September 22, 2011

{list thursday} ♥ 15 ways to make today unforgettable

today is the perfect day to make lasting memories.
{all photos from this date last year}

1. try something totally new.
{variety truly is the spice of life.}
 2. entertain yourself with real-world experiences.
{turn off the computer and television, get outdoors,
interact with the world, appreciate nature.}
 3. work on something that's meaningful to you.
{life is short, today is the day to take action.}
 4. challenge your mind and body.
{learn a new skill, be creative, push yourself to the limit.}
 5. concentrate on less, but give it your best.
{don't waste time juggling forgettable tasks.
instead, concentrate on a few things that matter.
engage fully in this day.}
 6. say "yes" to a spontaneous opportunity.
{some of the greatest opportunities will knock on your door
when you least expect it.}
 7. complete an important piece of unfinished business.
{few feelings are more satisfying than the one you get after an old burden
has been lifted off your shoulders.}
 8. document your day.
{take photos; keep a journal.}
 9. smile and notice what's right.
{everything that happens in life is neither good nor bad.
it just depends on your perspective.
and no matter how it turns out,
it always ends up just the way it should be.}
 10. be authentic. be true to yourself.
{always be a first rate version of yourself,
instead of a second rate version of someone else - judy garland}
 11. share time with a good friend
and experience life together.
{there are few things more satisfying than recounting the greatest moments in your life with your closest friends who lived these moments alongside you.}
 12. make a new friend.
{people are interesting creatures, and no two people are exactly alike. find out what makes them tick, and you never know, they just might change your life.}
 13. forgive someone and reconnect with them.
{grudges are a perfect waste of happiness.}
 14. spend quality time with children.
{children live by their instincts, openly and without hesitation.
lose your self in the play.}
15. act like today is already an awesome day.
{do so, and it will be. a great attitude always leads to great experiences.}

happy thursday friends.

September 16, 2011

5 on friday

yeah, friday is here!!!
the 5 things that are making me happy this friday are...

5. having both of their games on saturday. dislike because i miss little bear's soccer game to get peanut to his football game on time,
but winning because sunday is mine for the taking.
 4. just one short year ago little bear couldn't even hold on to these monkey bars.
now, he's a swinging monkey stud!
 3. you tell the boys to put their shoes on and to this one, any shoe will do.
even if it is little bear's soccer cleats.
 2. quiet mornings while the boys are gone and this one going with the flow.
{i know i said that last week, but it's just so heavenly.}
 1. chilly mornings, warm days, and chilly evenings. it truly is the best of both worlds right now and i want to soak up every second of it.


what's making you happy this friday?

have a great weekend.

September 15, 2011

{list thursday} ♥ 50 thought provoking questions, part 2

thought provoking questions 26-50
{all photos were from peanut's football game sunday
where GP pop warner
put on an amazing 9-11 tribute}

26. if life is so short, why do we do so many things we don't like and like so many things we don't do?
27. what is the one thing you would most like to change about the world?

 28. if happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
29. are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
 30. if the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
31. you're having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  they all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. the criticism is distasteful and unjustified. what do you do?
 32. have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
33. what one thing have you not done that you really want to do, and what is holding you back?
 34. if you had to move to a state or a country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
35. would you rather be a worried genius, or a joyful simpleton?
 36. is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
37. do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? does it matter now?
 38. what is your happiest childhood memory? what makes it so special?
39. at what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
 40. if you haven't achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
41. have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
 42. why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
43. is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
 44. would you rather have less work to do, or more work you enjoy doing?
45. do you feel like you've lived this day a hundered times before?
 46. when is the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
47. if you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?

48. would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become attractive or famous?
49. when is it time to stop calculating risks and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
50. in 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? what about the day before that?  or the day before that?

happy thinking!

{p.s. isn't my little brother stunning all suited up?  love that kid}

September 13, 2011

my{boys}of fall

with school season comes sports season
and with sports season comes these 2 studs.


third year soccer star.
little bear is on the 7-year-old team
they practice twice a week.
they keep score.
they play a whole field.
and there's positions.
 he's not 100% sure about it yet, last saturday was his first game
and he sat out not wanting to play for a while.
but we'll let him do his thing until he says otherwise.
{team name: running cheetahs}

then there's this second season football stud.
 that's my boy, number twenty duce!
pop warner went pro this year and we are the:
Grants Pass Raiders! {yeah!!!}

first game was last sunday and they did great {but lost}

bring it on sports season, we're ready!

new{chapter}

it happened...
school has started back up....
 both boys. 5 days a week. all day long.
so far so good.
and monkey and i are finding our routine together
and enjoying our time.

yeah to school being back in session!!!

September 09, 2011

5 on friday

five things that are making me smile this friday are....

5. enjoying a cup of coffee in my backyard
{not ready for the colder mornings}

 4. our new chore chart. i don't know why, but colorful smiley face magnets
make a child want to do some work around here. {fine by me}

3. to you this is just my empty livingroom, but to me it's silence.
peanut and little bear are in school. full time. 5 days a week. {aaahhhh}

2. my laundry/craft room looks like this. however, this first part of this week it was covered in clothes. i believe i did 17 loads of laundry this week. {i think my washing machine said some 4-letter words to me yesterday.}

 1. this funny face just going with the flow. brothers in school, sports after school, no real nap time, no real meal time, yet he's still a happy boy.

it's friday y'all and we don't have any practice tonight! {winning}
the boys have made it through their first full week of school and still want to go {epic}
little bear has his first real "keeping score" soccer game saturday {yeah}
and peanut has his first official football game on sunday {go raiders!}
in between all of that we are hoping to can some more salsa.

what makes you smile on friday?

September 08, 2011

{list thursday} ♥ 50 thought provoking questions, part 1

these questions have no right or wrong answers
because sometimes asking the right question is the answer.
{pictures from labor day camping weekend at lake of the woods} 

1. how old would you be
if you didn't know how old you are?
2. which is worse, failing or never trying?
3. when was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
4. if we truly learn from our mistakes,
why are we so afraid to make them?
5. are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
6. why are you, you?
7. do you push the elevator button more than once;
do you really believe it makes the elevator go faster?
8. would you rather lose all your old memories,
or never be allowed to make new ones?
9. if you won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
10. if you had a friend talk to you the same way you talk to yourself, how long would continue being friends with them?
11. what would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you.
12. what is the difference between being alive
and truly living?
13. if not now, then when?
14. has your greatest fear ever come true?
15. when all is said and done,
will you have said more than you have done?
16. decisions are being made right now. the question is: are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?
17. which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
18. what are you most greatful for? why?
19. if you could offer a newborn child one piece of advice, what would it be?
20. to what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
21. are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
22. what is something you know you do differently that most people?
23. would you break the law for a loved one?
24. how come the things that make you happy don't make everyone happy?
25. have you been the kind of friend you want in a friend?

{part 2 next week}
enjoy