It'm back with Five Minute Friday from The Gypsy Mama!  This week's topic is Perspective.

Here are the Ground Rules:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.

START

Perspective

Have you ever heard the phrase "If you put it in perspective..."?  Of course, we all have.  Lately I think I need to make sure I am putting my worries and stresses into perspective. 

Right now we are still in the process of selling the house.  It has been super stressful since it has become a major puzzle in getting everything to work together.  Every time some new happens or changes we have to go back to the drawing board on next steps.  We are praying we are making all of the right decisions.  I often find myself throwing a pity party complaining about why does it have to be this hard to sell a house.  In this 5 minute writing session I have gotten some perspective on it all.  I am here complaining about how hard it is to get rid of my house while there are thousands of people who don't have a house at all.  And right now there are many others who are trying to figure out how to keep their homes because they can't make their payments.  Wow, that little perspective says it all! 

Don't get me wrong, I think we all need to keep chasing after our goals and dreams, but if you add some perspective maybe the ride wouldn't be as stressful.

STOP

5 Minute Fridays: Real

I am back after a week vacation to San Diego!!  It was amazing, but I will save some of the details for a later post.  Today I am going to try something new that my good friend and fellow Kirowyf told me about; 5 Minute Fridays.  

On Fridays over at The Gypsy Mama, a group of people gather to share on  a single topic what five minutes buys them. Just five minutes. Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

Here are the rules (yes, there are rules)

1.  Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.

REAL:

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of real is food.  I am all about having a diet filled with real whole foods.  Today the grocery stores are full of foods that are all about convenience and while I understand how these products make life easier, is this the area of our life's where we should be cutting corners?  



I go into the lunch room to make my lunch and every person has some frozen "meal" that sits in the microwave for 5+ minutes.  There is no way this is real food people!  Highly processed, loaded with sodium and just because it says healthy on the cover does not mean instantly that it actually healthy.   Read the label, do you know what you are putting into your body to fuel it!  Nutrition is essential for life and it is one that I don't want to take short cuts on!  Now don't get me wrong everyone loves some short of junk food, but let's keep it real (pun intended).

STOP...


I think this exercise every Friday will be good for me because today was a rough start.  I might get better with time ;)

Juicing!

Have you ever juiced????
If, not it is a must try and soon!   
About six months ago my sister bought a juicer and completed a detox program.  They raved about how awesome they felt, but for some reason we never tried.  About a month ago it was brought up again, so we bought and entry level juicer.  Nothing fancy to start, but one that worked and would allow us to try.  Once we perfected the general recipe we wonder what took us so long to jump on the band wagon!

One secret my husband knew about from some fellow chiropracTORs was how to effectively juice spinach.  The key is to stuff a bell pepper, so all of the spinach is packed in together.  

Another quick tip we have learned is a lemon will make any juice taste awesome. 
Today's Juice Recipe:
Bell PepperSpinachLemon CucumberStrawberriesAppleCelery Carrots
Be careful!  Once you start your body will crave it ;)
Random:
A picture of my and my baby girls; it has been awhile since we had a picture together!  One of the sleeping lad, worn out from a weekend of playing with his cousins! ( I think it is time for a hair cut)

Goals and Dreams

Over the past few weeks I have been thinking very deeply about my soul purpose and what impact will/do I have on my family, friends, and community.   To be honest this is something I think about often, but more so in the past weeks.  Lately, news of cancer, death and tragedy have made it way into my world; impacting communities and people that I have come to know over the past several year and some that I just hear in passing.  Every time I hear one of these stories it makes me question:  Am I doing what I love?  Am I making an impact?  How am I spending my precious valuable time?  If I claim to know my priorities, is it apparent the way I am living today?  
Wow!!  Even as I wrote that last question, I shuddered because I know my answer is No and I need to make that a YES (one certainty and without hesistation)!
 I have a lot of work to do and if I ever plan on getting there (to my dreams) I have to start DOING!!  If we keep putting off our dreams for whatever reason pretty soon years will pass and we will never get that time back.
One cool thing we implemented in our family is weekly goals.  This is a relatively easy thing to start to do and makes goal setting easier, while being so effective.  Each Sunday we write in what our goals are for the upcoming week and report on the previous week's achievement.  So far for the few weeks we have completed this, we found it effective and fun.  It doesn't have to be anything Earth Shattering, but anything that will bring you one week closer to your goals and dreams!!!  
I know this was kind of a heavy post, but one that has been eating at me!
To close on a lighter note check out the sleeping twins.  This was on the way home from Nebraska a few weeks ago.  

 

ROAD TRIP!!!

WOW!  What a weekend!  We were able to escape to the great state of Nebraska!!!  Go Huskers  Longhorns ;)Any who, not trying to get into the battle of "Everyone bleeds red", but we had a great weekend!  
It was filled with meeting new friends that share similar views on ChiropraTIC and we got to spend some good quality time with family.  During our stay in Omaha for the Chiro Event I learned so many great things I am still trying to process them all.  The cool thing is when I go to these seminars with the husband it re-engergizes us in all areas of our lives.  
Here are some briefs notes:
1.  Take Action!  What are you waiting for?  If you have a dream/plans/idea starting working to get them completed.  If you are waiting for a right time pretty soon years will pass and you will still be in the same spot.  
2.  Never put the word "just" in anything you say.  It diminishes the meaning.
3.  Be grateful!
**A quick reminder to myself to take more pictures!  I did not get any group shots from the seminar :( **
After the event we traveled 3 hours to my in-laws to have an early Easter!  It was filled with an Egg Hunt, flying planes, horse rides, and great desserts! 

  
 

Surprise Visitor

Today I got a surprise visitor at work! 
 Every now and then when the husband is running around running errands close to my office we will sneak away for lunch.  When I got a text on my phone asking if we could do lunch I made some changes in my schedule to accommodate his surprise visit.  His surprise visits make me so happy!  :D 

Wait, do you see that bag his hand?!?!?  
Last time I checked Lululemon does not have a lunch menu, so what's with the bag!?!?! 
My sweet husband bought me another early birthday present; an awesome zip up.  While we were eating the fabulous lunch he brought in, he told me to check the pockets of my new jacket!  

Yup that is right people!  Two "box" movie tickets to see the Hunger Games on opening night!!!  
I am so blessed to have such a thoughtful and loving husband!
  

Sneak Peek

Tomorrow we have family pictures.  
Usually I stress out over what we are all going to wear, and this time was no exception.  I struggle to ensure we are not too matchy-matchy, but yet somewhat coordinated.  Fortunately we had a date night scheduled for Friday night which gave both the husband and I time to discuss.
Here is a sneak peek of what we came up with.

A little risky?!?!?!?
I am still a little nervous as I am not really sure how it will all look together.....
Wish us luck!