The game of Life.  Remember it?  The spinning wheel, cars, weddings, and babies.  Check the cars from my boys’ recent match up.  They decided to marry a boy and adopt their kids along the way.  I am calling it the [modern] game of Life.  Thing is, I was telling the truth when I said, “You can marry a girl or a boy.  It’s your choice.”  That’s life. [And it’s pretty damn awesome!]

Truth be told..they were pretty repulsed at the idea of getting married at all.  Boy or girl?  Who would want to get married and have kids?  Plenty of giggles. 

Little Man had a birthday.  It happens to fall late in December, so we party with is friends in January.  This year it was a full on LEGOpalooza!  I would highly recommend Play-Well TEKnologies.  The kids built a motorized LEGO mini-walker with the help of an extremely, patient instructor!  For 90 minutes the kids built, played, laughed and created.  It was dreamy!  [All I did was take pictures.  What is more dreamy than that??]

He also requested ice cream sundaes for his sweet treat.  When it comes to a birthday dessert, it can’t get much easier [and fun] than a sundae.  The more toppings…the better!!

Sources for ice cream fun:
1.  Shop Sweet Lulu- sweet little striped spoons and ice cream cups.
2.  Mark & Graham- gold chevron paper placemats

[Additionally, in following my own party tradition, there were no goodie bags! We spent a little more on the party and got rid of the junk.  Read more about my answer to the goodie bag dilemma.]

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

As middle age starts to sink in, I see how easy it is to just stay comfortable.  You don’t get hurt or embarrassed or scared doing the same thing day in and day out.  You stay safe, but you lose your spark!  For trying something new yesterday, I was rewarded.  Rewarded with a great workout, a long uninterrupted conversation with a friend, and [eventually] abundant SUNSHINE!

Try something new.  Do something for the first time!  Who knows, you might actually like it!

Mama got a new pair of shoes.  Where will they take me?

In 2002, I trained and finished the Portland Marathon.  26.2 miles of determination.  While the race itself was exhilarating, the training was arduous.  Months and months of pounding the pavement and punishing my body.  In the time leading up to the marathon I experienced chaffing, the wrong shoes, a horrible 18 miler spent hallucinating in sweltering temps on Spokane’s Centennial Trail, and stomach turning nourishment for long runs called goo.  However, since I was determined to finish the run healthy [and with a little left in the tank to run strong across the finish line], the training had a purpose.  I knew why I was pushing my body to the limit. 

After finishing the marathon, I hung up my racing shoes.  There isn’t a desire to train for another.  There isn’t a desire to train for any END event.  Being physically fit and active is the only objective.  But there in lies the problem.  When you don’t have an end goal-motivating yourself everyday is more challenging.  It also is freeing.  My new shoes can walk, they can run, they might be able to climb. Maybe I will wear them to a Crossfit gym and push myself through a WOD.  I might possible wear them to a yoga studio, slip them off and find my zen.  They could take me on a walk with a great friend or help me clock my fastest mile time since I was 16 years old.  Who knows?!? 

My shoes could take me just about anywhere…and they sure are cute!

**update** My shoes are Brooks PureFlow 2 

Seattle is buzzing with Hawk excitement!  Our infamous 12th man will be in full effect Sunday…this time making some noise in living rooms, pubs, and sports bars.  I love it when one single unifying event brings us all together.  Why not cheer for really big men trying to knock the snot out of each other?  I am confident they will win on Sunday and this cheer train can keep on rolling!  [And PS. we have the best damn quarter back in the NFL.  It doesn’t hurt that he is pretty darn cute to boot!]

I have fond memories of watching the old school Hawks with my dad on Sundays.  The 80’s gave us Steve Largent, Dave Krieg, Curt Warner.  And who can forget Brian Bosworth?  There were a few playoff runs, but no Super Bowl appearances when I was a kid!   And now my kids are watching the games with me.  I am feeling it this season.  Big W will be sporting his Earl Thomas jersey on Sunday.  We are convinced it is lucky.  Since he started wearing it on game days, the Seahawks haven’t lost.  [It’s only weird if it doesn’t work.] 

Looking for something to serve at game time?  Spotted these at Top Pot Doughnuts.  Perfect for a 10am start. 

Go Hawks!

top image :: via

My little men and I are going on a grand outing next week.  We are attending a matinee performance of The Nutcracker.  One might ask, “Why would you take two uber active boys to the ballet?”  It is a legitimate question.  I am certain that they can rise to the occasion.  Well, at least Big W.  Little Man is another story all together.  He isn’t known to just go with the flow, so I am hedging my bets.

When I was teaching it was called building background knowledge.  Current day, I call it covering my a^#!  I am hopeful, not delusional.  With my entire arsenal, I am getting him pumped up to see this ballet.

I have been reading him a simple picture book that tells the story of The Nutcracker Ballet.  I am confident Little Man will enjoy the performance more if he knows the story.

A few weeks back, a good friend and I were seriously debating whether or not to buy these Starry String lights at Restoration Hardware.  We weren’t sure exactly how we would use them or how to hide the battery pack.  For $25, we needed a plan and since neither of us had one-we both passed.

Fast forward to this week.  I decided my mantel needed some TLC.
I used this image as my jumping off point.