Pineapple Coconut Smoothies

Pineapple Coconut Smoothies


I MUST share this from PBS's website and another blogger I follow at EatLiveRun.com. I can't wait to try this recipe! Since purchasing our juicer, I only purchase a fresh pineapple. I won't buy canned pineapple anymore! I don't have to worry about it going bad, because I throw in the juicer with an orange and a grapefruit and It. Is. Heavenly. [end of that sentence] :)

Nickelback - Lullaby

While I was feeding Bennett this morning, I stumbled upon this video on VH1. I love Nickelback and they're videos to interpret their songs. That's all I have to say about that.

Tenderness

I feel inspired to write my guys a ....something.  I had always desired a daughter to do "girl" things with....whatever "girl" things are that I currently don't do with any girls in my life.... However, some "dreams" die and it's all so much more fun than I could have imagined. I am crazy in love with my own group of guys. I have years of being the girl in their lives....of course, one of the guys is stuck with me forever.... ;)

Little brings me more pleasure than measuring my day in giggles, loud voices, and slobber. For these days do not last forever...in fact they're gone as quick as tomorrow!

Early I wake to the bed shaking, when Jacob comes bounding in. It is our time, Boy Wonder, to catch up, to snuggle,for just a few moments we have each other all to ourselves, as it used to be.
Next, I get out of bed, to the sounds of Bennett, jabbering with glee. I open the door, exclaim, "Good morning My Darling!" He greets me with a smile so big, so bright - there will be no storm to snuff out his light.
There is always a time, in the morning, before everyone goes their separate ways, when my waist feels the hand of my Favorite Person, he always brings a grin to my face.
May you each know, now, tomorrow, the next and everafter - no greater love grows, in my heart than the love I have for Steven, Boy Wonder and My Darling!

My Darling 6 months old

Same morning, last week. I LOVE the "just woke up" eyes!

Today, was early dismissal for Boy Wonder. Daddy went to get him and together they picked these posies for me! Jacob is getting to a new "place" where taking pictures over every little thing just isn't as fun as it used to be...for him!

Hubby knows I love gerbera daisies and the little green button'ish mums - though I don't think that is what they're called. Jacob picked out the butterfly.

I needed to make sure and include a picture of my guys. This was taken on my birthday last month. It's easy to see the love and closeness between them here and for me, behind the camera. It's one of my favorite pictures.

To do what one loves....

takes training, practice, years. I have loved writing on my blog and am out of practice and would very much love to continue with my blog. However, I trust my instinct for topics to write about, in this moment, as much as I trust a fickle person. ;) Allow me to share a very short chapter from an excellent book, which I am reading over and over again, called The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. It may sound familiar -  it is a book that propelled me into scratching the surface of being.....me, shortly after losing Levi.

"A Professional Acts In The Face Of Fear" p. 79 of The War of Art:

The Amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome. He knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist.
What Henry Fonda does, after puking into the toilet in his dressing room, is to clean up and march out onstage. He's still terrified but he forces himself forward in spite of his terror. He knows that once he gets out into the action, his fear will recede and he'll be okay.


In light of me being out of practice of writing/blogging/creativity - I am reading this book from cover to cover almost daily to spark the fire of creating again. I no longer want to fear being a stay at home mom, of being an artistic soul, of being afraid to ask for help when I'm lonely or really need some help, or of what people think of me. I think I have painted a picture of myself on Facebook and in interactions with people that I'm a tough cookie. Internally though? I want to be vulnerable. I want to live out loud. I want to embrace the things inside of me that are not meant to be dormant.

Best wishes to the happy couple!

I am basking in the glow of a wonderful weekend. Boy Wonder got to be a ring bearer in our dear friend's wedding. Mrs. Dodge [her married name] is a woman that was tender, precious, sweet and so loving to us after Levi died. She performed the memorial ceremony in remembrance of Levi and the dedication of our Jacob to God. She instantly was discovered to be a kindred spirit - we both love Jesus, music, theatre, singing, football, Mr. Darcy and Gilbert Blythe. :) We are so happy for her and her husband!

Gazelle

Wheeew Boy! It's been a week. I keep flip-flopping between, "I am going to kick this week's &*%@!?!" and "There has got to be more ....." I won't bore you with details, but the you-know-what hit the fan this week and I'm processing. Like an old DOS operating system, I'm processing. I know all will work out fine. The stress and weight of waiting to see it done is....something that I'm realizing I don't have to carry. I need to trust that it will be fine, because it will be and the stress and energy depletion is counter-acting my Mary Kay. I feel like my face looks like the "sick" face a Mac computer in high school used to make. Do Macs still make that face?

In the meantime, let me share a delightful blog with you! www.iowagirleats.com You're welcome. She's a breath of fresh air with realistic organizational solutions, tools, tips, her own interesting life stories, and the smoothie recipe that has rocked my world:
Recipes | Iowa Girl Eats

I love that the combination of the ingredients in her recipe taste like the best milkshake of my life. :D Bennett loves it too!

I spoonfeed him just about 1/2oz. when I make one for me. WHAT a great way to get the nutrients in our kids! Jacob hasn't had one yet, maybe this weekend.
That smoothie is also my very favorite color! When asked what my favorite color is, I tell people green. But I mean THAT green. :)
In the midst of freakishly violent hurdles [read my post on hurdles http://hallelujahmama.blogspot.com/2011/01/every-day.html] I am reminded that they have no place except to watch my undercarriage jump over them like a freaking gazelle!

Change of Seasons

As I get older, I find myself appreciating all 4 of our seasons. My favorite is, and will always be, Autumn. To me, there is nothing cozier, more comforting than the smell of the leaves as they dry and blow, in the wind. I also love the crunchy sound they make when we're outside. I could go on and on about Autumn, but we are entering SPRING!!! 

Maybe it's because I'm not pregnant this Spring...or moving - can't believe this week marks TWO years since my hubby became the city manager here. Maybe, it's because I am realizing how ready I am to move on from the "growing our family" stage that I've been in for the past 4 years. Whatever it is, Spring has sprung, in my heart and I am loving it!

Each of the seasons has their own merits. Each are beautiful, in their own way. I find that each reflect a wave of change, in my own soul as they begin to move from one season to the next. It's refreshing, inspiring, motivating. Spring is a time to clean off and plant new seeds of creativity.

This week, I'm in the throws of organizing my home...again. Each time I do, it's an improvement on the last organization frenzy. I am very much looking forward to having both my "little" men home with me later this week. I have fun crafts and projects for us to start. I am so looking forward to taking Jacob out on his bike and Bennett in his stroller for long walks.

This week, I am also exploring recipes that are vegan. I'm not saying I desire to go without meat all together...I'm just exploring. It's fun! The world of food is vast. I am looking for healthier alternatives for my family that are outside our box. I still love our juicer! Almost every day I have a juice of some sort and the days I skip, I can feel a difference. The days I wolf down homemade pizza or a package of Thin Mints...man...it isn't good. I love that I can feel the difference, in my body. It is fascinating. I also find myself grieving a little bit because ignorance was bliss! ;)

Enjoy your week my sweets! [Especially if you're an Iowan experiencing May weather!]