'd sprained AND gotten tendonitis in my right ankle. meaning my typical maintenance plan would be impossible before tee n' short season approached.

i knew a few people who'd recently had success on the south beach diet, and decided to embrace the carb/sugar/fruit free life for a couple of weeks in order to lose my 9 winter companions.

because "misery loves company" i talked michael into being "mr. supportive" and sbd-ing with me.

we struck up a deal that if he joined me and lost 7lbs in the first 2 weeks he could get rid of his goatee, which i love(d)... honestly, i considered lacing his morning cuppa jo' with sugar so he wouldn't make the 7lbs.
evidently, i didn't.


"mr. supportive" lost the 7lbs, and {since this photo was taken} has lost 7 more!
yep, 14 lbs.  

i'm glad to say my 9 winter companions {lbs} are gone.

sbd is intended to target the waistline, and i'll sing it's praises and declare 'waistlines have decreased!'

the south beach diet has 3 phases:
phase 1= 2 weeks with no sugar, carbs, fruit, or high starched veggies like potato, carrots, and corn.
phase 2 = add in some fruit and 1-2 high fiber low carbs a day until you get to your desired weight {we did 2 weeks}.
phase 3=  pretty much phase 2 with a few adjustments. moderate treats.

we are on phase 3 and have chosen to stay on it indefinitely {or at least until girl scout cookie season comes around} because it's a healthier way of eating.

here is a bit of what we've been feasting on.   
 
flaxseed {blueberry} pancakes
find the recipe here.  they're pretty  good... better than no pancakes.



lettuce wrap tacos

romain lettuce topped with refried beans, chicken or ground turkey taco meat, 
cabbage, purple onion, olives, cheese, guac & salsa. 

veggie lasagna
ingredients and layers 1-4: 
 1-long slices of zucchini patted dry {these are your noodles)
2-sauce- red sauce, ground turkey, garlic, oregano, salt n' pepper to taste
3-lightly steamed broccoli and sauteed mushrooms
4-low-fat ricotta cheese & grated parmesian cheese
repeat layers 3x. 
bake 375 for 40 minutes. 

flax seed pizza crust
i topped our pizza with refried beans,  lowfat mexi cheese, 
cabbage drizzled in lime 
{i would have added cilantro to the cabbage but i was out}, 
tomato, olives, 
and for crunch tortilla chip crumbs.

next time i will add oregano to the crust and top it with pesto, moz cheese,
grilled chicken, mushrooms, sliced zucchini, and olives. 

here's the recipe
   
i've found it relatively easy {unless i'm pms-ing and HAVE TO HAVE salt and chocolate NOW} to stick to the south beach diet.

we've splurged a few times {a friend made homemade twix candy bars last week. irresistible}, and the numbers on the scales haven't pointed their mocking finger. 

coincidentally, i'm no longer an anti-dieter, i'm an sbd believer! 

do you have any sugar-free and/or low carb recipes? 
PLEASE share them. 
we're on the hunt for more yummies to add to our menu. 

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Kiss the Sky WINNER!

Winner of our Kiss the Sky, 
Grace Saved Me- 10x12 Stand Out Print
 is 
Cindy from Creating at Home.

Woot woot! 

Thank you to all who entered the give away. 

Your encouragement and shared verses or lyrics blessed me!  

To show my gratitude,
Receive 10% off in the Kiss the Sky shop this week.
{June 25- July1}
Use coupon code
grateful