It's SPRING Break!

So, the girls are at soccer camp this week. All week.  All day.  And they are having a blast so far.  This is their third year to attend this Spring Break camp and it has been all Elisan could talk about for the last week of school.

I think they needed a break. Having multiple ice days and late starts at school was no consolation to their need for a break.  However, I'm a little bummed that Easter is so late this year...  That means our next break is still a long way aways.

Over the weekend, I brought the girls out to buy a dress.  Randy's brother is getting married in early May and I wanted to get them a dress as soon as the new Spring dresses hit the stores.  So, Kyla is basically a stick with legs up to her neck so finding a dress that fit her in all manners of speaking - length and bodice was no easy feat.  In fact, when we found a dress that fit her in the bodice, I pretty much decided that we were done with her.  And truth be told, it's a cute little dress and she will be beautiful in it.  That is, if she can keep her shins and knees from getting banged up between now and the wedding.

Elisan was a bit more picky about her dress.  The first problem is that she is 12 and in 7th grade and doesn't want to shop in the girls' section any more.  She wants to shop in the juniors section.  Unfortunately, she's just a wee bit small to fit into most of the jrs. clothes.  Thankfully, after trying on... oh, I don't know 20 dresses, she found the dress she wanted.  (A word to the wise... take pictures of them in every dress they try on so they can remember what they loved and didn't love about each one!  That's my TIP of the day!)

The picture doesn't do this dresses justice but I did want to show you what we ended up with!

Elisan wants to wear a long turquoise pendant with this bright coral dress and her cowboy boots.  Hmmmm, I'm okay with the pendant, but the boots?  At least not for the wedding.

In case you're wondering... and I know you are... YES, I'm still counting calories and I'm still working out like a crazy woman.  And, YAY ME, I'm really beginning to notice changes in my arms, shoulders, butt and legs.  FINALLY.  This 40-something business is cramping my workout time-line. I was hoping for these results in February... NOT March.  But, it's all good.  I'm just glad my body is still capable to lift weights and run.  40-something isn't all that bad.

In honor of Spring Break, I've begun advertising for my SPRING MINI-SESSIONS!  I'm so excited about offering these mini-sessions!

If you want to book a spot, mention that you saw it on my Haphazard Happenstances blog and I'll take $10.00 off the session... making it only $65.00!  For more specific details, click on over to my photography website.

I'm off to my craft room to sew my little heart out.  I'm working on some super cute bunting to use in my spring photography sessions.  I'll be sure to post pictures of it when it's complete!

Happy Spring Break, y'all!

Brain Dump (1st ed. 2014)

Y'all, if I had not experienced the relief myself, I wouldn't be a believer.  Because how on earth does a strip of stretchy kinesiology tape (or KT tape) make your muscles feel better?

But, one day Randy brought home a roll of KT tape to use for his plantar's fasciitis (which I also suffer from) and he swore it worked.  So, I tried it out too and it does!  I have been able to run pain free since I began using it.

So, the science fair is today and I'm sad to say that Elisan did not require any help from her mama.  What?  Last year, we worked side-by-side for many hours making sure her project board was interesting and balanced and visually appealing.  But, this year, she refused to let me help or offer my opinion.  That stinks!  I mean, that's great.  I'm glad she's taking initiative.  

Speaking of Elisan... she placed 2nd in area-wide competition for "reasoning" in Math Oympics.  She goes on to regionals next month.  (Last year, she took first place in the regional competition, so she's hoping she can hold on to her title!)

Kyla has become a rainbow loom bracelet making expert.  All weekend long she watched rainbow loom tutorials online and practiced step-by-step with the instructor on making new and fascinating bracelets.  She can now whip out an intricately detailed bracelet in no time. 

Randy told me he'd consider cutting his beard and hair on the first day of Spring.  Y'all, that's 2 months away.  What?!  I'm not sure what's gotten into him, but I'll have to post an updated picture of his bear and hair soon.  He doesn't even look like himself anymore.  It's a little disturbing.

You may have noticed my "budding photographer" button on my blog.  Well, that's because I have decided to offer my photographer services for hire.  This is a huge baby step for me, but I feel good about it.  My rates are really low right now... I already had a friend chastise me about it (hah), but I set the rates low enough so that as I hone my skill/talent, I will have room to raise my rates when the time comes.  I'm excited to see where this road takes me.  In the meantime, check out my website here.

Oh, and an update to my last post about Elisan running track this season.  Well, as it turns out, a little (positive) peer pressure has made her decide to run track this year after all.  There will of course, be soccer conflicts, and soccer is the priority right now since she is the goalie, but I think track is such a fun sport, I'm glad she signed up!

And finally, a bit about what I've been doing at the gym these days... Jumping Rope!  Love it!  I've always been good at jumping rope.  Must of been all of those "Jump Rope for Heart" fundraisers we did every year in elementary school  (Thanks Coach Hammerly).  But, nonetheless, I've really enjoyed adding another layer of cardio to my workouts.  Jumping rope is a full body workout and it takes a lot of endurance.  So what I do is jump rope for one minute and rest for one minute.  I do this for 10-15 minutes.  By the time I'm done, I'm done... literally.

A cuppa tea

Okay, so I'm counting calories and working out like a fiend, right?

And somewhere I read that if you consume warm liquids it takes longer to digest thereby giving your tummy the feeling that it is full.  So it's not a scientific explanation as to the why's and how's and heck, I don't know if it is even true...

But, I've begun drinking hot green tea in the evenings as my "snack" and it's really been a nice change of pace.  I have a variety of flavors and I add a packet of stevia (10 calories) to sweeten it up just a tad and it's perfect!

And since I'm having a cup of tea in the evenings, rather than a cup of ice cream... it's a win-win.

(Just of course, be aware that if you are drinking tea in the evenings, that it is of the DECAF variety.)