Blast from the past

Me (on the right) and my little sis

Me as a little baby

My mom and me and my mother in law at my wedding shower

Monday I'll turn 48!  I thought I'd just tell y'all a few memories from my childhood..because you know that's what old people do-talk about the past 🤣🤣🤣🤣

One time my sister and I heard the snow cone truck coming down our street.  We ran out and got our snow cones and we were walking back to the house just salivating on that yummy snow cone when all of a sudden the newspaper guy drove by and threw a paper in our direction.  It hit my sister square on the head (he must have been aiming!) and her snow cone fell in the grass! She was so sad!

I was a straight laced, nerdy, bookworm kid in school.  In second grade, we had bathrooms in our classroom.  They had a big problem with people writing on the walls in the bathroom.  Well, I went in there one day and suddenly realized I had taken my pencil in there with me!  I didn't want to get in trouble so bad!  So I tried to hide my pencil on the side of my leg as I was walking out but got caught!  I think I had to go to the principal's office and write sentences.  First and only time that ever happened!

I can remember when I was about 5, we lived in a trailer home.  The whole park was owned by circus performers!  The had a big practice tent in the back of the lot and we'd go back there and watch the trapeze artists, the horse acrobats, see the tigers and elephants!  It was so cool!

Some of my greatest memories are going to my grandparent's house. We would go at least one weekend a month, 2 weeks at Christmas break, and at least 2 weeks during the summer. My grandpa (we called him Pop) would save up all his dimes all year and put them in a big big jar.  The first thing we did when we got there for summer break was pour out that jar and roll every single dime!  Whatever we rolled and counted was our spending money for the time we were there!  We went to Braums, bought Barbie stuff, and splurged at Walmart!  It was so much fun!  My grandparents were self employed and didn't have a lot, but that little bit was just perfect for us!

My grandparents and me and my sister. We called them mamaw and pop.

Our dachshund had pups!

me and my sister getting all dolled up for church

I used to keep my bedroom door like a huge scrapbook.  I taped it with paper and put all kinds of momentos on it!  

My bedroom door as a teen.

My grandma was an amazing gardner.  She had at least 3 big vegetable gardens.  And the landscaping around her house was so beautiful!  She planted a tree one time and tied two branches together at the top and bottom to make a circle in the middle.  As that tree grew, we used to climb through that hole so many times!  We went and saw it a few years ago and it was completely grown together into one big trunk. 

My grandma made a circle in a tree!

my dad and me

my sister and me

my mom and me and sister standing on a frozen Lake Ray Hubbard!

Well, time keeps on ticking.  I hope you've enjoyed these little blasts from the past.  I'm making new memories now with my grown kids and now grandkids!  

Here's to another 48 years!

🎂🎂🎂🎂💓😉🙏🎈🎉🌈🌞

Make the world a better place

In today's world, we comment, delete, unfriend, spout criticisms rather flippantly.  We are used to a short blurb, scroll, troll, and move on. We've forgotten some of the niceties.

Niceties- just taking that little bit of extra time to be nice.  To say you care.  To be civil to someone.

I think in today's world we could use a little more nice.

Looking someone in the eye.  It's difficult to have conversations now without looking at the top of someone's head.  Seems like everyone is looking down at their phones.  Believe me, I'm guilty of this too.  You are trying to talk to someone and answer a text or just check something real quick on your phone.  Or-something I've noticed a lot- is that people are talking to each other--but it's about what's on their phones! They are literally showing their phone to each other while they are talking.  Whatever happened to eye contact.  Yes, it's somewhat uncomfortable and vulnerable but there's a whole other level of communication that happens when we look each other in the eye. Putting the phone AWAY-- and not just putting it down-- will open up a lot more communication with people.

Mentioning someone's name.  When we talk to each other, we like to hear our own names.  Just say someone's name.  It makes a connection.

Writing a thank you note (or at least a text). Thanking someone for that word of encouragement, for doing something for ya.  Goes a long long way. A handwritten note takes just a couple minutes but what fun getting a note in the MAILBOX!!

Asking someone about their day. Yes it's nice to vent and dump out all your feelings on someone.  But have we considered turning the focus off ourselves and turning it onto the other person?  Asking about THEIR day? their interests? their stuff?  and then we don't need to interject our own stuff...just listen to them.

Checking in on someone.  Whether by text, or call or whatever- just asking someone "How's your day going?"

Taking criticism.  This may not seem like a nicety.  But if someone says something to me that I may not like--it's not always rude and terrible.  They might have said it in a negative way but if I receive it in a good spirit it could be very helpful!  Constructive criticism can actually help if I have a humble enough spirit to take it to heart.

So make the world a better place!  Stop and be a nice to someone today. It makes a difference.💓😉

Keto lifestyle

I used to be so addicted to carbs.  I mean I was a tortilla eating, chips and salsa loving girl.  I loved bread, and sugar and all things carb related.

Well, I've been doing the Keto lifestyle now for about 5 years.  I was Keto before keto was cool.😋  I just couldn't be happier with it now!  Not going back!

For an explanation of what Keto is look here or here .

What do I eat??

Breakfast:  usually plain greek yogurt (Fage brand with the highest fat).  I add raw sunflower seeds, or chia seeds, or flax seeds and a little stevia and always coffee with heavy cream!

On the weekends I'll eat bacon and eggs, or make cream cheese pancakes! (Just one thing of cream cheese and 6-7 eggs in the food processor, add a little cinnamon, stevia and vanilla. Cook them just like pancakes and add loads of real butter and some almond butter!)

Lunch: I make all my lunches for the workweek on Sunday.  It varies greatly.  I've made chicken breasts with cheese and bacon, 2 hamburger patties with cheese and bacon, pork chops with cauliflower rice.  It's always a meat, a veggie and then maybe some berries and nuts for dessert. (I don't always pack dessert)

Dinner: Really any meats and veggies.  Stay away from starchy veggies.  I like broccoli, asparagus, salads, spinach, zucchini

Eat out options: When going to a Mexican restaurant, I take pork rinds so I can eat chips and guac with everyone.  Watch the sauces-they usually contain sugar.  Instead of rice or beans, just ask for extra veggies or a side salad. Go for fajitas! and ask for extra sour cream!

Other restaurants, look for the non battered meat options and veggies or salad.  Watch out for soups, they contain a thickener usually.  Don't be afraid to ask your server for a change or substitution.

We went to some friends house the other night and they were serving lasagna, salad and bread!  So I just casually ate a lot of salad (no croutons) and the meat and cheese out of the lasagna.  When the ice cream was served for dessert, I didn't make a big deal of it and just kept talking with everyone.  Nobody said anything and it was completely fine. I just ate a few almonds when I got back home and I was good to go!

Reasons I love Keto!! - I have more energy, I'm never hungry, I feel like I can think clearer, my joints don't ache, my nightly heartburn is gone!, and I've lost about 25 pounds!

So anyone tried Keto?  What do you eat?  How do you feel?

Eyes

So eye bags are definitely in my gene pool.  My mom had them.  I've always had them.  No matter how many creams, tonics, remedies, and what not I tried... they just grew bigger. 

So last November, I finally decided to take the plunge and have surgery to remove them.  It was no quick decision.  I've been thinking about it for years and years. 

The week of Thanksgiving last year, I took the plunge.  Upper and lower blepharoplasty.  Surgery was quick and fast.  The recovery though was a completely different story.

I knew I'd have swelling and it would be uncomfortable.  But I was woefully unprepared.

The morning after, I felt like someone had stretched my face and tied in the back of my head and poured super glue all in my eyes.  I looked like I had been beat up in a horrible bar fight.

My granddaughter came to visit me 2 days post recovery and she just kept pointing to my eyes and saying in a sad voice "Eyesss".  She still asks me on the phone about my eyes!  She's two!

Slowly but surely, with lots of TLC and ice and rest, I began to see again!  My eyes were super blurry from all the drops and not being able to wear my glasses.  I didn't anticipate not being able to see for days.  I also didn't anticipate not going out in public for weeks!  I took off about 10 days of work so I wouldn't scare any of my co-workers! 

I was super apprehensive about all the stigma related to having plastic surgery. But I'm glad it's available and I'm glad I did it!  So I'm four months post-op now and I couldn't be happier!

In a way, it was kinda like child birth.  Painful and scary while you are going through it but now that it's a distant memory you wouldn't change it!

The results are uh-MAZING!  I feel 10 years younger!  I even got some contacts !  I'm so happy with the way I look now!

Anyone else considered cosmetic surgery?? 

2019 Starting off Great!

So, last year was a tough year.  But already I've gotten some good news this year and that makes me happy!

First of all, the year started off amazingly as my new little grandson, Auryn Bearheart! (pronounced OR-in). And he is the sweetest little Bearheart!

He is just the sweetest cuddliest boy!  And Annabelle just loves him!  She is so sweet and kind to him!  

Grand kids are just more than I ever hoped and imagined!  

And--more good news-- We are going to be grandparents AGAIN!!  My son and his wife are expecting their first in November!  I'm really in shock as I have 3 grand babies!  This Grammy gig just keeps getting better and better!

We also just bought our anniversary trip!  We will be married 30 years in November!  THIRTY!!  That is definitely something to celebrate so we will be going to Croatia in August!  Can not wait to see all there is to see there! Like this 👇👇

Plitvice Lakes National Park

And one other thing that is silly really--but I got a new dishwasher!  You know you are a grown up woman when stuff like this makes you happy 😊.  It's the little things, right!  

So hopefully this trend will continue!  I'm thankful for the blessings and Praising God in the storms too.

How's your year going so far??

Daily goals

So, I'm a very goal oriented person.  I like check boxes, crossing off lists, making lists, and feeling like I've gotten stuff done during the day.  This can be both a really good trait and also slightly frustrating.

I like to have things that I do every day.  My daily checklist so to speak.  Ideally I would get them all done every day.  I don't always but it's good to have goals.

Physical

• I eat whole, unprocessed foods and I've been keto for about 4 years now.  
• I walk.  My current goal is 11,000 steps a day.  I exercise in the morning before work and walk at lunch and walk after work. I love this!
• Yoga.  I really strive to incorporate this every day.  The stretching and strengthening are so beneficial! This one's my favorite!
• Drink water.  This is always a work in progress for me.  But if I have a big yeti on my desk it helps! Or this!

Spiritual

• Read the Bible.  I've been falling down a little on this lately, but just reading a chapter a day or doing a short study is eternally important. There's so many apps and Bible plans out there.  But I use this the most. 

Emotional

• Self care.  We should do at least 3 things to take care of our selves each day.  Drinking coffee on the porch, watching the birds, going for a walk.  Things like this replenish my soul. 
• Text, call or check in on someone.  Just putting a short note in the mail, or sending a text to someone really builds friendships! 

So what are the things you try to do every day?  Do you have weekend goals?  What else should I add to my list?

My dearest Hula Hoop

My dearest hula hoop,

I really haven't meant to ignore you these last few months.  It's been cold, and rainy and well, I could use a thousand excuses, but I just haven't picked you up like I've wanted to.

You see, I do think about you a lot.  I hear a good song on the radio and I think of all the happiness you bring me when I'm dancing with you. 

I watch Instagram hoopers and FB hoopers and I dream of the things we could do together some day.

You've taught me so much about myself.  That I can be bold.  That I can feel free to play and have fun regardless of my age.  You've shown me how to step out of my comfort zone and be free to dance in a group.  You help me not to succumb to my eeyore-ness.

Spring is just around the corner!  I see the sun peeking out today!  It'll get warmer and before you know it there will be outdoor concerts and sunny days again!  I'll take you down off that wall and we will go for a spin again.  I promise!

Your greatest fan,
Me