PSA: Cute kid

Can you please... pretty please with a cherry on top take a minute and like this photo on facebook?:

Is it not the most adorable way to ever eat a cupcake?? This little guy is in a cute kid contest at a bakery and he could use some of your votes! One like equals one vote. Here's the link:

We really appreciate your support!

Mind Right Monday: March

Is it me or does it seem like the year is moving by at the speed of light? It's already March... MARCH!! At first I said that I wasn't going to publish this if Dani didn't do her link-up but then I changed my mind. This monthly check-in is keeping me on track for my 30 before 30. So, it'll stick around at least until I'm 30 :)

Goals for this month:

- Make some additional progress on the little guy's baby books.
- 3 a week blog posts. I hate falling behind and losing information.
-Clean windows in Master Bedroom
-Get Easter outfits prior to the night before Easter. Last year it was bad.
- Safe travels. (more on this later).
- Make 4 new recipes and document it.
-Start a plan for a guest post. I was invited by a momtographer blogger to do a guest post and I am oh so excited!! Ebs invited me to do one and I failed miserably so I want to follow through with this.

I'm grateful for:

- My new job. I am hoping the income will give us more discretionary fun spending and help us reach a few financial goals a little faster. It may be time for me to have the full time hours talk soon.

- Haagen- Dazs pineapple coconut ice cream. I just finished off the last of my little pint container. However, I'm going to wait to re-up. I got some pounds to shed! And in researching pictures for this post I found out they have bananas foster...must.find.now!

- DVR. I've been catching up on the Real Husbands of Hollywood and it's just the laugh I need sometimes.

-The love of my parents. They did thee most amazing thing for us last months and I am soooo grateful.

-My husbands cooking skills. Wait until I tell you about my Valentine's Day!!!

source

Accountability:

- Go back to work. I did it. We survived. I'm grateful. My employer has been extremely generous and I have been working part-time. 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. And in my short three week employment tenure I must have changed my schedule once per week. These people are a godsend! The little guy still hates to see me walk out the door and it freaking breaks my heart. Twice I sat in my car and cried before putting on my big girl panties and high stepping it to work. His tears, his screams, his hurt- hurts me.

- Try 4 new recipes.  You know- I have no idea! I'm pretty sure I didn't do one per week or 4 overall though. I need to keep better track of this.

- Keep up my 3 a week schedule. Uh uh. I normally blog in the evening after baby goes to bed, but it seems like hubby had a crazy busy after work schedule this month, plus my parents came to visit for an extended weekend so I had zero time to write. I can;t even blame my new work schedule.

-Get more camera practice in. Yes!!! But I want more. I need more. I long for the days of warm weather where I can take my boy to the park, let him loose, and shoot in manual.

-Clean the window and mirrors in the guest bedroom. Yes. My parents were coming over y'all and small steps went out the window- fast! Company does it every time. Well, at least it whips me into shape.

-Make some additional progress on the little guy's baby books. Done! I finished, ordered, and received one more book.

Consistency is key. 4 out of 6 this month! My YTD percentage hasn't change at all. Maybe I need to shoot high this month.

30 before 30

Since I'm about almost 6 months away from my goal, I thought I would check in with my progress.

 

TRY 30 RECIPES

So far, I've completed 1 breakfast recipe. But I made it twice. The first time it was sooo good, we ended up eating some as dessert too. The second time I made it I split the recipe in half. Hubby requested that I add chocolate chips... so I did. The other half was the original recipe without modifications.... that's still sitting on the kitchen counter. The original recipe calls for peanut butter and I don't like peanut butter but I figured my son would. However what he doesn't like is leftovers. At some point I'll remake this and do it the way I did the first time. Top this with oatmeal and fresh fruit and it is to die for!

Baked Oatmeal



I've also done two cake recipes. The first was my take on Strawberry Cheesecake. The second was a Butter Pecan cake that I made for my mommy's birthday. She LOVES butter pecan ice cream so when I came across this I knew I had to make it for her birthday cake! And... it was a WIN!!

This is my slightly burnt, son couldn't wait to bite it, mickey mouse pancake.

You can stop making the pitiful face now.

This chocolate cobbler was tasty but I'm not sure if it will make another appearance. I've made it twice already and the first time was a complete bust. I forgot the last step before putting it in the oven and didn't really realize it until it was halfway done. So to redeem myself I made it again because the batter tasted divine. I'm not sure if I messed up again somehow or it was just too much effort but I wasn't wowed with the results. The second batch was gone in about 2 days but I'm not sure I was just that impressed... you know?

That brings my recipe count to 5. Plus there are additional recipes that I purposely left out because I plan to share them at a later date. I'm not at the 50% rate I was going for but it isn't too bad either. So I have a bit of catching up to do.

13/30

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READ 30 BOOKS

Does children's books count??

My son loves this book- he can even kind of count to 5 because of it. Otherwise, I'm completely slacking.

0/30.

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LOSE 30 POUNDS

I was on track with this. But since it's gotten cold outside (too cold to drag my son into the situation) I haven't been walking like I started out and therefore I am afraid to step back on the scale. I've been tracking my progress with pictures and figured this topic deserved its own post. I'll spare you the weight loss pictures and leave you with a workout picture:

8/30.
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PUMP MY OWN GAS

This is for the birds. I'm a Jersey Girl and I'm not about that self service life.



completed.

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COMPLETE DIY HEADBOARD

I haven't even stepped foot in the appropriate store for this. And now, our current home isn't really conducive to the bed having headboards. What's a girl to do???
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COMPLETE 30 PINTEREST PROJECTS

I went through all of my crap ton of pins and came up with this:

Source: lh5.ggpht.com via The Mrs. on Pinterest

Problem is- I made this as part of a Valentine's day gift for hubby last year. So it doesn't count...well does it?? My challenge my rules and I think I am going to only count things in between my 29th and 30th birthday...  I think. I came up with this idea last year sometime but I don't remember exactly when  So, maybe I should d=count things at the point this idea was conceived. Hmmm- the Jury is still out.

Then I took a moment to really peruse my pins- I mean seriously there are 866 of them. Plus 365 likes. That's a lot of perusing. But once I did it I cam across 5 more "projects" that i really did complete :) I'll save the round up for a complete post at a later date.

5.5/30.
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START NEW CAREER

Eh. My intention was to be able to find my passion and make it into a career. That passion still doesn't quite exist AND therefore it's not on its way to becoming a career. Bummer :( I did however start a new job in my previous career. While this isn't something to frown upon as I am very grateful for this opportunity- I feel like I am going to be "stuck" on this forever. I am good at what I do (if I must say so myself) but it doesn't hurt to be good at what you do and look forward to doing it everyday. I still hope to one day be passionate about something...even if it doesn't become a full fledged career.

0.5/1
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FINISH THE 'FIRST YEARS' BOOKS

This is going pretty well! the 'First Years' books is the complete documentation of my son's first year. In his first year of life, we saw much, did much, and accomplished much. I would start them as time went on but I find them so hard to finish. I mean how does one end a 'chapter' in a book. So far, I have ordered one more and looking to finish the next one in succession. I still plan on documenting after his first year- but I'm sure if it will be his personal documentation or for us as a family... maybe both. I know it's ambitious but whatever. Here is a crazy fun fact for you: I have a document that my family will have access to with all of my sensitive personal information on it. I created it in case of my untimely death they will be able to get my affairs in order without too much of a burden. The user name and passwords to all of my online photography account are included that document. Yes, it's that precious to me. This way any book, photo, or photo project can be obtained and replaced in case of loss or damage. I'd hate for my house to burn down (after I die) and my children would no longer have the memories from their childhood.

3/12
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GET 30 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS

I need your help! I'm at 28. Just two more to reach my goal!!! If you don't already- please "like" my facebook page!

28/30.
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And before this day is done. I want to wish my great Uncle in heaven a Happy Birthday. He would ave been 93 today. I'm not one for posthumous birthday shout-outs but this one was laid on my heart.

WW: Mom dancing

I know this post is supposed to be *wordless* but I thought it needed a brief introduction. Okay, not needed but I wanted to do it. It's a video which you may or may not have seen but I wanted to share it anyway because it's absolutely hilarious. In keeping with the *wordless* theme- it has no spoken words, only subtitles so feel free to watch it with the volume on or off (for those at work or putting their littles to bed). But if you can, have the volume on because the music will make it funnier.

She Rocks: Red

Today, I'm linking up with TOI. I'm loving her new project and can't wait to participate.

Toi is an amazing mommy/lifestyle blogger with whom I happen to have a few things in common with. I enjoy her writing, photography, and her take on life. She isn't from America (unlike my self) and reading her blog is such a refreshing take on the international life. The best part is: she has a beautiful baby girl just a bit over two months younger than my little boy. I love sharing our sentiments on interracial marriage, raising a biracial child(ren), and our loving for baking :)

So, now that you have been formally introduced... lol... here's more about her project. Last year she started the "She Rocks" movement in which she invited her fellow women to write an essay in which the shared what keeps their individuality alive. Unfortunately  I never submitted an essay, well, because my writing kind of sucks. Plus, I'm not a good inspirational person period. But...Never fear! This year it's all about OUR interpretation of the theme. Once a month she provides a theme and then we (participants) can submit our interpretation of it via photos!

Now this is my cup of tea. I've already shared with you my love for photography and my desire to be my children's momtographer. These prompts are sure to get me moving and allow me to get some practice in. It isn't as intensive as the 356 challenge (fail!) so I'm on board!

Too much jabbering?? Yea, I tend to do that. This month's assignment was "Red and/or Love". This goes great with Valentine's Day and how we make it a special point to share and celebrate our love with others. So, without further ado, I present to you my interpretation of this month's theme! Okay, first let me say- these pictures were my second choice. My first choice picture needs lots of editing which I never seem to have the time for. Either way- be gentle :)

One of my Loves on a red bike. He's obsessed with forms of transportation.

 

 

I'm a totally foodie. Seafood is my favorite :)

 

 

 

 

If you have a minute you should hope on over to TOI's blog and check out hers :) Let me know what you think!