Five on Friday

{ONE}  Robin Roberts

 We had to run into Sam's Club to get some dog food & I saw Robin Roberts' book.  I had wanted to read it from the moment I heard about it, but honestly, forgot about it until I saw it.  I grabbed it instantly & put in my cart.  We had to stop at another store on the way home for Ricky & I stayed in the car.  I opened the book & started reading the first chapter... then the next... & the next... all while waiting on Ricky.  It's so good. I can't wait to finish the whole thing.  Something about her is just so personal & endearing.


{TWO} Summer TV Shows

So You Think You Can Dance, Extreme Weight Loss edition & America's Got Talent started this week!  YAHOO!!!

Remember the time when Fall TV would have season finales & there would literally be nothing on all summer long except reruns or weird specials.  Now, there's a whole set of summer shoes that are just as exciting to me & I look forward to watching.  My poor DVR never gets a break anymore.

Now, waiting for Big Brother to start next month & Summer TV is complete....


{THREE} Bop it! Smash

I have no idea why Ricky bought this little game one day.  But we are 2 competitive people & you can play against each other or single rounds.  What we end up doing is playing single & seeing who can get the highest score.  Ricky kept it for weeks at 129.... & then the other day, miracle of miracle, I got 130... I was all "IN YO' FACE!" & then of course, Ricky snagged it out of my hands & played it & instantly got 145...
DANG IT!!!!

Back to the Bop it Smash drawing board.

This battle can last for a lifetime... or until one of us throws & breaks this machine.


{FOUR}  Graduation Parties

The one thing about working in Youth Ministry?  I'm never bored during graduation season.  I have about 5 invitations on my refrigerator for parties.  It always blows my mind to see these kids grow up so fast.  I get to be a part of their life when they go into 6th grade & I get to hang out with them & get to know them as they grow into young adults & start to venture into the world.  It happens in a blink of an eye.  Here goes another group into their big bright future.  I never stop praying for them... no matter how old they get...



{FIVE} Documentary Heaven

So I may have found the greatest web site ever.... Documentary Heaven

A site that has hundreds of documentaries you can watch for free.

There's something about good documentaries that shows real life in a new way that I just love.  I could get lost on this page for hours at a time... Good thing its called "Food for your brain"

#ProjectThankful14

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” -Maya Angelou

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05.22.14 Nutella makes everything better

I'm not sure what kind of apples these are but they are so amazingly sweet

... & add Nutella?...

This is the best dessert ever!

05.23.14 Veggie Roll

I had never had a veggie roll but was going through the grocery & walked by the sushi bar there. 

I happened to look down & saw the words "Veggie Roll" & I thought, why not?

OH.MY.GOSH.

I wish I knew about these earlier.

I'll be stopping in this grocery probably quite often & head right over to the sushi bar now.

Avacado is all it takes to make me happy.

05.24.14 Still Fighting

The vet didn't think this bottle would need to be filled.

In yo' face vet...

We're planning on another

... & another... & prayfully another

05.25.14 Xmen with friends

My friends know my obsession with Hugh Jackman & my favorite part was when he stood up naked & his bum was on the screen, I think they all looked down at me & laughed while my jaw dropped.

... & while my husband put his hands over my eyes :)

05.26.14 Simple Things 

These girls wanted to take time to walk down to a pond & look for snapping turtles.

I'm glad I went with them.

I don't think as 'grown ups' we ever take time to just make a point to slow down to just enjoy the day & look for turtles, take time to play, take time to explore.

I'm thankful this day, I was reminded of just that.

05.27.14 Blender Bottle

I've always wanted one of these things & put it off, but found one & decided to just go for it.

Make that big $8.99 purchase.

Yahoo!!!

05.28.14 Sweet coffee love

I was out with the Hubs & we stopped by Starbucks

(to which my local Starbucks told me they probably aren't going to get in Peach this year.... 

WH WH WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?)

I got an Iced Coffee... which was disgusting.  I actually went back in & had them add more vanilla & some cream (which I ordered & they messed up)

... still tasted disgusting. I couldn't even drink it.

So my sweet hubs drove way out of the way to get to a McDonald's so I could get a good iced coffee

Double Thankful - McDonald's has the best Iced Coffee

... but I have to give props for my husband taking the time to go out of the way for me....

He loves me :)

Or maybe he loves me when I'm not grumpy from being tired & when I need caffeine :)

What are you thankful for this week?

Hodgepodge

Wednesday - right?  So confusing...

1. What news story are you following right now?

The Kimye wedding... if you believe that, then I'm also a size 6 & a super model

I will confess though, I was anxious to see her wedding gown though.  & MUCH better then that the first time around.  Wonder if dress #3 is any better... (Oh, I'm shouldn't be so negative about her marriages... I'm sorry Mrs. West)

2. What's the last thing you wanted but didn't get?

Sleep

3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day...when did you last have a hamburger? Other than your own kitchen or BBQ grill, where is your favorite place to go for a hamburger? And for all you non-meat eaters out there...when you're invited to a cookout what is the one side dish you hope is on the menu?

First off - big props to you Joyce for having a question for us vegetarians/vegans who play along with Hodgepodge...

OK - I don't even really hope anything special is on the menu - I usually am perfectly fine with all the sides.  & get plenty full too.  Sides for everyone!  Save a cow.. & a chicken... & a pig!!!

4. How have your priorities changed over time?

I realize the importance of taking care of yourself... for your future self.

Its like that saying, if you plant a seed today, you'll be glad you did it in 20 years.
I wish I planted that seed of health 20 years ago in myself....
My 65 yr old self will thank me though - right?

This went all Inception or something

5. What's a favorite memory with your grandparents?

I always remember going to Rough River with my grandparents during the summer.  Lots of rides on boats, lots of being in the sun, lots of fishing, where I would secretly let some fish go from the buckets they were keeping them fresh in.... see? I was destined to be a vegetarian.


6. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being fantastic!), how good are you at multitasking? Share an example.

I think I'm excellent at multitasking.

I always tell everyone a perfect example - one day, I was running on the treadmill, watching a TV show,  keeping track of my time in doing intervals for walk/run & was also on the speaker phone taking a call.

My brain doesn't work right unless its thinking of at least 3 things at once.

7. How would you summarize your highs and lows for the month of May?

I would summarize them as being high & a little low....

that was easy...

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

So we got Xmen outof the way this week ... awesome by the way... & Fault in our Stars is in another week... so this weekend is about Maleficent.  Anyone else excited about it?  I'm not sure if Ricky is even interested in seeing this one.  Its a Disney movie from a Disney Princess movie... he HAS to know I want to see this one...

I'm anxious to see if the back story is something that makes us feel bad for her... kinda like "Wicked" did for the Wicked Witch of the West...

everyone has a back story...

The weekend that makes me want more 3 day weekends

Where we look at the highlights of the weekend

// I really hate grocery shopping.

// I am thankful that our grocery has a big selection for health food/natural food.

// I saw a tweet about Pizza Hut before I left work Friday & then was instantly craving.  The power of advertising.  I mentioned it to Ricky & he instantly wanted it too.  The power of suggestion.  So we kicked off the weekend with veggie pizza... Pizza Hut is the best.

Swweeennggg! :)

//What Would You Do? is back on TV.  Ricky & I love that show.  I have to think the people of New York are onto this gig now after all these years.  I would recognize those same actors they use without a doubt if I saw a weird situation.

// If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you see the things Harvey Dent is up to... puppy stuff... & Saturday, I truly cried over it.  He got my Polar Watch... & I needed it to work out.  It actually still worked, with no band & the face dented up.  I put it in a wrist wallet & used it while I worked out.  Genius.

That rascal

// I finally got my closet moved over.  & found out I had bought some skirts over fall/winter when they were on clearance & then just ordered 4 more maxi skirts from Target - so I have 8 new skirts.  YES!  I am going to go through summer in skirts & flip flops.

// Its a good thing I have all those skirts because half of my shorts are too tight   #depressing

// Watched the new Muppet movie with Amy Adams & the guy from How I met your Mother... it was pretty awesome.  I love the muppets.  Something I grew up with. I was even thinking of doing a post called "Me & Miss Piggy" one day....

// Determined to finish my book Paper Towns.  It was an up & down roller coaster. I hated it one minute, loved it another.  Loved the beginning, loved the end... the middle?  mmeehhh.... I am looking forward to John Green's book "Looking for Alaska"

// We ended up just hanging out in Merge with the kids & playing games. It was such a fun day to just laugh together.  Sometimes that's the best way to connect.

// I may have peed a little on myself from laughing.

// I had a twin at church.  What are the odds of us having that exact color on.  It's not like an every day color.  Apparently it makes you really happy when you wear it.

// We head out to lunch at McAlister's with our buddies Ryan & Chasity & ended up sitting in there talking for 3 hours.  3 hours... thank goodness for free refills of McAlister's Tea

I talked so much, I needed this to keep my throat from drying out 

//  Found a Polar watch at Best Buy on clearance for $45 off!!! SCORE!  It's a red band & I love all things red.  Ricky told me I should thank Harvey Dent.  Let's not go that far.

//  Went to see X-men with friends... I LOVED IT!!!! LOVVVEEEDDDDD IT!! & not because you see Hugh Jackman's bare rear end... that helped... but it was a great X-men movie!

Ricky was actually there... he took the picture... he prefers to be behind the camera then in front anyways

// Our Sydney is doing good one minute, having problems the next... but she's still hanging in there fighting a good fight.  Our precious girl.

My beautiful Aussies

// Memorial Day was easy & relaxed with a trip to Target, a stop at Five Guys & a nap... I don't nap... but I think my body knew it was a day off work so that requires extra 'lazy'

// Got to see my family for a little bit on Memorial Day.  I got to hang with my nieces for a bit too & take a walk down to the pond to look for snapping turtles.  The joy of being a kid.

// It's always fun to listen to my mom & her sisters get together.... Italian women together?  How can that not be fun?

// Started the Beta round on T25 ... & I think I almost puked on the first work out.  Here we go with the next 30 days.

How was your long Memorial Weekend?

Five on Friday

Friday... in the words of the great Barry Manilow, looks like we made it!!

Time for Five on Friday

ONE // Kimye Wedding

Really?... REALLY????
 

I have to say, I am so sick of seeing everything about this wedding.  It has been on the front pages of every entertainment web site, the first story on every entertainment news show... I have to know.  Does anyone care THAT much where they need 24 hour coverage on it?  Did they have this much coverage on Prince William & Kate when they got married?  I could see that... & even deal with that.  (Side note - I still have their wedding on my DVR to watch whenever I want)
Dear fellow Americans,  we are looking like idiots when Kimye is our big news story.
Please let me know if you even care about this... or if you're like me & just taking bets on how long it will last.  (Other side note:  Baby North is gorgeous)


TWO // X-Men

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am that this movie starts this weekend.  Yes, Hugh Jackman MAY have something to do with it, but I really do love the whole X-men franchise.  When Ricky & I started dating, he would have me watch the X-men cartoons with him & I really enjoyed them.  It soon turned into a pop quiz as he would ask me, "Who is that?" - "What is their power?".... I'm pretty decent on my superhero trivia now.  Thankyouverymuch.  But the previews of this movie looks like it is on Superhero OVERLOAD... tons of X-men characters.  I can't wait.
& oh yeah... Hugh Jackman


THREE // John Green

All the talk is about The Fault in our Stars right now... which I'm also in countdown to see the movie & loved the book.  But a young man in my youth group is a big John Green fan & he knows I love books. He told me its a must to read all his other books.  So I went straight to Amazon & downloaded them on my Kindle.  Right now, I'm in the middle of Paper Towns ... & loving it!!! 

I really wonder if this guy is the next John Hughes of this generation.  John Green is pretty awesome if you ever watch any of his videos or read anything he talks about.   He also has his own YouTube channel called "Vlogbrothers" if you want to check more of him out.
What other John Green books have you read?


FOUR // Wear Blue to Remember

Yes, I'm looking forward to a day off work on Monday.  But I want to try & remember what the day is about.  You can go to the site in the picture above & dedicate some miles to this cause.  You can walk, you can run, you can pick your own miles.  It's just saying you're going to take time to actually remember the importance of the day....  & wear blue while you're doing it.  Easy enough.

For the fallen. For the fighting. For the families

http://www.wearblueruntoremember.org/

FIVE // The Truth of Running

This just makes me laugh ... The 'deal' on the running shoes is my favorite part.
"He just kept getting medal... after medal... after medal....."

Happy Friday everyone!!!

ProjectThankful14

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; & that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~G.K. Chesterton

 

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05.15.14 Memories


Someone posted this as their Throw Back Thursday
& it just made me so thankful for memories of precious moments.
This was when our church did a Princess Tea Party
Well, duh!  You knew who I was going to be.
I had the coolest table full of Beauty & the Beast collectibles
It was beautiful if I do say so myself.
But I loved when the little girls just wanted to talk to me ....
They're growing up now but I still tell them I'm really Belle
... I think some of them may believe it...
I know I do :)

 
 

05.16.14 Peach Green Tea Lemonade



The first of the year
... I should keep count on how many I drink this Spring/Summer...

The BEST drink EVER at Starbucks


 

05.17.14 - Baby Shower



I talk about Ryan & Chasity all the time here. 
He, being my dear friends son who we adore & is an incredible man of faith (it freaks me out to call him a MAN now... I still see him as the 16 yr old kid we met years ago)  & Chasity, my precious friend who is also my photo assistant & who teaches me so much about being a Christian woman
... they're having a baby...
It was great celebrating our Grandbuddy
& seeing so many people we haven't seen since their wedding.
I told Chasity it felt like their wedding reunion :)

 

 

05.18.14 Maternity Session for my "Framily"



(Define Framily: Friends who are family)

When I found out Ryan & Chasity was pregnant, I think I counted down to the time I could do their maternity pictures... I love when I know people taking their pictures so I can say, "Hey Ryan, carry my bag for me" :)

If you want to see the whole session -
check out "Rebecca Jo Photography" on Facebook ... the link is on the side

 

 

05.19.14 Juice Plus



Been debating on whether to give this a try.
Decided my health is worth it.
Finally got it in the mail & started on it.
I was afraid it would bother my stomach - not in the least.
I'll let you know how it makes me feel, if any different, in a few months.
 

 

05.20.14 FREE ICED COFFEE!!!!



I usually stop at McDonalds on my way home anymore to get a French Vanilla Iced Coffee... $1.92... I already know the cost
#addicted
I pulled up & asked for my usual & they said, "Oh, its free"
Wh-wh-WHAT???
Yep - free iced coffee till Sunday!
My caffeine heart pounded even faster!

 

 

05.21.14 Healthy Ice Cream

 

 

So I saw something on FitSugar one time & pinned it & then saw my blog buddy Mia do the same thing, I had to give it a go.
It's just a frozen banana & I added in PB2 Chocolate powder into my Nutribullet.
OH.MY.WORD!
It honestly tasted like a Wendy's Frosty... seriously...
I just need to see if there is an easier way to blend up the bananas.
I thought my Nutribullet was going to explode.
It'd be worth it though :) 

 

 What are you THANKFUL for this week?