Project 365 {2013} - Day 241

A miracle has occurred!! I NEVER get the pleasure of seeing the bottom of my in-boxes at work. Today, however, the workload was actually conquered! It will probably not stay this way for more than 20 minutes, so I had to document it! ;)

Project 365 {2013} - Day 239

The playroom was clean and is therefore worthy of documentation in my humble opinion!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 237

It was fun to sneak away, but it was good coming home to our girls too. This afternoon we had an adventurous, little family walk through the forest. The deeper we went into the woods the more convinced Brynna became that we were going to get lost forever! It probably didn't help that Justin made up a story about a group of boys called the "Canton Boys" who went into the forest and never came out! ;) They all knew ol' Dad was just messing with them...but Brynnie was still a little unnerved! She was relieved when we made it back to the main trail, by the baseball fields, where we started. We came across a playground on the way back to the car and stopped to just let the girls play. I couldn't help but stop and think about how much I love just love my Crew!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 236

Today Justin and I slept in, took our time getting dressed and then wandered around Chattanooga. Soaking in the sunshine and waterfront views, little side streets and Little Portland feel. We ate breakfast at a little diner that certainly probably had multiple health-code violations, but was a fun Mom n' Pop experience nonetheless. We wandered through antique stores without fear of little hands breaking things and held hands while we walked and talked. This city is such a gem and I am so grateful we had the chance to sneak away!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 235

Today is Justin's birthday and so we decided to sneak away for a little overnight trip to Chattanooga. (Thankfully we have amazing friends who were able to take the girls for us so we could make it happen!) When we rolled into town we immediately decided to grab a bite to eat at a little place called Fork and Pie. We snagged a seat by the window, which was perfect for talking since we were off by ourselves. We also had some awesome people watching since there was a biker rally or something right out on the street in front of us. We could tell the weather was starting to change when everyone started hopping on their bikes and driving off. After dinner we only got about five minutes into wandering around town before the skies opened up and absolutely drenched us. So we ran back to the car, checked into our hotel, showered and snuggled up. I think it was the perfect way to end the night!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 234

I got this in the mail today from my sweet Momma as a belated birthday gift. I love it!!!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 233

Good gravy this little woman is irresistible! Today was Devyn's first day of Preschool and she was so dang excited! She walked right into her classroom, hung up her bag and was ready to play and make new friends. While some other kids were whimpering and hanging on their mom's leg, Devy looked at me as if to say "Mom, I love you. Now scram." I gave her a hug and a kiss and off I went. It was weird for a second leaving my last baby there, a big kid doing the school thing, but then I decided to embrace it and be as thrilled for her as she was for herself. She had a great first day and feels like such a big girl with her own places to go and people to see!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 232

I love this picture so much! Luey kickin' it with her buddies, Buddy Max and Lincoln, on the curb watching videos! Three, little, blondie heads huddled together!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 231

Have I ever mentioned that I really love being married to a man that likes to cook? Well, I do! I was especially happy when I came home, tired from a day at the office, and Justin had the batter for zucchini fritters all rip, roarin' and ready for me to fry up while he grilled up some chicken breasts! So delicious! If you would like to try them for yourself, he found the recipe here...

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2011/08/zucchini-fritters/

Project 365 {2013} - Day 230

The girls and I went over to my friend Heidi's house this afternoon to check out the fun, new playscape her husband, Kevin, had been working on. A big storm smashed their other one and so they decided to go even better than ever on the rebuild! Heidi even had Kevin install a slide right off the deck to slide down to it! So fun! It was muddy outside and the skeeters were biting, but the girls had a ball!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 229

 

For the last 10 years, I've ran a basketball camp for the top basketball players in Georgia. When I first started running the camp, I really had no idea what I was doing. I packed a 140 players into a small gym, did everything by myself and asked my family to help me. Hey, you have to start somewhere, right?

Now that I work at Suwanee Sports Academy, a 7-court sports facility in metro Atlanta, I have more resources for running my camp. This year we had 150 kids over the course of three separate days.

We were lucky enough to have an old friend of my, Dennis Felton, run our camp. Who is Coach Felton? He most recently worked for the San Antonio Spurs as the Director of Pro Player Personnel. He was also the head coach of the University of Georgia's men's basketball team.

It was a great opportunity for our players to be coached by a great coach. The camp was great and the little camp that couldn't that I started 10 years ago continues to evolve into one of the elite opportunities in the country. What a ride it's been, too.

This post was written by my boyfriend, Justin D. Young. :)

Project 365 {2013} - Day 228

Devyn had a very fun, one-on-one Daddy-Daughter day with Justin that tuckered her out! We couldn't even get her unbuckled from her carseat without her trying to curl back up and fall asleep! Cute little turkey!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 227

I pretty much carry a water bottle with me all the time. Water is one of my favorite things to drink. So when my friend Jaime bought me this cool water bottle for my birthday I was so excited! We were unloading out of the car tonight after going out to dinner as a family and Lauryn grabbed my water bottle for me. Justin asked her what she had and she replied in her little voice...

 "Oh, dis is Mom's weed jar." 

Confused, he said "Huh?" 

"Ha weed jar. It's ha weed jar, Dad."

Even more confused Justin asked her to enunciate a little more.

"Ha 'wheat' jar, Dad!"

Justin heaved a sigh of relief knowing his wife doesn't have a secret habit hitting the Mary Jane. But we're still confused as to why she thinks it's a wheat jar? The only thing we could think of was that the yellow design on it looks like wheat stalks?! Weird and yet totally hilarious! Hopefully, she doesn't tell her teachers at school her mom has a "weed jar"!

It reminded me of the time my old boss, Dr. Taylor, told me his son told his granddad that his dad had "cocaine" locked up in a cabinet in the basement and that he wasn't allowed to go near it. What was really locked up and off-limits was tanks of propane!

I tell ya, kids say the darndest things!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 226

Brynna and Lauryn waiting for Miss Kathleen to take them to another day of learning!

On Monday and Wednesday mornings, my friend Kathleen takes the girls to school for me so that I can spend some time with Devyn getting her up and going with her day. The other days of the week, I take Kat's kids to school with us. It works out so nicely and makes me grateful that the village I have helping me in my journey raising children is such a good one!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 225

Justin was able to sneak away tonight and go to the Braves game with his friend, Russ Edelman, after work. As much as we all know he loves us, being the lone man in a house full of women can probably feel lonely at times. So I am happy for Justin when he can soak in some much-needed guy time!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 224

 

This is what about 7:00 p.m. looked like for me tonight. Well, to be honest, this is what it looks like most nights. It's that final hour before the kids go to bed and there is homework to wrap up, dinner to clean up, jammies and teeth to do and all I really want to do is lay, like a slug, on the couch in a semi-comatose state. I swear it feels like merely blinking requires more energy than I have to give. Early morning workouts, busy days at the office, running too and fro, being mom and running the homefront solo with Justin staying late at work tonight have left me just so dang tired.

Project 365 {2013} - Day 223

I have to say that one of the best things about Sundays, besides worship and all that, is being able to take a guilt free nap!!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 222

 

Nick and Laura bought a boat a few days ago and I have been chomping at the bit to check it out! So tonight they invited Justin and I and our friends, the Hatch's, to go out on it with them to try to get some skiing in. The weather was not feeling very cooperative however and we were met with torrential downpour at one point. We waited out the rain at the Little River Grill, eating sub par fried foods, waiting for a glimmer of clear skies. Finally the clouds broke as the sun started to sink below the horizon. We were each able to sneak in one, quick ski before the darkness fought off the light. There were moments that threatened to ruin all our fun, but when it was all said and done it was a great evening filled with great company and beautiful sunset!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 221

 

I love the cool stare down these two were giving me! ;)

They were pooped after a day of fun at Miss Jaime's house and chilling in the carseats, waiting to be loaded into the car, while Jaime and I chatted on the front lawn. I love so much that when Devy isn't with me, she is able to be with her best friend, Laci! I hope these two stay close forever!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 220

 

Lulu told me that she wanted to use the Sonicare tonight to brush her teeth. She explained that because she is now a big girl who is in Kindergarten, she therefore needs a big girl toothbrush. I just love that kid!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 219

I am not one that needs a big fuss made over me on my birthday. I am content to keep it quiet and carry on as usual. And that is fully what I was expecting to do today, on the day of my birth. But throughout the course of the day so many  kind gestures were extended to me. I was spoiled with flowers and a traditional birthday doughnut breakfast. My favorite beverage of choice, Green Goodness and delicious hazelnut chocolates were left on my desk. Thoughtful gifts that I absolutely love and cards with the sweetest things written in them were given to me. Justin got me my own laptop and even a surprised me with a fun evening out! It was so wonderful and I was completely feeling the love from so many! It's nice to feel that each birthday that comes isn't just a "you're getting really old" marker on the path of life, but is rather a chance to truly be reminded of all the love and goodness you are blessed to be surrounded by with each passing year.

Project 365 {2013} - Day 218

The only thing better than this article is Justin being a dork in the background of me taking a picture of this article. I love that boy. Anyways, it seems like I have found myself surrounded by a lot of body conscious and food conscious people over the last year and a half. I think it's largely due to me being part of the CrossFit community. I am not going to say it is like this across the board with all CrossFit folks, but this ever-present sort of obsessive mindset seemed to be exhibited by some around me. I couldn't help but absorb some of that and had it skirting around the periphery of my mental vision. For reasons I won't go into here, because it's a big, old long back story, I will suffice it to say it was bugging me and messing with my mind. The obsession with which I saw other people living was really bothering me. Then I found myself subconsciously feeling like I needed to be doing the same thing, even though it wasn't what I wanted for myself. 

Prior to ever stepping into CrossFit, I had lost about 50 lbs on my own and kept it off for over a decade and throughout four pregnancies. I felt like I had a pretty good idea about what worked for me. Moderation. Using common sense. Exercising. But then I was introduced to this mindset that complete, unwavering perfection was the only key to success and performance and it was suffocating me. I felt I was somehow a failure because I didn't have the desire to adhere to that way of life. I craved to feel okay with moderation again, but was surrounded by those who said that was just weakness. I felt there was shame in standing alone in my thoughts on food, for not falling in line. I started feeling like a rebel for wanting to eat oatmeal for breakfast for crying out loud.

Additionally, I exercise not to look good, but to feel good. While I like seeing progress made, my goal has never been to conquer the world nor has it been to strut around in a bikini, so the whole world can see how hard I workout. That doesn't matter to me. I just want to feel comfortable in my skin. I want to feel strong and healthy. I am not interested in being driven to the point of pushing myself to injury to achieve. I workout to sweat. To feel oxygen in my lungs. To push myself further than what is easy. To let my body know I am giving back to it for all it gives to me. To let it know it is loved and taken care of.

So when I came across this article, my heart skipped a beat. Because it perfectly puts into words how I feel about my body. It perfectly puts into words how I feel about food and relationships. It perfectly describes my view of what a healthy perspective is. It was such a relief to shake that feeling that I'm crazy and standing alone. That there is someone else out there that feels the way I do and isn't ashamed of it either.

My muscles may never be as defined as someone else. I may never be as fast or as strong as someone else. I may be faulted for eating oatmeal or birthday cake. But that's okay, because setting my standards to fulfill someone else's vision for me was never my goal. My goal in life and in fitness is to be good to my body, by my own definitions. By what feels good for me. And to appreciate who I am, for what I am and recognize and give credit for the efforts I do give, rather than feeling like whatever I give is never enough.

Here is the article that put that skip back in my step...

"How To Talk to Your Daughter About Her Body"

 How to talk to your daughter about her body, step one: don’t talk to your daughter about her body, except to teach her how it works.

Don’t say anything if she’s lost weight. Don’t say anything if she’s gained weight.

If you think your daughter’s body looks amazing, don’t say that.

 Here are some things you can say instead:

“You look so healthy!” is a great one.

Or how about, “You’re looking so strong.”

“I can see how happy you are – you’re glowing.”

Better yet, compliment her on something that has nothing to do with her body.

Don’t comment on other women’s bodies either. Nope. Not a single comment, not a nice one or a mean one.

Teach her about kindness towards others, but also kindness towards yourself.

Don’t you dare talk about how much you hate your body in front of your daughter, or talk about your new diet. 

In fact, don’t go on a diet in front of your daughter. 

Buy healthy food. Cook healthy meals. But don’t say “I’m not eating carbs right now.” 

Your daughter should never think that carbs are evil, because shame over what you eat only leads to shame about yourself.

Encourage your daughter to run because it makes her feel less stressed. 

Encourage your daughter to climb mountains because there is nowhere better to explore your spirituality than the peak of the universe. 

Encourage your daughter to surf, or rock climb, or mountain bike because it scares her and that’s a good thing sometimes.

Help your daughter love soccer or rowing or hockey because sports make her a better leader and a more confident woman. 

Explain that no matter how old you get, you’ll never stop needing good teamwork. 

Never make her play a sport she isn’t absolutely in love with.

Prove to your daughter that women don’t need men to move their furniture.

Teach your daughter how to cook kale.

Teach your daughter how to bake chocolate cake made with six sticks of butter.

Pass on your own mom’s recipe for Christmas morning coffee cake. 

Pass on your love of being outside.

Maybe you and your daughter both have thick thighs or wide ribcages. 

 It’s easy to hate these non-size zero body parts. 

Don’t. 

Tell your daughter that with her legs she can run a marathon if she wants to, and her ribcage is nothing but a carrying case for strong lungs. 

She can scream and she can sing and she can lift up the world, if she wants.

Remind your daughter that the best thing she can do with her body is to use it to mobilize her beautiful soul.

Project 365 {2013} - Day 217

Today Lauryn started Kindergarten and officially became one of the big girls! Where did time go?! (Devyn went to Miss Jaime's today, but it's wild to think she will start Preschool in a few short weeks too!) It makes me stop and do a double-take to think Maryn is in the 5th Grade and Brynna is in the 3rd Grade too!! Holy cannoli! Minus the heinous, marathon afternoon carpool all three of them reported having a great day! I am so excited for them in seeing some of the goals they have set for themselves this year coming to fruition and seeing them grow as people. I love these girls so dang much!!!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 216

Since Maryn didn't want a haircut last night I decided to give her a little back-to-school manicure instead. Nothing makes me feel better and more recharged than a little pampering every once in awhile. So it was fun having that one-on-one time with her doing just that!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 215

Maryn adamantly refused to get her haircut or even trimmed a little bit. But the other girls all wanted haircuts before school started again and both Lauryn and Brynna wanted quite a bit taken off! I procrastinated making appointments to take them to a salon, so tonight I grabbed the scissors and got to work doing it myself. I think the styles the girls chose turned out pretty cute!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 214

Maryn and Brynna have been begging over the last couple of days to update their blogs. When they finally were given their turn on the laptop, it did my heart good to look over and see Maryn intently typing away, loving having her own project!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 213

Today the girls went to their Open House at school to find out who their new teachers are! It was especially exciting for Lauryn, who was really wanting to check out what Kindergarten was going to be like. She walked into the room shyly and was warmly greeted by Mrs. Yllescas (sounds like Eee-yes-cas), her new teacher. Sensing Luey's hesitance, Mrs. Yllescas quickly distracted her with a tour of the classroom, while I filled out classroom paperwork. By the time I finished, Lulu informed me that she absolutely did not want to leave! It did my heart good to know she will be excited to come back on Monday, when school starts.

 

We then headed over to Brynna's new classroom and met her new teacher, Mrs. Hill. She seemed like a really fun lady, who had an easy laugh. She piqued Brynna's interest when she told her about their classroom economy where students earn credits or debits, by behavior or work, to use in the class store! Brynna also discovered one of her good friends from first grade, Laurel, was in her class this year as well. The first day always feels a little easier with a familiar face to see!

 

Our last stop was heading upstairs to visit Maryn's classroom in the fifth grade hall. We were greeted by Mrs. Bobo, who seemed very sweet and said she was really excited to have Maryn in her class this year. She explained that in preparation for Middle School fifth graders change classes for each subject. So Maryn, throughout the course of the day, will get to spend time with all of the fifth grade teachers, which will be fun for her. Maryn also discovered her good friends Alex and Dominick are in her class as well!

 

All in all it was a success and the girls are excited and ready for Monday! I can't believe the end of summer is actually here!