Flashback Friday: 8 years ago

Well, to say that these pictures brought both smiles and tears to my eyes is an understatement.

Many emotions and memories came flooding back to me.

They were 2 years and 5 months in these pictures.

Ahhh, sweet baby moments are the best.

These girls are my life.

They keep me on my toes.

They make me laugh.

I love them so much!

Where's the fun? I'll tell you!

If you checked out my post here then you already know that exercise is not much fun for me.

But hold the phone - I think I've found the answer to enjoying myself while getting a workout.

Can you say Hip Hop Hustle??

What's the first thing that comes to your mind.

The 1970's Do The Hustle song?

The children's show called Hip Hop Harry?

It's a man dressed in a big bear costume with a rap outfit.

Disturbing, I know.

Well, this class was totally and completely fun!

This cool chick gave me the info and we checked it out together.

The music had a great beat.

It got my body moving.

I found my inner "sexy" and rolled with it.

(Sorry to the Ladies who had to watch.)

It brought back the Darlene of the 1970's and 80's when I was lovin' dancing, disco and the sweet moves I used on the dance flo.

From body rolls to the usual grapevine....

from shakin' your derrier to free style....

it's ALL good!

Oh, Disco Darlene....where are you?

Found....at the Hip Hop Hustle class - LBC.

That stands for Long Beach City in case you were wondering.

If you're here locally, you should try it.

Contact me if you want more details.

Let's boogie together!

Miscellany Monday

Here we go....

#1

Why can't I get a simple blog button to work on my blog?

I'm not a complete idiot.  I know how to work a computer.

You know - the basics seem pretty basic.

So, why can't I figure out these simple blog things?

Monday frustration will turn into good once I've had my coffee.

OMgoodness....it worked!
Don't quite know how but I like it!

#2

I'm having a bit of a mom funk lately.

Girls not getting along.

Realizing I'm not the greatest wife, mother, cook or housekeeper.
Nothing that a little coffee won't cure.
I think I need to switch to the real stuff....decaf ain't cuttin it anymore.

#3

#3 fixes #2 because Saturday was the B-E-S-T day I've had in a while.

Went out with this chick and did some damage while shopping.

I ended up with 4 dresses, a jean jacket, 2 pair of summer capris, 1 cardigan, 4 shirts, 1 adorable lightweight jacket, an outfit with leggings (yep - that's what I said) and 2 pairs of snazzy sandals!

I went W-A-Y out of my comfort zone and shopped for a some stuff that actually looks good on me!

#4
Went to a blues festival with some friends.
Thanks!
It was a good day.
I realized that my life now is much different that BC (before children).
No more just sitting enjoying the music and sipping on a beverage of choice.
My kids saw a lot of stuff that was out of the ordinary.
Lots of tattoos, tank tops, volumptous-ness, smokin' and tokin' kind a folks.
Yeah - that happens.

#5
Only 4 weeks until summer.
CANNOT WAIT for silly times and fun in the sun!

#6
I'm madly in love with my husband.

That makes for a great day!

Flash back friday...

Look out!

You probably won't even recognize me.

That's me on the right with my big Sis.

I think this was taken in 1981...almost 30 years ago.

Big hair.

Big eye brows.

Big cheeks.

What I mean by that is that my skin had collagen.

I need some of that.

Any ideas....please do tell!

This picture was taken just before we went out partying.

Oh, yeah....the good 'ole days.

Now my idea of partying is being in my jammies by 7pm!

You haven't seen me naked

Don't be scared by the title of my post.
I thought and thought about about using it.
An attention grabber, don't you think?
Too weird? Too rude? TMI for sure.

But, I went for it.


So, I've been asking myself these questions for years...
Do these jeans make my butt look fat?
Do my arms jiggle?
Does my derrier trail behind with it's own rhythmn?
It's always up when the rest of my body is going down.
For me, the answers to these pressing questions was sadly "yes"!

 

Here's the deal, people.

I am NOT (not, not, not, NOT) a workout lover.
Never have been.
My body has been ready to tackle the joys of exercising
but my mind has not.
I know you think that's totally opposite, but's that just my way.

Wanna hear what I did years ago when I decided I wanted to get in shape?

Bought a stability ball to use as my desk chair.

(I didn't really buy it to get in shape but knew that it was helpful.)
So, I sat and sat and sat...and nothing happened.

The ball does not get you into shape in case you were wondering.

It's a great chair, though.

It actually helps you engage your abs while sittin' and bloggin' all day.

It engages your legs, too.

The biggest benefit for me was that I didn't turn into a question mark while my spine turned to mush as I sat all day.

Much better posture - which means better core muscles.

Have you ever noticed how your kids have the best posture?

Straight sitters.

Well, the ball does it for me, too.

Back to the work-out...

I was a dancer in my younger years....and we won't say how many decades have passed since.

The dancing kept me in great shape.

Can't really dance anymore.  Don't know where my mojo went, but it's gone.

Don't get me wrong.  I can cut a rug to any form of disco song.

I just can't jazz dance anymore.

I'll try to do a little jazz move and my girls will look at me like I'm crazy.

They've asked me if I really took dance when I was young.

What?
I was a great dancer back in the day.

Trying to hide behind the hubby during family pictures didn't work.
Check out that hip spread.
Picture taken in Dec. 2007

The other thing I would do is jam and workout to prepare for something big; like my wedding or my high school reunion.

I would do it!

I could always get into shape.

My legs were always the greatest part of my body until...I got older, plus stopped working out.

That's right.  Age did me in.

It happened.

No fitness = flab

No exercise = fat stored as cellulite

Yep - I said it.  I'm flabby and full of the "c" word.

When I voice this complaint to my friends, they always say "you look great (and I know they mean for my age). 

My reply.  A quick thank you and then I say "you haven't seen me naked".

As gross as that sounds, it's kinda true.

I look O.K. in clothes and NOT  O.K. without them.

Eeeeek.

Me no likey.

So I finally have made a commitment to work out 4-5x/week and try to get back into good shape.

I've got her and her that I workout with every now and again.

It's great to have a friend join in....plus, it keeps me accountable.

But mostly I'm working out at home.

In front of the TV while watching The Today Show with Matt, Meridith, Ann and Al.

Just multi-tasking, in typical fashion.

Getting today's top stories.

And squeezin' the begeezies out of my flabbiness.

Workin' up a sweat.

My good friend, Nancy, is a motivator.

A go getter.
A supporter.

And all with a smile on her face.

She's posting great, motivating ideas on working out.

It's definitely helping me stay focused and commited to working out.

So put on your leotard and leg warmers and join in the new revolution...
exercise!

Do you dig exercising??

A sticky situation

The smart phone = dumber person post has made me rethink my organizational skills.

Look out Martha - I'm going to get organized.

Things will be in their places.

My iphone will be working for me.

That's right, I'm the boss.

My dayplanner will be upated the minute the email arrives.
The iphone calendar will be updated at the same time.

Bills will be placed where they belong instead of scattered on the kitchen counter for days.

I'm a Mom.

A wife.

A small business owner that works from home.

An elementary school volunteer.

I help out with the girl's brownie and girl scout troops.

Chaeffuer the kids around to all activities.

Schedule play dates.

Manage the household.

etc., etc.

My life is fast...

simple, yet complicated.

busy, yet plenty of time for rest.

Take a look at my computer monitor.

These notes are placed strategically...

yes - that's right near the coffee pot!

Sticky notes galore!

I've got these babies throughout the house to help me remember important things;

like crazy hat day.

These are the greatest invention.

Stick it - then do it!

I know some of my good friends are list makers.

I make lists.

Too many lists.

Here's my problem:  I start one pad of paper and make lots of notes.

Then I lose that pad and start another list.

The kids take the pad of paper.

The cycle is a vicious one.

That's why these sticky babies work great for me.

Right on the front door so I don't forget anything important that day.

Please share your organization skills.

I'm in need of some serious rehab.

Smart phone = dumber person

Since I got my smart phone it seems that I've been forgetting things more than ever.

I've been blaming it on age.

Saying that I'm just a multi-tasker.

Pointing out that its because I'm managing the schedule for our family 'o 4.

Even asking my husband if he things I'm getting early on-set Alzheimers.
Wondering if my coffee should be caffeinated instead of decaf?

It's beginning to worry me.

But I had an ah-ha moment, just like Oprah says.

Even though it wasn't the type of ah-ha moment she talks about.

Here we go...

My ah-ha moment made me realize that since I got my
smart phone - it's made me dumber.

The research shows...

I'll check out my email from my smart phone while waiting for my girls to get out of dance.

Then, when I get home and see my emails again - I mentally say "that's taken care of"....

but I'm forgetting important stuff,

not writing down dates in my calendar,

forgetting to complete necessary paperwork,

etc.

The diagnosis...

YIKES - slow down - PaY aTtEnTiOn - stay focused - stop being so dumb

You got the picture.

The treatment...

I'm turning over a new leaf with my smart phone.

It will become my best friend, my scheduler, my note taker, my weather checker, my googler, my navigator.

It's obviously called a smart phone for a reason.

The person just has to be smart enough to use it!

A thank you

Went here...

Saw two of these men...

Bought them a treat of these...

And said thank you for serving our Country.

Gotta say that without this person in my life I probably wouldn't take the time to recognize our military with a simple purchase of a coke or cookies.

They make such a HUGE commitment for all of America.

You and me.

To help keep our families safe.

Take the time to recognize these folks while you're out and about.

It only cost me 20 seconds and $2.

That isn't even comparable to the commitment they've made.

Share a smile!

New Shoes

I haven't been around for a while.

Just busy with birthday preparations, making sure my gals are healthy and....just life.

But, I have something exciting to share...

There's nothing better than the crisp, fresh look of new shoes.

But it only lasts for one day.

Enjoy it while we can!

Some may not feel it's exciting, but it's all I had time for today.

Sock drama

Socks have always been a sore subject since my Sweet Cheeks was only 2.  She always had "sock issues".  "My socks hurt, Mama."  "I don't like the seam, Mama".  I tenderly explained that all socks have seams and you just have to get used to it.
There were many tantrums over socks.
Many late arrivals to preschool over socks.

The heavenly gates opened when I found out that I can buy seamless socks at Nordstroms.
This retailer has saved me many a grey hair.
These seamless babies have helped my girls have less sock issues 5 of 7 days of the week while getting ready for school.

So, you see, socks are my nemesis.
And that brings me to this...

My least favorite (boring) (annoying) (pain-staking) (irritating) (bothersome) (pain in the rear) chore is.....

pairing up white socks.

I loathe it.

I want to avoid it.

The pile of whites is always the last in the washing machine.

It usually waits until the last clean pair of socks is gone.

To make it a little easier, I mark them with a permanent marker when they're new.

One color per size.

Orange to orange.

Red to red.

It's all good.

My hubby tells me to "let go of the hate".
He offers to help - but I have control issues.
I lay out all the socks.
Match them up by how stained they are,
keeping the newer ones looking new longer.

Pray for me, ladies.

And, do share...
what's your least favorite chore?

Blog Sugar

Blog Sugar was so much fun!

Thanks to Rachel from here.

She planned a wonderful evening with some of us So. Cal bloggers.

I didn't take pictures but you can see some on Rachel's blog.

Here are the ladies who caravaned on over.

From L to R: 

Kristy, Nancy, Summer, Sarah, Darlene, Brooke (Janna's niece) and Janna

Blog names from L to R:
sosobella.blogspot.com
thegoatandthekid.blogspot.com
summerplummer.blogspot.com
noreallyimjustsaying.blogspot.com
musictomyears-forever.blogspot.com
2cool4myminivan.blogspot.com

Thanks, so much, Rachel for making our evening sweet!