beautiful excuse

really.... i have the best excuse for the lack of posting. He's the reason for my early mornings, mid-day coffee, toy covered living room and non-stop days. Thankfully, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm blessed.

some things in life ARE free.

Ok, so... my birthday month isn't quite over, so I will be continuing the celebration for another 8 days. Yes, I'm that girl.  This year was particularly fun in the way of free food. Why, you ask?

Well,  I did some research (because I'm a crazy couponer and because I love eating out) and realized that there are a WHOLE bunch of restaurants that will give you free food just for having a birthday. NICE!

So I decided to share the birthday love with you... for when YOUR birthday rolls around!  Here are a few disclaimers:

1. I cannot guarantee that these places will still offer the same thing in the months to come, all I know is I got free food a couple weeks ago.

2. I highly recommend using an alternate email address for these deals.  I have my main email address, and a coupon email address that I don't mind sending spam to.  When you start signing up for multiple coupons, the spam will start flowing in.  So either use your alternate email, or if you don't have one go ahead and get one through yahoo or gmail. Easy as that.

3. Read the fine print on the deals and pay attention to expiration dates. You'll need to consume most of your free food within the first 10 days of your birthday.  But that's ok, right... no one should have to watch what they eat during their birthday month. :)

Lots of places give out free desserts, but I'm only posting the best deals that I found, the ones that actually give away a free meal.  So... here's my list. Enjoy.

• Firehouse Subs:  Show your ID on your birthday and get a free medium sub.

• IHOP: Get a free meal for signing up AND on your birthday. Click HERE

• Denny's: Get a free birthday grand slam when you sign up for Denny's rewards. Click HERE

• Red Robin: Join e-club and get a free burger on your birthday. Click HERE

• Carrabba's: Join their Amici Club and get a BOGO meal for your birthday, and a free appetizer for signing up. Click HERE

• Ruby Tuesdays: Free burger on your birthday when you join the 'So Connected' e-mail list. Click HERE

• Moe's Southwest Grill: Free meal for your birthday. Click HERE

• Jersey Mike's: Get a free birthday sub and drink by signing up for their email club HERE

• Waffle House: Get a free birthday waffle!!! Click HERE

• Steak N Shake: Get a free double steakburger and fries for your birthday. Click HERE.

• Zaxby's: Sign up and get a free meal deal, and a free nibbler for your birthday. Click HERE.

That's a lot of free food, huh!  My hubby and I ate well for about 10 days. Not healthy, but well. :) We saved money by going to the restaurant, both drinking water, ordering an appetizer and then splitting the free meal. We left each restaurant spending less than $9 each time. :)  Don't worry, we left great tips!  The only places that made us use the coupon on my actual birthday were Denny's, Firehouse and Jersey Mike's.  Everywhere else gave us a 10-14 day window to use them.  Make sure you sign up a month or so before your birthday so you get all your coupons in time.  Then check your email the week leading up to your birthday and you'll see all the freebies rolling in!

Happy Birthday to me, and Happy eating to you!

Be blessed.

Happiest place on earth.

We are back. We had such a wonderful time, and I can 100% say it was worth every drop of sweat, every sore muscle and every penny spent.  Seeing Isaak's face as he took it all in was truly priceless and we now have Disney memories for life.  We have hundreds of photos, and to even narrow it down for this post was tough, so I just chose a handful - even though it barely skims the surface of the fun we had!  We spent the first day at Hollywood Studios, day two at Animal Kingdom, day three at Epcot and the last day at Magic Kingdom.  We are worn out - but like I said - it was worth it all!



Isaak meeting Woody and Buzz in real life.



on our wild safari.

the four boys. They had a blast together.

family shot at Hollywood studios.

Isaak with his pal Pluto.

Isaak and his girlfriend Minnie.

our stop in Mexico at Epcot.

Daddy's hat.

Mommy's hat.

group shot on our last day!

the infamous Magic Kingdom shot.

excited faces!

Isaak's thank you hug for taking him to Disney.

Isaak and Goofy after the pirates ride.

sad faces before we said goodbye.

We can't wait to do it again! If Isaak grows another inch and a half, he can ride all the rides. :)

Be blessed.

Quote of the day

Vacation update coming soon! Promise. :)

But for now...

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, 
you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:4

Be blessed.

why the silence

Well, this here blog will be mighty quiet over the next week or so.  And here is a hint as to why:

Yep! This crazy family of three is headed to Disney World.  Wish us well, pray for us, and pray for tolerable temperatures and a well-tempered toddler! Regardless, there are lots of wonderful memories to be made!

Adios for now!

PS. I will ease your mind and just tell you that we don't really look like that.  My hubby has too much fun with his design skills!!! :)

half marathon training - week 3

Here's what's in store for my training this week:


Monday: Nothing except celebrating my birthday! DONE
Tuesday: Mcguire's run - 3.2 mile run DONE
Wednesday: gym for cross training
Thursday: 2.5 mile run
Friday: gym for cross training
Saturday: 5 mile run (long run)
Sunday: rest AND leave for Disney!

Last week was tough with training b/c of all the rain we had. I tried all day Saturday to get out and run, but the rain wouldn't let up for even a minute.  Finally, before church on Sunday there was a break in the clouds.  So I ventured out for my 4 mile run.  I got 3.5 miles done and it started pouring.  Needless to say the last half mile was - well - interesting.

I've decided to let up on my pace.  I think I was so amazed with my change in pace that I was pushing myself too hard.  I mean, for me, 10 minute miles are a little much.  My goal pace for the half is anywhere between 12 and 13 minute miles.  So I'm going to train at that pace so I don't get burnt out.  After all, this is all so new to me - I don't really know much of anything at all.  Just taking it day by day.

My knee is feeling a little better though, so that's good.

Well, that's all for now.  More updates to come.

precious time

If I need a gentle reminder of how fast time passes me by, all I need to do is look back at pictures of my son.  These two pictures below really captured my heart this morning as I looked into the eyes of three precious kiddos who are stepping their brave little feet into the world of being a big kid - and slowly waving goodbye to the days of a being a baby.

Let me always remember how precious time really is, and how fast it really flies by.  No more wishing the 'today's away.

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered - how fleeting my life {really} is.  Psalm 39:4

Oh, the difference a year makes.  See below.  (Top: Benjamin, Jocelyn & Isaak. September 2010) (Bottom: Jocelyn, Benjamin & Isaak. September 2011)

Be blessed.

29 things for a 29 year old me

1. Love never fails.

2. Being a mom has been one of the most amazing, hard, beautiful, stretching jobs of my life. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.

3. I've got one year left to get my act together, I'm abso-stinkin-lutely determined to make sure my 30's are better than my 20's.

4. I stood by my mom's hospital bed a couple years ago right before they wheeled her back for open heart surgery, and God whispered in my soul - Remember to never take these people for granted...the people you love (and who love you) the most.

5. Hand-written notes should never ever become outdated. ever.

6. Birthdays should always be special.

7. Maybe this year I will learn to transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer in a timely manner, rather than running the washer for three cycles to make sure the clothes don't sour. yeah, I'm being real.

8. If I could go back and choose again, I'd still choose Amick Cutler!

9. I pray as I teach my son the lyrics to "You Never Let Go" ...that he whole-heartedly believes every word. Even more than his mommy does.

10. Has self-serve frozen yogurt taken over the world?

11. I refuse to believe the lie from Satan that I'm better off alone.

12. I will never apologize for my undying love for Dunkin Donuts.

13. I'll show '29' what's up by running a half-marathon in 2 months. and I'll do it running 12 minute miles too.

14. I wish that my dad lived in the same city as me.

15. Isaak talks about Disney World every day and how excited he is to see Diego. I don't have the heart to tell him that Diego won't be there.

16. Why do Dora and Diego yell every single line in their show.  It makes it very difficult for me as a parent to tolerate.

17. My hair can be pulled back in a pony tail for the first time in 4 years.  I forgot how wonderful it is. I may never cut it again.

18. I forgot what birthdays were like before facebook. :)

19. God is not finished with me yet.

20. I hope and pray and hope and pray that the year ahead is better than the last.

21. Breakfast is and always will be my favorite meal of the day.

22. I'm finally learning what it means to count my blessings.  It doesn't just happen. You have to do it on purpose - each day - through the good and the bad.

23. Courage doesn't always roar.

24. I've never had a cavity. 29 years of no cavities. Let's keep that going.

25. God must laugh at our five year plans.

26. I love my tassimo. I really do, but I'm seriously considering buying a french press. Mostly because I think it's a really cool way to drink coffee.

27. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

28. I take baths not showers. Always have. always will... and that's just the way it is.

29. I am blessed. No matter which way I look at it... I am blessed.

Don't fret

My own little reminder today.

Because I'm human.



Because if worry could be extracted in liquid form it'd be found in my bloodstream for sure.


 
Because of the heavy weight that has been sitting on my chest since I woke up this morning.



Because Satan wants me to believe that I'm supposed to feel this way.



God, give me peace. give me grace. in abundance today. Amen.

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. 

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.  Philippians 4:6-9

and just because I like to keep it real.