Toddler Interlude: Halloween

Dad decided that I would be a boxer for Halloween. That is today. He did not consult with me as much as he probably should have. Why? Well, here ya go ...

He put my new boots on. They are too big and I was not even about to walk around in those things. Dad said the boots are not too big, but I said they are. Mom just looked at us.

He put tape on my hand. That was too tight. I wanted it off. Dad said boxers wear tape on their hands, but I didn't want it on mine. He got his boxing gloves for me. Mom just looked at us.

Dad made a championship belt for me. I like it. There are Angry Birds on the inside. {Cardboard needed a little reinforcement so dad used the Angry Bird tape.

Oh did I mention, I have on 3 layers on bottom? How am I going to got to the potty all by myself? When I went this morning, I forgot to pull up the shorts under my pants. That didn't feel good.

Well, I made it to school. Mom had to help me down the stairs cause I can't really carry the boxing gloves down stairs.

Here's what I should look like for our school Halloween Parade:

And yesterday, Granny Gran carved my pumpkins. Look:

Happy Halloween everybody!

Homemade Goldfish & Coupon Brag

Y'all ... these past few days have been a score for me! Why? Well, I scored a huge deal on one of my coupon-ing trips, I spent a few hours with a young lady who ALWAYS lifts & encourages my spirit, I made 3 dinner entrees in one night, AND I made homemade goldfish crackers! AWESOME!! SO here's the scoop: backwards style.

Goldfish Crackers:
I made homemade goldfish crackers and ooohhh they are delicious. For the recipe, go here. I didn't take pictures of the process because I forgot. I was so excited that I was just trying to get to the end. See ...

Did you see? Oooohhh ... yeah. Anyway, I made one batch of these and then made cheese straws because I just couldn't take making those lil fish anymore. See, I don't have a fish cookie cutter so I made one using this method. I was not as careful as I should have been (ie. no gloves, no measuring, no drawing) so mine wasn't perfect and it was still fairly sharp on both sides. I also may have a small scrap from not cutting evenly. Anyway ... you should make these or be around when I do. MMMMMM!! And I will be experimenting with different cheese & flavors because that recipe was amazingly simple. These may show up in the form of trains at a certain lil person's birthday party.

{Just found this: DIY-Cookie-Cutters Instructables .... YYYEEESSS!!! I will be all over this!}

Dinner Entrees:
I LOVE my slow cookers. Yes, there is an s there and I will gladly take more. So I made some barbecue shredded turkey from some leftover turkey (did I tell y'all about me cooking an entire turkey all by myself for the 1st time last week?), some bell peppers, and one of those Kraft Recipe Makers that I got for just $.49 (ha! another coupon-ing plug). It was delicious. Made sandwiches for lunch & then added some rice for dinner. I also browned some chorizo before added it with peppers and some tomato sauce for another meal (will probably add some noodles and corn). And the other meal was a roast with peppers and some balsamic vinegar dressing (will probably put with some greens and potatoes). Today, I'll put those greens in the slow cooker with my turkey leg so they'll be all set for tomorrow. I get excited when I have that may meals planned already.

Sister Friend Evening:
This is pretty well self-explanatory, but yeah had a lil meeting set up with my dear friend to plan her 40th bday party and time flew right on by. We discussed everything under the sun and laughed for hours shutting Panera down for the night. I love that lady cause she is a ball of joy despite everything and I need that in my life something terrible. So here's my plug for her. She's all about the Kidney Foundation so I'll definitely have a post soon about that for her.

Coupon Trip (CVS):


So since I started this coupon-ing thing, I have been non stop wanting to ensure to get everything on sale with a coupon or two. I loosen up from time to time, but I'm enjoying the hunt for great deals and saving money for our family. So here ya go. Here's my brag photo.

I got all of this for $30.33 saving myself about $28 with the fact that CVS had a sale and I had coupons for everything in the picture. I'm sure it could have been better, but hey - ya gotta start somewhere. Oh I did buy some sponges, but they only added like $1 to the total.



Well, that's all I got for this post. See y'all on another great posting day.

{Challenge Update: Slacked last week, but Coach Moore will get me back on schedule - I'm sure.}

My Experience at Victoria's Secret

Good Day my friends,

Yesterday, I took something back to Victoria's Secret to exchange it for my wife. Before I get into the story, remember who this is writing this...

Before I even get into this story, let me say that I am very confident in myself and my manhood.  I have never been the guy to shy away from doing things that would otherwise shame others.  So walking through the middle of Briarwood Mall, carrying a "dainty" pink Victoria's Secret bag had no effect on me.

So I walk into the store, with all bravado and confidence in the world.  I walk right up to the counter (there was no line at the time), place the bag in front of the lady working and hand her the receipt and look her in the eyes and, confidently, say "I would like to exchange this bra for a different size for my wife."

She took the receipt and said "ok".  She then proceeded to take the bra out and asked what I would like to exchange it for.

I, still smelling myself, tell her the color (yeah, I know my colors), style and explain that I do not know where this particular bra is kept, but if she would be so kind as to point me in the right direction, I will go get the replacement myself.  I was THE MAN!

The exchange quickly took a 180 within the next few moments:

Clerk: Oh, it's ok - they're right behind you, but I can have another associate bring it up here for you.

Me: Great. Thank you.

Clerk: Now, what size do you need?

Me: (Checking my iphone to make sure I gave her the correct size) XXXX (I'm not gonna put my wife's business out there)

Clerk: Oh, I'm sorry, this style doesn't come in that size.  Would you like the sister size XXX?

Me: (losing my bravado & confidence in one fell swoop) - huh?

Clerk: The sister size - It fits the same, it's just a different number.

Me: Um, sure.  If, um, if that one, um, that didn't work, could it be exchanged or some-something?

Clerk: Oh, sure.  Tell her that if it doesn't work after trying it on, just to bring it back and we work to get the right one for her.

Me: Um, ok, I'll let her know.

Now by this time more people have started to line up and they were calling associates to help ring the others out.  I HATE being the reason for the hold up, because I just feel like everyone is looking at you smackin' their lips, wondering what in the world is your problem.

Needless to say, I was very relieved with the new bra was brought up and the exchange was completed.  The clerk was even nice enough give me a new bag and wish me a great day.  All my Bravado came right back, like there was never any problem:

Me: Hey! You have a Great day too!

As I walked back out the mall, carrying my new "dainty"pink Victoria's Secret bag.  As soon as I got home, I had to share this experience with my wife.  You know what she said?!

Wifey: Ohhh, I knew there was something I meant to tell you...

WHAAATTT?! Even if you don't know the exact numbers, you could have alluded to the fact that I might hear something about a "sister size".  I'm trying to do you a favor, and you're gonna let me walk into a fire fight blind?!  I just got ambushed by the Vicki Secret Angels, and all you can say is "I knew there was something I meant to tell you"...

I'm a guy.  I deal in logic (most time).  I know that a 5/16's & 11/32's are close but they are not the same. Two different numbers are two different sizes, period.  I was not ready for that curve ball...

So fella's, next time you decide to go into a store for women, remember, be prepared for anything!

Challenge 5: 30 Day Insanity Prelude

Alright y'all I decided to prepare for Insanity. Heard of it? If not, what rock have you been living under?

So here's my background. I'm always about the next easiest way to have fun exercising. I heard about Insanity and immediately wanted it and someone was GREAT enough to send it right on to me. Sweet!! Anyway, here's what happened.

3 months after the arrival of lil man, I was all set to begin my Insanity journey ... or so I thought! The 1st day, I didn't make it all the way through just to find that I was doing the wrong day's workout. I did the workout for Day 1 of Week 2 ... blah! So I started over. The next morning, I got up and did the right workout. Yeah, I made it through the workout only to realize that it was JUST the warm-up. DUDE! Seriously?! I wasn't excited at all cause I BARELY made it through the doggone warm-up. I wanted to punch Shawn T and his backup exercisers in the face for that foolishness!! So yeah, I less than barely made it through that Day 1 Workout. Geez! So anyway, I tortured myself like this for about a week I believe. Then, one day as I was headed upstairs for something, my leg totally gave out on me. The good news was I was holding on to the rails so no actual fall happened. The bad news was that that was the 1st of 3 times in one day. I decided I'd better chill on the Insanity workouts until my body was ready again. Can't be falling carrying lil man - he got goons. Heh heh heh!

Well, fast forward to today (a good 2+ years later). I've gone back & forth with plans to start up Insanity once again, but I keep punking out. Yeah, I just can't talk myself into getting back on it. However, I need to do something so here's what I'm gone do. I found out about a 30 Day Intro to Insanity Blueprint (from here) and received it in my email so I can prepare for my Insanity journey. I am looking forward to it while covering my eyes and peeking through my fingers. [Y'all know how we do when we don't, but do wanna see that scary or disgusting part of a movie.] My 1st huddle may be easier than it would have been before though. I shall take my before pics and not be ashamed of them. Yeah ...

I'm going to try to do this about once every other week so I can see my progress cause that may be the only way to jump-start this thing for me. I hate looking at terrible pics of folks especially of myself. I should prolly go buy new workout clothing articles - mine are old and the wrong size so they provide very little support. I think I'm good with shoes though & there's plenty of water bottles around the house. Well, here's to being Insane!!!

Keep in mind that I still gave the Mr. permission to place his own workout challenges on the whiteboard for me. This will be an interesting 30 days! He's way too excited too so y'all pray for me & send all the good luck vibes ya can my way. Also, remember to check on me so I don't punch Mr. in the face. Heh heh heh!!!

Get yo workout on folks ...

Challenge 5: Taking Care of The Temple

SO my body is the temple of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 states:

¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

This to me has a lot of meaning and can be interpreted in so many different ways. Matter of fact, each time I read it, I find a different meaning in it that applies to that very moment. At this moment though, I'm using it to really refocus myself on being healthy in the physical. 

See, I've been slacking for awhile now. I had all of these plans for riding my bike & jump roping with lil man. And then there was the treadmill plan of doing a bit of jogging while lil man played. And finally, there was the whole I'll workout while lil man naps. NONE of them worked for long. I've tried all at least once, but didn't really focus on it and kept having excuses for not working out. My number 1 excuse is: "I'm tired." Well, now my issue is that "I'm tired" of looking at this flabby belly and feeling the (old) familiar fit of my clothes. Being too tired to really enjoy our active lifestyle, I feel like I'm dragging and holding the family back. That's not cool. So instead of continually failing at these writing challenges, I'm gone place myself on this physical challenge. This also means that I am officially giving my husband leeway to hold me accountable for my workouts. [There will probably be more posts about how I despise him cause he's a GREAT coach in the sense that he won't take no & forces you to really stretch out of your comfort zone when it comes to fitness. I still love him though.]

Now the other difference with this challenge is that I plan to build upon it not only with different fitness plans, but maybe even my eating habits. I suck at eating healthy for an extended amount of time. I do really well for a few months and then I do really bad for a few weeks and then the cycle repeats. I'd love to find a healthy eating space I can hold on to for life. I'm getting better though cause these few weeks of not so healthy having been as bad as in the past. And I've began dabbling in seafood again so yay me. I also haven't been cooking my homemade stuff so y'all know I'm feaning a good home cooked meal for the simple fact of cooking.

Speaking of, y'all up for a Sunday Dinner soon? I'm bringing it back now that we're back to just us ;) No really, I have this turkey that needs to get cooked before Thanksgiving. I'm thinking of slow cooking it. Hhhmmm ... I guess Id better get that thing out of the freezer so it can thaw.

Welp folks ... that's all. Again, if you see me or just think of me - holla at me about the love notes and this fitness challenge.

I just realized I didn't say what fitness challenge. I'll get to researching that cause it has to be something that will get me back energized about working out. On to my research.

Challenge 4: Love Notes Failure

I failed something awful on these love notes. It's like I just couldn't find the time nor the words to say. Is writing a love note really that hard? Apparently it is for me. I only got 8 of these done. So sad since I started off great with 5. Yeah, so I only wrote 3 more. I suck big time, but I'm gonna take this one with me on through the next challenge.

So why did I fail this challenge? Honestly, I have very little motivation to do it. People keep pissing me off and showing just how selfish and self absorbed they can be to each other. It's sickening to watch and more painful to be apart of such an atmosphere. Y'all: What happened to treating people as you want to be treated and really being for real about that? I'm seriously at a lost for words for how far off the mark people are with this thing. I don't have the filters to address it with folks who aren't really listening to me either; I hate wasting my words on deaf ears. Know that the way I treat you is the way I wish to be treated by you.

If I opened up to you and then started closing up shop, you have done something to prove I can't be open with you. I'd say fix it, but usually by the time you notice, I'm more than halfway out the door. I probably now want you to just let me go. However, please don't be rude about it. While that may make it easier for me to keep on moving, it also puts a nasty taste in my spirit concerning you. That ain't right. I like to separate on amicable terms in which we still cool and can be cordial without my innards recoiling at your presence.

On the other hand, it also depends on how we met. I'm leery of some most folk when I first meet them so I usually keep to myself and don't say much. Give me time. There are several folk who I literally had an immediate negative visceral response to who I have no problem with today. It's just my nature and I'm working on that, but I'm honest about it. They knew that I wanted nothing to do with them and would go the opposite direction. Now, we're cool and I've found that I enjoy their conversation and company.

So yeah, back to these love letters. I'm gone get over the immense selfishness of others. I could say I'm just gone be selfish myself, but I can't. I've got to get these love letters written. So if you see me or think of me, give me a nudge and ask about these doggone love letters ... on to the next challenge.

What's the point?

Good evening all,

I've recently experienced something that kinda threw me for a loop.  I was actually rejected.  Now I don't say that egotistically (even though that is exactly how it sounds) but I say that reflectively.  To start, let me introduce a little "background" into the subject.  I was a part of a small section where we all shared one major thing in common. It started off great and continued on for a minute.  But then as time moved on, we all had a differing of opinion on a number of things. 

Now it's okay to disagree on something, that's what helps relationships to grow.  The problem was that not enough people, self included, were real enough to tell their complete feelings when the opportunity presented itself.  And when (and if) someone did want to "share their thoughts" on a subject, it may have come at a different moment.  Needless to say, feelings were hurt, people were upset, and the overall atmosphere of the group became "fake" when certain individuals were around.

Fast forward to today.  An opportunity has come up where we could all hang out together for a little bit, but I, personally, didn't feel moved to attend.  I stated that I would not be in attendance, in a very diplomatic way, and kept it moving.  I did recognize that this could play out in a number of different ways: good, bad, indifferent.  The group chose to meet without me, which is fine and what I would have chosen to do too.  But they are considering getting a replacement for me.  So at this point, I can choose to (a) confront the group (b) have hurt feelings, (c) keep it moving. 

Anyone that knows me is quite well aware that I am picking C without a doubt.  Anyone else, might actually be "concerned" with what others think and do, but as for me - I'm choosing to look more on my family; starting with my lovely & wonderful wife and beautiful baby boy (even though he's not so much a baby now) and moving to other family, extended and such.  I've been around to know that there is truly a season and a reason for every period in your life, and God doesn't just allow for those to be only happy good times.

There's also a bigger picture; something more that can be learned and applied.  Not only to this particular instance, but for future instances as well.  Am I bothered by the whole thing? I'd be lying if I said that my initial reaction was a little bit of "gruffness".  But that definitely didn't last long.  But I thought I would share it because you can always learn from your past and, if nothing else, consider this a learning point in your career called life.

There is always purpose.

Good night to you & you & you...