Fast Food Challenge

Growing up, I ate my share of Fast Food.  McDonald's chicken nugget Happy Meal was one of my favorites.  I loved dipping the nuggets and fries into the Sweet and Sour Sauce.  Yum!

Then, in high school Chemistry class, I remember my teacher showing us what fries were really made of.  It grossed me out so much that I avoided fries for a very long time.  Eventually, the intensity of that experiment wore off and I was back to the fries.

In college, it wasn't uncommon for my suite mates and I to travel to Steak N' Shake in our p.j.'s for a yummy Hand Dipped Milkshake!  And then when I became pregnant, McDonald's french fries and a chocolate milkshake was one of my favorite snacks.

For the month of October, I am joining other bloggers and taking the Fast Food Challenge.  To learn more about the challenge, head on over to I'M A LAZY MOM and join in!

Source: google.ca via Karen on Pinterest

Fun with Grandma

This past weekend, I traveled back home to Florida for my friend's wedding.

I was so anxious about leaving Baby C.  In fact, the last time I had left her for more than a day, she ended up in the hospital.  Leaving her began to trigger unwanted memories.  So I prayed and asked God to bring me a peace of mind.  Besides, she would be in the loving hands of her daddy and grandma.

So while I was away at the wedding, Baby C enjoyed hiking with her Grandma!

Thankful Thursday {Week 2}

"That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell all Your wondrous works . . ." Psalm 26:7


Most of the time, I pray to the Jesus, asking him for favors.  He is generous and always provides . . . in His time.  It's so important to remember to thank God for the many blessings He faithfully gives.

Thank you, Lord:

1. For my new nephew.

2. For your healing power over my grandma who continues to battle cancer.

3. For life long friendships.

4. For new, developing friendships.

5. For weekends!

Source: sparkbark.com via Karin on Pinterest

Brilliant and Beautiful

Baby C finds Daddy's toy

Daddy's Girl

I thought for sure Baby C would be a Mama's Girl.  Or maybe I just hoped she would be.  Just like I was when I was a little girl.  My husband teases me that I am still a Mama's Girl.  He's so right.  But Baby C, she is totally a Daddy's Girl.

First of all, she talks about him all day long.  Da Da this and Da Da that.  LOL!  And when he comes home from work, she is captivated by him, following his every move.  Her smile is as big as can be as she watches him.  She thinks her Daddy is pretty fun too.  She loves to be flipped upside down with him and smiles so much bigger when he pushes her in the swing.

I'm a little jealous of Daddy, but I know she loves me too!

Don't forget to checkout my giveaway HERE!

Thankful Thursday

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

God has blessed my family with so many blessings and I am ready to thank Him for all He has done and continues to do for us.

1. I am thankful that God continues to provide for our family.
2. I am thankful for answered prayers.
3. I am thankful for Fall.
4. I am thankful for my family.  Even though they are far away, we get to talk on the phone, email each other encouragement, and even video chat.
5. I am thankful for God helping me to make the right choices.
6. I am thankful that God continues to show us ways to save.
7. I am thankful for our new church.
8. I am thankful that I continue to grow and learn each day.
9. I am thankful for Baby C's painless teething process.
10. And I can't thank God enough for our Sweet Tiny Blessing.

Source: livinglifewiththeloves.blogspot.com via Gena on Pinterest

Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Football

Football season has begun and it has always been a big part of my family growing up.  I have so many great memories.  So I thought I would join in with Oh Amanda this week and her Top Ten Tuesday to share my favorite memories.

 

1. Cheerleading for the Venice Vikings as a little girl.

2. Playing football with my family in the yard.

3. Growing up watching and cheering on my brother and cousin as they played football from elementary school to college.

4. My mom's famous football dip. Mmm!

5. My brother teaching me football plays the night before middle school P.E. class.

6. My dad taking my brother's and I out on Sundays.  Wherever we went, the game was playing on the car radio.  And whatever restaurant we chose to eat at, it had to have the game on tv.

7. The neighbors' cheers and curses for their favorite team.

8. Listening to Football Commentators.

9. Super Bowl Sunday.

10. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers!

Source: hellohappinessblog.com via Amy on Pinterest

Check out my Prefense Hand Sanitizer Giveaway HERE!

9 Month Old

My baby girl is 9 months old today!  And oh my, she is growing way too fast.  Her little personality is really starting to shine.  She laughs harder and smiles brighter then ever before.

She loves playing Pat-a-cake and Peek-a-boo!  And the only way I can get her to lay still on the changing table as I change her diaper, is to sing her the ABC's.  (Definitely a teacher's daughter.)  She loves to play with my hair.  Maybe she'll be a hair stylist like her Grandma.

Her new foods this month are peas, chicken, carrots, yogurt and wheat.  

She is cruising and crawling along well.  And now she has learned to pull herself up.  Her latest feat is climbing the stairs.  Look at this girl go!

Baby C, you never cease to amaze me!  You grow smarter and funnier everyday!  I love you cutie pie!

He Remembers

I was in my junior year of college when I heard about the planes crashing into the twin towers.  I was interning at an elementary school. At the time, I didn't realize it was a terrorist attack. Driving back to my dorm, after school, is when I realized it was more than just random plane crashes.

I began to cry as I listened to the details of the attack on the radio.  I wondered and worried about my brother, who lived just outside the city, but worked in NYC in productions.  Later on that day, I found out that my brother was, in fact, safe.

When the first plane hit, my brother was watching it on tv at his college.  He too, thought it was a random plane.  He left to get on the train to head downtown to work.  Before he got on the train, his girlfriend at the time, called and told him there was more.  He returned home to watch the second plane crash.

I recently asked my brother if he was scared.  He replied, "I wasn't scared knowing that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were walking next to me."

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Jamie on Pinterest

God, buildings rise and fall, yet you are changeless.  Be near us in times of terror and times of remembrance. Be with those who are weeping.  Strengthen and comfort those who mourn what they have lost and bring them peace. Be with our nation's leaders, that they will make the right decisions to protect our country.  And watch over all the service men and women who protect us.  Amen!

Praying for Weight Lose

After giving birth to Baby C, I dropped my weight pretty quickly.  In fact, I weighed less then before I was pregnant.  (I guess I can give that E. Coli Infection a nice, big thank you).  But my body shape changed dramatically.  Nothing fit the same anymore.  I was uncomfortable in my old jeans and often wore workout clothes (even though I wasn't working out much).  Though I weighed less, I still was a bit overweight for my height and age.

About a month and a half ago, I joined Weight Watchers.  I have started eating healthier and moving a little bit more.  The weight started slowly coming off.  I wished it would come off faster, but then I heard someone say, "When the weight comes off slow, those are the pounds that will stay off.  But when you lose it fast, it usually ends up coming back."  So I'm good with it coming off slowly.

Then a couple of weeks ago, I gained weight.  It wasn't much, just . 4 pounds.  But I was so upset.  That . 4 was in the wrong direction.  And I knew exactly where that . 4 came from.  It was the stupid salad I ate.  Yeah, you would think salad would be healthy.  Then I looked up the points and the salad dressing was worth more points then my WEEKLY allowance!  I was so frustrated.  And I kept dwelling on it.

I soon remembered to pray.  Why would I pray about losing weight?  Well, why wouldn't I pray about losing weight?  I pray about everything else.  I didn't ask God to magically make the weight come off.  I asked him to help me make the right food and exercise choices.  And I asked him to help me move past that . 4 of a pound.  And when I weighed in the next week, I lost another pound!

I'm now less then a pound away from my halfway goal.  I feel so much healthier and able to keep up with Baby C!

Source: espressoandcream.com via Lindsay on Pinterest

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

Prefense Hand Sanitizer Giveaway

I am so excited to announce my first giveaway with Prefense Hand Sanitizer!  I first started using hand sanitizers, often, when I became a teacher.  I was constantly trying to fight colds and germs.  And most classrooms didn't have a sink, nor did I have the time, to wash my hands.  Because of the alcohol in most hand sanitizers, my hands became dry and cracked very quickly.

I recently became a mommy.  And with Baby C in and out of the hospital, it was important to keep my hands clean at all times.  I had hand sanitizer everywhere in the house, including the kitchen, bedrooms and diaper bag.  My hands could no longer handle the drying and cracking, even with lotion.

After using Prefense for the first time, I absolutely loved it! Prefense does not have any alcohol, so it won't leave your hands dried out.  In fact, it gives your hands a smooth and soft feeling.  One application gives you protection from germs for up to 24 hours.  That means, when there is no sink in sight, you're well protected all day long.  Prefense is safe for the whole family, whether at home, in school, or at work.

Prefense is colorless and odorless.  It will not stain your skin or clothing.  It's active ingredient dries into a protective film that stands guard against pathogens you encounter during the day.  Prefense actively slices the cell wall of pathogens you come in contact with for up to 10 hand washings.

You can follow Prefense on both Facebook and Twitter!

Buy It: You can purchase Prefense directly off their website or on  Amazon.

Win It: Prefense is graciously giving away one 8oz bottle to one lucky Sweet Tiny Blessings reader.

This giveaway is open to US residents only.  One winner will be chosen randomly and will be emailed directly.  The winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

How To Enter: Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. The more entries you do, the better your chances of winning!  Good luck!

Birthday Party Planning

My daughter isn't even 9 months yet and I'm already planning for her 1st birthday party.  I'm very excited to return back home to family and friends so we can celebrate this precious, baby girl's birth.

I recently won a giveaway from Polka Dot Market, where I choose a cute banner for Baby C.

This was my inspiration in creating Baby C's birthday party.  So I headed over to Pinterest to start planning.  Here are some of the choices I made.

Source: google.com via Mandi on Pinterest

Every birthday girl needs a sweet little outfit!

Source: megzcakes.ca via Mandi on Pinterest

How adorable are these cupcakes?

Source: birthdayexpress.com via Mandi on Pinterest

This table set is a perfect match!

Source: thebusybudgetingmama.com via Mandi on Pinterest

And to top it all off, a banana split bar for my little monkey!

Now, if I could just figure out where to host her cute little monkey party.  A playground perhaps?

What was your baby's first birthday party theme?

Our Love Story

Today marks the second wedding anniversary for my husband and I.  Two week after getting married in the mountains of Colorado, my husband left for Iraq.  We spent our first year of marriage emailing, video chatting and talking on the phone.  How incredibly difficult it was not to be able to reach out, hug and hold my husband.

Almost nine months ago, our baby girl was born.  It is amazing how the two of us created the most precious thing in the whole wide world.

Like every marriage, ours is not perfect.  We've had our ups and downs.  And we have worked together to pull through the hard times.  We have been blessed with so many good times.

Thank you, God, for bringing us together!  Here's to two more years!  Just kidding.  Here's to forever!

Lord, I pray that You would protect our marriage and family.  Unite us in friendship, commitment, generosity and understanding.  I pray that we will be committed to You.  That we will not waiver, no matter what storms may come.  I pray that our love will grow stronger everyday. Amen!

Taste of Colorado

This weekend, we took a day trip downtown, to the Taste of Colorado.  It was such a beautiful day!

Baby C enjoying the sunshine

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in  it." Psalm 118: 24

"The Lord bless and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you . . ." Numbers 6: 24-25

Tickling her toes in the soft grass

"He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth." Psalms 72: 6

Playing in the field

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40: 31

How Do I Say No?

I have a big problem.  I can't say no to little kids who are selling things.  You know, those sweet, little girl scouts outside the grocery store selling girl scout cookies. Or the little kids that come to your door, trying to raise money for their school.  One time, I even bought a time share in the mountains for a weekend, from a little kid's hockey team, trying to make it to their championship.  My future husband wasn't very happy about that one, but it didn't turn out so bad, because he proposed to me while we were there.

So why is it that I just can't say no?  Is it because I'm afraid to hurt their feelings or crush their dreams?  I remember being in middle school, trying to raise money for our graduation trip to Disney World.  My friends and I went door to door selling Poinsettias.  It was so exciting every time we sold one.  We were that much closer to going to Disney World!

A cute, little girl came to my door this afternoon.  She was selling things out of a catalog to raise money for her school. (Didn't school just start last week?)  I didn't want to say no, but I can't say yes to every kid that comes to my door either.  (There are lots of kids in our new neighborhood.)  So I flipped through the catalog and bought the cheapest thing.

Source: tumblr.com via Alex on Pinterest

Can you share some suggestions on how to say no, gently?

A White Wedding

In just 3 short weeks, I will be traveling to Florida for one of my best friend's wedding.  And I am so excited to see her walk down the sandy isle to her man.  I know she is going to be breathe taking.  And I'll probably end up crying some happy tears.

J and I met in 6th grade.  That means we have known each other for over 12 years!  I can't believe it.  We've been through so much together and this will be another beautiful memory to add to the rest.  I'm also looking forward to seeing the rest of my best girls and sharing the weekend with them!

But before I take off to Florida, there is so much I need to get done here.  I'll be leaving Baby C behind with her loving daddy and grandma.  So I need start making baby food and creating a list for them to use, if needed.  I also need to get a white dress.  I've been putting it off for a while, because I wanted to lose some weight.  But I don't think I can wait much longer.

Source: weheartit.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I'm really going to miss Baby C.  This will be the first time we will be in separate states!  I know she is going to be in great hands, but I'm going to miss holding her tight and seeing her beautiful smile.

Any tips on surviving my first trip without my baby?