Smiles Wanted

I have been feeling so off lately.  Very tired, forgetful, unmotivated and down.  So to lift my spirits I'm going to list some of the many things I'm grateful for.  Hopefully reading this will help me smile more.

I'm grateful....
1.  To be a alive and healthy.
2.  For my daughter who makes me laugh, brings me lots of joy and shows me unconditional love.
3.  For my husband who is the kindest most sensitive soul I have ever met in my life.
     He's my biggest supporter and loves me despite my faults.
4.  For my family who is always there for me.
5.  For my friends who care about me and want to be around me.
6.  To live in America and to be free to live my life as I please.
7.  To be able to see, hear, smell, taste, speak, walk, run.
8.  That I have food to eat, water to drink, a home to live in.
9.  That I have nieces and nephews to love and spoil.
10. To be me.

I should always have this list near and read it often.  I wonder what other people are grateful for?

no Candy & no Dessert seems sinful

So I love sweets....like love love love them...can't live with out them.  But seven weeks ago after feeling sick from eating dessert 4 days in a row on vacation I came to the conclusion that I would cut out that sugary goodness. I even passed up tables and tables of chocolates and desserts at the Chics and Chocolate event through CCC.  I think the longest I went with out was 17 days. And my biggest fears were validated... I felt better.  Of course I was hoping I would feel the same so I could go back to consuming wonderful sugar.  It didn't last for long because I let myself have a cupcake on my birthday and it was all down hill from there.  I realize that sugar is the enemy but why does it have to taste so good??

So with Halloween (aka biggest candy day of the year) right around the corner I have come up with a new challenge for myself.  Can I go from now until Halloween with out eating any candy or dessert?  Oh yeah and my friends wedding is next week...should I make an exception and eat her fabulous cake?  Or just turn to the other enemy...alcohol.  Lets see if I can do it.   Here goes nothing....literally :)

Going to the Zoo...Zoo...Zoo...

So in the spirit of capturing events in my life I have to write about our recent trip to the Brookfield Zoo.  (September 20th) Myself and Izzy met up with my best friend Erin and her daughter Kennedy.  We get to the elephant exhibit first.  Izzy refers to these animals as "elements".  She is obviously excited and trying to climb the fence to get to her beloved elements (specifically put there for safety or in Izzy's case...elephant groupies).  I think if we had let her she would have stayed and watched this elephant the entire time.  But alas we had to move on to other areas.  As we walk away with tears in her eyes she says "I love you elements" and blows them kisses.  Yes, adorable...I know!  We then see a rhinosaurus who she insists is an element.  And since it seems silly to argue with a 21 month old I agree.  "yes honey that is a baby elephant".  Then we move on to the new Bear exhibit.  Izzy likes to see the polar bear swim and watch the big brown bear sleep.  She is just in love with all these animals.  Among the many animals we visited that day, we checked out wild dogs (whom she calls waah waahs) giraffes and a hippo.  I few times she gets out of the stroller to run around and have fun with her friend Kennedy.  We are all enjoying the lovely weather, the lack of people and the leisurely stroll.  As we leave we visit the gift shop so I can buy Izzy a stuffed elephant and a book about elephants.  (Here's where that too much shopping stuff comes into play....it's hard to resist!) She is excited about both.  And as we say our goodbyes and head to the car the rain starts coming down.  Incredible timing!!  This trip to the zoo has been perfect.  By far my favorite at Brookfield!

Virgin Blogger Begins

Okay so here it is my very own blog.  I have been inspired by my good friend Betsy who has been blogging since 2004.  What an amazing way to spill the beans on my life and all it's craziness.  Before I really get into it....I'll have to save it all for a later post.  Izzy's watching Barney and it will be ending soon and then she is ready for a nap!  So this will be all for now.  Just wanted to get something on my page.  I'm excited!!! :)  Hope you all enjoy reading about my lovely life!