Saturday, January 29, 2011

(grand) Father Daughter Dance


My little girl is growing up.

She asked to go to the Father Daughter Dance this coming weekend in celebration of Valentine's Day.

Daddy has to work however, so Grandpa is gladly standing in line for her hand.  He is going to take my little girl out for dinner first and show her how she should be treated when some day, some boy comes knocken at our door...(please please don't let that happen anytime soon) like 10 more years would be great....

Isn't she just pretty as a picture ~
Blessings,
Olivia

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

homeschooling, eating right & a brighter view!

the sun came out for a little visit today!  long enough that i am tricked into thinking i can take on the world again!  look out world here i come!  so here is just a little sampling of what i've been pondering...

1.  homeschooling? 

two of my children, the boys, are struggling to stay afloat in school.  this year was absolutely set up for success if we could attain it because we got recommendations and have the best teachers around.  in addition, they are both getting extra help now. 
with all this in mind, and the time we spend in the evenings they are still not excelling or even achieving what is required at grade level... this really has me thinking, i could probably do better for them myself.  if we focused each day on what they really need and they had most of my attention wouldn't that be better for them than getting 1/24th of one teacher?  there is much to consider in this idea.  i will post more as i figure it out!

2.  eating right

this last weekend i started to feel ready. 

ready for what? 

to start really watching what i eat and making sure the content and the portions are just right.  i could stand to lose some "i have had four babies weight." (and the excuse!)  especially in the middle! 

the plan? 

to eat less than 1500 calories a day (as close to 1050 as i can get) and really balance it with variety.  it's funny because i have already done a couple days and i realize that there are still plenty of foods i can enjoy with this in mind, the trick for me is to pay attention!

here is a sample of what i ate yesterday:

2 americanos with Coffee Mate Lite creamer (liquid)
Beef taco with cheese and lettuce (2)
Raw tomatoes
 1/2 Grilled cheese sandwich
Deli ham (regular)
Peas and carrots fresh
1% milk (low fat 1/2 cup
Granola bar
Wheat cracker (8)
Orange (raw)
Tea (unsweetened)

this equaled a little over a thousand calories, but today i used even more natural fresh ingredients because i was home and able to cook more (yesterday was my volunteer day and also two basketball games so it was eat fast time)
also, mypyramid.gov has a menu planner with calories to help you figure out what each food is, that is a helpful trick to know if i'm on track or not! 

3.  a brighter view!

literally! 
i hired a professional window cleaner who came on monday to wash all the winter and fall grime away!  our windows haven't been cleaned on the outside for several years!!!  they were so hard to look through i was going crazy! 
what a winter pick me up!  i know most people wait until spring but i couldn't wait another day!  i gotta say i highly recommend this to wash the winter blah's away!

well that's about it! i hope this little glimpse into my thoughts could maybe have inspired someone else too! 

blessings,
olivia

Friday, January 14, 2011

It's time for my winter break...

Time to hunker down for that long winter's rest...


so enjoy your cozy fireplace and your good book (and I will too).  Enjoy your comfort food and your creamy lattes (and I will too).  I'll be back when the sun comes out to solar power me!
Blessings,
Olivia

Monday, January 3, 2011

Time to get my house in order!

There is something I love about this after~Christmas time.  Before the New Year begins I busy around getting the holidays put away.  I stand back and take a breath looking at the newly simple mantle and tablescapes.  I breathe deeply as the clutter clears away.  And exhale too, as my soul expands in the knowledge of a slower pace now upon me.  Soon the January dreariness may seep in, but for now I am pleased with the new bareness all around.  Wishing you a peaceful and freshly new year.  And while the depth of winter sinks in low all about remember to let the old and worn out ways whither and wilt so new life can abound after our long winters slumber!

About Me

My photo
wife & mother of 4 beautiful children, 2 girls & 2 boys. small business co-owner; catering and a restaurant/alehouse, writer, gardener, lover of freedom and humility found in christ, small town enthusiast, book reader, admirer of noble truths, beauty and love

Followers