I am trying to drink more water and eat fewer sweets.  But it’s hard.  I am sure you all remember my experiment with doing the 40-day sugar fast!  So I have found an easy way to get them both without all the calories.

Crystal Light.

I buy the tubs, which, if you follow the directions, make 2 quarts.  However, that is too strong for me.  So instead of adding 2 quarts of water, I add a gallon of water.  This dilutes by half, which is perfect and tastes so much better to me.  This has really helped me drink more water.

There are so many flavors to choose from.  We have found that the cranberry flavors are too tart, though.  Our favorite is grape.  I didn’t want to try it because I am not a big fan of grape juice.  But it’s the flavor of grape soda!  It is so yummy!  I also like the orange, apple, and raspberry lemonade. 

1. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being a cranky-baby-hissy-fitter, how much of a complainer are you?

I would have to say a 5.  I will complain, but then I buck up and get it done. 

2. Tell us about your perfume. Was it a gift? What does it remind you of? Do you have a signature scent?

I have to be really careful what perfume I buy because most scents make me sick to my stomach.  Especially men’s scents.  My favorite is “Love Spell” by Victoria’s Secret.  When it’s put on lightly.

3. What is your best organizing tip?

Just get in there and start.  You can’t organize by thinking about it.  You have to start somewhere.  I absolutely LOVE to organize!  If you will buy the containers, I will help you organize!  It’s fun!

4. What is your favorite comic strip?

I love “Baby Blues.”  But where I used to like it because it was my real life, I now like it because it reminds me of how my life used to be.  Now my favorite favorite comic strip is “Zits.”  That is so much like my son!

5. Do you sleep with a fluffy or flat pillow?

Firm.  It can’t be flat because I need more support.  But too fluffy and I suffocate in it!  I have a memory foam type pillow that is contoured and I love it!

6. What color is your kitchen? Why did you choose that color?

My kitchen is decorated in Americana.  Not red, white, and blue, but burgundy, cream, and navy.  I just love those colors and they make me happy.  Other than pink, if you look at my closet, most of my clothes are red and navy.  What?  I have colors other than pink?  Shocker!

7. What’s the most interesting bumper sticker you’ve seen?

I once saw a license plate frame that said, “EM EYE SEE KAY EE WHY EM OH YOU ESS EE.”  I loved it so much, I had to have one on my car.  If you don’t get it, just read it again.  Say it out loud.  Isn’t it cool?

8. What chore doesn’t feel like a chore – you just enjoy it (at least most of the time)?

I sat and thought about this, and honestly couldn’t think of one.  They all feel like chores to me!

9. Do you find it gross to share drinks with family? Friends?

Family, no.  Friends, yes.

10. When do you dismantle the Christmas decorations?

Usually the day after Christmas.  I put them up right after Thanksgiving, so by the time Christmas is over, I am done.  I love my decorations, but I want my clean, organized house back!

11. Have you participated in after-Christmas sales?

I have, but I watch the sales and they have to be really good.  I won’t do it just because it’s tradition.  It has to be worth it.

12. If your life this year was a movie, what category or genre would it be? (Romance, Comedy, Drama, Thriller, Suspense, etc.)

My life is always a comedy.  No matter what happens, we have learned to laugh.  If you can’t laugh it’s not worth it!

13. Who runs your household?

I do.  Don’t get me wrong, my husband is the head of the household, but I run it.  I would guess that would be the case with most families!

Life's precious moments don't have value unless they are shared.
We focus so much on being moms and motherhood, that Dads get left in the dust.  This is an awesome video that will give you a chuckle.  I love my hubby!


Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.
I am going crazy.  I have so much to say, but I feel like I am almost caught up. 

I finally got my journal done.  Our 8 day vacation took 9 pages in Word!  Yeah, I might be a little obsessive, but I wanted to remember everything.  I have a voice recorder on my phone, so while we were standing in lines for the rides, I would pull it out and talk about what we had done so far.  So I had to listen to them and add more detail.  It was fun to relive it all. 

Now I need to scrapbook it.  I am about 5 years behind in my scrapbooking and I scrapbook chronologically, but I want to do this vacation now while it is still fresh in my mind.  I am going to make one set, and then make color copies for the kids.  That way it's not quite so overwhelming to me.

I also had to dump all the videos off my camcorder and phones and get them edited and put onto DVD's.  That took a while too.  Then I had Father's Day to do, along with getting caught up with work, and just general stuff around the house.

5 days after we got home from our vacation, we went to The Doctor's hometown for his family reunion.  That was another night in a hotel, when I just wanted to be at home!  And then next weekend, we are going to my family reunion for 3 days.  I think I will be all vacationed out for the summer! 

My hope is that next week, I will be able to get back to regular blogging.  I miss you all!
I posted pictures on my private blog with our vacation pictures.  I also sent a bunch of invites out.  If you didn't get an invitation and want to see the pictures, just reply to this and I will send you an invite.  Mom, you already can read it.  Just log in.  Love you all!
I've learned that ultimately, takers lose and givers win.
I am so sorry!  I am trying to get caught up.  Between work and housework, I have so much to do.  I haven't even gotten my journal written in for my trip.  I did get my pictures dumped onto the computer, and sorted through.  I deleted a bunch of pictures, going from 1,354 to 519.  Much more manageable!

But we are going out of town tomorrow and Saturday again.  And then Sunday is Father's Day.  So hopefully next week I can get the pictures put on and give you more details about our trip.  Hang in there.  I will be back!
I'm home.  We survived.  I want to go back.  I am trying to make my way through the mountain of laundry.  I want to take a nap.  I don't want to go back to real life.  I'll blog more later.  But let me leave you with this picture.  It is a picture of what happens when two people are too happy!

The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.
Pain is mandatory. Suffering is optional.
I am so excited!  3 more days!  I am not going to sleep a wink!  I can't wait to share with you all.  I will be posting pictures on my personal blog, so if you want to see them, email me and I will send you an invite.  And this is cryptic on purpose in case there are any stalkers out there!