tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3477371096841566292024-02-23T21:02:57.788-05:00Smart + Strong = SexyA blog about a newlywed as she matures, striving to become a smart, strong, sexy woman.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.comBlogger745125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-35046622247329400122012-08-01T08:33:00.003-04:002012-08-01T08:33:48.473-04:00Monster(I normally don't post blogs both places, but I know some of my followers here haven't made the leap to the new blog yet. I feel like this topic warrants a double post.)<br />
<br />
A couple of weeks ago, I scheduled a doctor's appointment but felt uneasy about
it. I've been having issues for the past few months, but wasn't confident that
my doctor (who I love and think is fabulous) could really help. That particular
Monday was an especially bad day, leading me to finally break down and call the
doctor.<br /><br /><em>My appointment was scheduled for 8:30 the next day. </em>I
don't know how it works with your doctor, but appointments are never obtained
that quickly with mine unless there is bodily fluid oozing out of an orifice.
<br /><br />In the waiting room,<em> I was the first patient to be called back</em>
- despite the fact that others were there before me. The normal nurse was out
for the day, and the fill-in chatted me up<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, helping take the edge
off my nerves</span></em><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.
<o:p></o:p></i><br /><br />Then it was my turn with the doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her my WebMD diagnosis and waited for
her to agree with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead she asked
my symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I twisted my hands as I
explained my problems have been more intense the past few months, but I suppose
they’ve been around for a while now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br /><br />Family history was then discussed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always knew it was a problem most of my
family had, but I had never considered it to be significant enough to mention to
the doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After only providing 3
examples, she interrupted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">Please </span></em><a href="http://frugaltrophywife.blogspot.com/2012/07/monster.html" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-size: large;">continue reading</span></em></a><em><span style="font-size: large;"> at the original posting site...</span></em>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-7043060727206039222012-07-17T10:21:00.001-04:002012-07-17T10:21:09.318-04:00New DiggsJust wanted to let you know that I've got the new place up and running! Come check it out: <a href="http://frugaltrophywife.blogspot.com/">http://frugaltrophywife.blogspot.com/</a> Please add it to your reader if you want to follow me. I will <strong>NOT</strong> be redirecting the followers from this blog to the new one.<br />
<br />
I've changed so much as a person since starting Smart + Strong = Sexy and want my blog home to reflect that. Instead of trying to redesign this one to "fit" me, I thought I'd just start clean. Please let me know what you think! <br />
<br />
I'm still in need of good "about me" material for my short blogger profile. I'm also a bit concerned that the back ground is too busy and makes the words difficult to read (although I really like the picture itself).Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-15620494583836787032012-07-13T14:26:00.001-04:002012-07-13T14:29:28.461-04:00Rain is a Good ThingI'm thankful for all the rain we've been getting this week. Its really cooled things down and helped out my dad's garden. His plants might make something after all!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/4VKy69sE4VY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
I've got some changes in the works, but I'm a little low on creative energy so bear with me please. In the mean time, check out my latest <a href="http://smartstrongsexy.blogspot.com/2012/07/fireball-classic-5k-race-report.html" target="_blank">race report</a> if you haven't already. Also, I'd love to read <a href="http://smartstrongsexy.blogspot.com/2012/07/you-ask-me-i-ask-you.html" target="_blank">your thoughts</a> to any changes I might be making.<br />
<br />
<strong>Hope you have a great weekend!!</strong>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-23349286841098088392012-07-12T16:17:00.002-04:002012-07-12T16:44:57.155-04:00Fireball Classic 5K - Race ReportSorry I'm a bit late on this race report! As a result, I'm sure I will accidentally leave out important snippets along the way. Between my mom and me, however, we got some pretty good pictures, so hopefully they will make up for the lack of fine detail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7wFEPTeENUN_kZUEbV77v6mGUCLAs1gCWw43ZaLLOKiSzxhzGf4FoB85J9OsiN-bcYs21G0RHFhw0CjBhFDNLA1P2eUXS2J1J7WhzA9e7C5GXLIVJd2Rd2SSZeo40T-HpxKATdUkgSPN/s1600/pit+crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7wFEPTeENUN_kZUEbV77v6mGUCLAs1gCWw43ZaLLOKiSzxhzGf4FoB85J9OsiN-bcYs21G0RHFhw0CjBhFDNLA1P2eUXS2J1J7WhzA9e7C5GXLIVJd2Rd2SSZeo40T-HpxKATdUkgSPN/s320/pit+crew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My parents decided to tag along - as always they made the racing experience all the more fun. I snapped a few pre-race pictures, then took off on a warm up. I ran into these guys along the way and just had to get a picture. Being the heroes that they are, they couldn't say no to a photo op!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEKXRM2GFVa6cdthd9zyG6qzbUTG7PQvSftH0vyvTMA1_Twl3-D5swK-MphLLAID_mHhzG_LHEQzvrmbx1DrGVTQv5tNYtMylVcaULJL2hKIabQuwVjp1qmtTAfEptYCY7nNOY2nApS4N/s1600/avengers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEKXRM2GFVa6cdthd9zyG6qzbUTG7PQvSftH0vyvTMA1_Twl3-D5swK-MphLLAID_mHhzG_LHEQzvrmbx1DrGVTQv5tNYtMylVcaULJL2hKIabQuwVjp1qmtTAfEptYCY7nNOY2nApS4N/s320/avengers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(from left to right Thor, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After another warm-up pass, it was time to line up. I'm claustrophobic, and not a huge fan of crowds, so lining up was a bit difficult on me. I like getting towards the front so I don't have to fight my way around people to pass, but I also enjoy NOT panicking/hyperventilating pre-race. I settled on a mid-pack spot and waited for the gun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMF7FXX0-wJKyH8aiPSHJ_4yljhKHGVlDEZTVrcqmF75sV3LfCZLqd4m4XXrHd0WPpfrxyZRfnUZ2Xg9zmpFjRBCGxuR6Peo0JTLYF-sGaaPXaA5O_aSzggn1L852oT5524eS68vz9D5l/s1600/to+the+starting+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMF7FXX0-wJKyH8aiPSHJ_4yljhKHGVlDEZTVrcqmF75sV3LfCZLqd4m4XXrHd0WPpfrxyZRfnUZ2Xg9zmpFjRBCGxuR6Peo0JTLYF-sGaaPXaA5O_aSzggn1L852oT5524eS68vz9D5l/s320/to+the+starting+line.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Race time temps were supposed to be in the high 80s, but one of the ladies I was lined up next to said it was mid 70s. If that was the case the humidity had to be at a billion percent because it felt HOT! Thankfully the race start time was 9 PM, so we at least didn't have the sun to contend with.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxRlzU1ks9Cf1qcXYCkKZI5vceggdYS0uKC-O2SMj4gejVlLNughzFqtG5yu-qCDJZCdGLqQeFsAUPr-hAQKbF_Ao42m13_jiHrWjo8y8YwHDt2CxL7YOzIry8b0Lt1wzL0a22BdNucQP/s1600/flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxRlzU1ks9Cf1qcXYCkKZI5vceggdYS0uKC-O2SMj4gejVlLNughzFqtG5yu-qCDJZCdGLqQeFsAUPr-hAQKbF_Ao42m13_jiHrWjo8y8YwHDt2CxL7YOzIry8b0Lt1wzL0a22BdNucQP/s320/flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I tried to start off fast, but had to spend the majority of the first mile passing other runners. Given the weather conditions, I wasn't hoping for a PR but I wanted to race my best. This race is ran on the same road as my current PR and I very much enjoy it. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Mile 1 - 9:15</strong></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-XQW8oBDLJkKEzT8G_oI6VQi6kXtowpJL-Hgeroan9AJE9YKj0MAzdLPJdTWh87hHT25qAUtd1NRcdOEFzF5zCjdYOsl64Mpg76Kqgx8vUdsX_DbnMZnKyX9WoJsIvpGXaiXjZ0n5hNp/s1600/front+runners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-XQW8oBDLJkKEzT8G_oI6VQi6kXtowpJL-Hgeroan9AJE9YKj0MAzdLPJdTWh87hHT25qAUtd1NRcdOEFzF5zCjdYOsl64Mpg76Kqgx8vUdsX_DbnMZnKyX9WoJsIvpGXaiXjZ0n5hNp/s320/front+runners.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
During the 2nd mile I expected traffic to ease up, but it really didn't. I was still passing people as I made it to the turn around spot and headed back. After a brief up hill spurt, the cluster broke up a bit by that point the exhaustion (from passing? from the humidity?) had kicked in and I couldn't will myself to go any faster.<br />
<br />
<strong>Mile 2 - 9:36</strong><br />
<br />
The next mile was more of the same. The fire department had a truck along the course spraying us with water, but since I'd brought my iPod along I skirted the outside of the spray. Bummer too, because I'm sure it felt great for all who ran through it.<br />
<br />
<strong>Mile 3 - 9:36</strong><br />
<br />
I had told my parents to look for me between the 25 minute (a girl can dream, right?) and 30 minute mark. No matter what I wanted this race to be sub 30, but beyond that I really didn't have a goal. As I neared the finish line I saw my dad with a cowbell. He immediately started ringing it and looking towards the finish line.<br />
<br />
My mom wasn't with him, and I quickly figured out this was the system they had set up for him to signal her to get the camera ready. Apparently they didn't do a great job of spacing themselves, because she ended up getting a picture of my back. The picture looks horrid and makes me look much larger than I am, so I will not be sharing it. I do, however, applauded their attempt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfmyiDd_oqaRXufBtPNw7SRVvKZDDJ8_RKrETEsaFkIaDWwHAJg_hXLDKgq2tMQdqijiCSugzA5I0WQ1znqbNAWpIpYilMmpqzXOzLCl0HpMdWHZ_orNVHee1Q8bZCHrJomSZRU14Lmps/s1600/post+race.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfmyiDd_oqaRXufBtPNw7SRVvKZDDJ8_RKrETEsaFkIaDWwHAJg_hXLDKgq2tMQdqijiCSugzA5I0WQ1znqbNAWpIpYilMmpqzXOzLCl0HpMdWHZ_orNVHee1Q8bZCHrJomSZRU14Lmps/s320/post+race.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(this isn't the above-mentioned picture)</span></div>
<br />
<br />
After crossing the finish line, racers were given a bottle of water and a cold, wet towel. Add to that the Rita's Italian Ice in the snack line and I'd have to say this race had the best after party I've seen at a shorter distance.<br />
<br />
How'd I do?<br />
<br />
<strong>Gun Time: 30:26 <br />Chip Time: 29:38</strong> <br />
<br />
Not a PR, but before this year sub 30 was a big goal of mine. If I can go out and do that on any given race, I consider that a win!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-87727829683124016712012-07-10T15:05:00.001-04:002012-07-10T15:05:57.845-04:00You ask me; I ask youI've been struggling to blog since the other site died. I didn't back it up properly and I feel as if a year's worth of work was lost. I suppose I feel that way because it was. I guess I didn't realize just how much my blogging meant to me. <br />
<br />
I enjoy working through heavy topics with input from my readers. The support and encouragement I get from race reports pushes me on to my next fitness goal. My daily thanks posts help keep perspective in my life.<br />
<br />
What I can't decide, however, is where to continue this blog. Hopefully you've found me since the blog went kaput. (If not then I suppose you're not reading this blog and it doesn't apply to you.) I've made a blog with the Frugal Trophy Wife name (only its a blogspot domain/blog) but can't decide if that's me or not. If I'm honest, this blog doesn't feel like a good fit either though. <br />
<br />
<strong>My questions for you</strong>:<br />
<div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>What factors does a blog name/domain play in your reading? </li>
<li>How do you feel (as a commenter) about blogger versus wordpress?</li>
<li>What are you favorite parts of my blogging (either here or at FTW)?</li>
<li>How did you decide upon your own domain (assuming you have a blog)?</li>
<li>What pages/tabs do you like to see on blogs?</li>
<li>What kind of information do you like in an "about me" section? Mine for blogger is terribly outdated.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<strong>Your questions for me:</strong><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Do you have anything you want to know about me? I tend to spill my guts about anything and everything, so its doubtful any questions are off limits. <a href="http://www.livelaughrunbreathe.com/p/20-questions.html" target="_blank">Bari </a>has a 20 questions page on her blog to supplement her "about me" and I love that idea! Hit me up in the comments, via email, or on twitter if you have a question which would help readers get to know me.</li>
<li>I don't really have a 2nd bullet point, but I don't think you can have one without the compliment so I'm really just typing words now...</li>
</ul>
<br />Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-51615817756870093022012-07-06T09:09:00.000-04:002012-07-06T09:09:00.788-04:00Fashion Friday: Repeat Boutique - Summer 2012Biyearly Knoxville's <a href="http://www.repeatboutiqueknox.com/">Repeat Boutique</a> holds a clearance sale spanning the months of January and June. Items begin to be sold at a 40% discount, followed by a 50% the next week, and finally 70% the final week of the sale. <br />
<br />
The sale is a traditional for my family as well as others - each year we run into familiar faces. The boutique has plenty of "repeat" customers (sorry, I couldn't resist!)<br />
<br />
This year, I didn't manage to snag as many finds as normal. I usually budget between $50-100 for each trip, and at 70% off consignment prices that's a big haul o'loot!<br />
<br />
<b>This isn't a commercial for them - promise!</b><br />
<br />
I wanted to share with you a few of the goodies I snagged this year. And yes, I was disappointed that I didn't get more. <i>For a grand total of $14.09</i> (9.5% TN sales tax included) I purchased the following:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAOXdaBxICZAzycoYLBk6ueyKafJdobvMxYPYKARjSJyPJGMmPeX7LUCc0X5APWfYsUEPXrxJvRhrl5WUDeyVw7zsw5I-lchSB2Di4UM5Nl4LGptBHPC4trIV5qEKgh0utM4i-fZ83xr4/s1600/DSC02312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAOXdaBxICZAzycoYLBk6ueyKafJdobvMxYPYKARjSJyPJGMmPeX7LUCc0X5APWfYsUEPXrxJvRhrl5WUDeyVw7zsw5I-lchSB2Di4UM5Nl4LGptBHPC4trIV5qEKgh0utM4i-fZ83xr4/s320/DSC02312.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>A gold undershirt/tank. </b><br />I'm of the opinion a girl can never have too many of these! I'm not sure what I'll wear with this color, but for $2 it doesn't hurt to have it on hand.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjpIHoOqWt1bf3U-Hk4S4xqA4_iDrLN9bcl8JXrsrQ4rOfdDk8QQk89gkTDyxKK4DSVcxhrh2Ac-R-mmc0f4XmuGJ1zpLKUegWC7OI3fKXyUD7SDSaPMHZPOgJFvBb80hAkbgxz0Y2e5w/s1600/DSC02311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjpIHoOqWt1bf3U-Hk4S4xqA4_iDrLN9bcl8JXrsrQ4rOfdDk8QQk89gkTDyxKK4DSVcxhrh2Ac-R-mmc0f4XmuGJ1zpLKUegWC7OI3fKXyUD7SDSaPMHZPOgJFvBb80hAkbgxz0Y2e5w/s320/DSC02311.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>American Eagle tank</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">This one has a drawstring right at the chest - my smallest part. I love it because it makes me look skinny while also hiding some of my pudges.<br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGSWRumrqgNhTkrFeGn6Apu6cJb1goFUO5V1KjvuWelf32rsZn8CWX7eFiyhtDQiiurlOlNsPicZ_kyPNCJkv7Sdcb-x-IGzTaST_1tpzvOIaPlrzSxTtAsliv7QP9VATevkUYaAjLl38/s1600/DSC02314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGSWRumrqgNhTkrFeGn6Apu6cJb1goFUO5V1KjvuWelf32rsZn8CWX7eFiyhtDQiiurlOlNsPicZ_kyPNCJkv7Sdcb-x-IGzTaST_1tpzvOIaPlrzSxTtAsliv7QP9VATevkUYaAjLl38/s320/DSC02314.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Gap tank</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Once again, fitted at my smallest part - flowy everywhere else. I'm probably wearing this one today, visiting a friend in South Carolina. (I'm traveling and this was scheduled so forgive me if I don't comment on your blog until next week!)<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5KXfgWPZd5mblmmHtZnnK0QPR8tAQ8Vu6108UwrrzJWkmTOy8mhSUv3eDDhVxbpsKgE0sA5lqsHGY_T9tEcPLbPxEhfbGPlXWlIaCUwRDH36N6u2SjiBpdScpJYuRyvZV7p3zRotj8sz/s1600/DSC02315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5KXfgWPZd5mblmmHtZnnK0QPR8tAQ8Vu6108UwrrzJWkmTOy8mhSUv3eDDhVxbpsKgE0sA5lqsHGY_T9tEcPLbPxEhfbGPlXWlIaCUwRDH36N6u2SjiBpdScpJYuRyvZV7p3zRotj8sz/s320/DSC02315.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Gap brown tank</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nothing special about this one, but I have plenty of dresses/shirts that it will look great under. These days I feel self conscious if I don't wear an undershirt.<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3oekrmyOZ31VCRSChQqR-0ykCDTngY43IKT9nYhbmSxuX0N1c8V-sdAQM41ghmVhE2iMGApFbPL6H5xb1s0xq-pLZUSujahUfweRlUXlFPaLaZP-kp4-4tkYm4TxVG3njKc5wIBPnAwt/s1600/DSC02313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3oekrmyOZ31VCRSChQqR-0ykCDTngY43IKT9nYhbmSxuX0N1c8V-sdAQM41ghmVhE2iMGApFbPL6H5xb1s0xq-pLZUSujahUfweRlUXlFPaLaZP-kp4-4tkYm4TxVG3njKc5wIBPnAwt/s320/DSC02313.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>J. Crew Sweater</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This was the most expensive purchase - double the $2 average price-per-piece. The sweater didn't hardly look worn, and will be great for this summer in my over air-conditioned office.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Maybe I've read too much <a href="http://www.jenhatmaker.com/">Jen Hatmaker</a> or am too concerned about the lack of closet space in the new cabin. Either way I saved some serious coin this time around only picking a few items.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a piece of clothing? What's your shopping routine - do you shop for the fun of it, or out of necessity? </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Weekend!!</span></b></div>
<br />Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-8956551155849062462012-07-04T08:38:00.000-04:002012-07-04T08:38:00.707-04:00I hope you are spending this Independence Day with someone you love. I'm taking the day off, but wanted to celebrate with you by sharing these videos.<br />
<br />
The first is one I took after a Tennessee Smokies baseball game. They are the Chicago Cubs AA affiliate and shoot off fire works every Friday night home game. Here is just a brief clip:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/A_XEQlFMwAU?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
The other is from one of my all-time favorite movies <i>Independence Day</i>. As a side note, I loved Major Mitchell (aka Adam Baldwin) before I ever saw him on <i>Chuck </i>or <i>Firefly</i>. <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/l31UUl5SyXk?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Sadly (or am I awesome) I had this entire speech memorized.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy 4th!!!</span>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-39772492220599359102012-07-02T14:22:00.002-04:002012-07-02T14:22:52.128-04:00The Shorts Post<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hate my legs - not a huge secret around these parts. More specifically I hate the way my legs look. I know I should be grateful for them - they've carried me through 2 marathons, 2 triathlons, and countless other races. I even went as far as writing them <a href="http://smartstrongsexy.blogspot.com/2010/09/frienemy-closer-than-brother.html">a letter, outlining a truce</a>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through thick and <strike>thin</strike> less thick, I convinced myself that shorts just weren't for me. Jay's old basketball shorts are my exercise shorts of choice, and I have a couple of pair Bermuda shorts and a couple trusty pair of capris when the weather calls for my legs to be exposed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I accepted this as a result of growing into the over 30 set. Until one day a friend of my mother's gave me a couple pair of mid length shorts. Said friend is in her 50s, and frequently lets us go through her cast-offs before donating them. I love her style and she buys expensive brands so its always fun to see what she has.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those shorts got me to thinking - how can a woman with children older than me pull of the shorts if I can't? She's in great shape, but has 2 decades on me. (And yes, she does pull them off quite nicely.) I began wondering if my ideas about shorts were just silly notions I got in my head that needed purged.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So...I did what anyone would do - took a twitter poll. The results were overwhelmingly in the "wear whatever you feel comfortable in/rock those shorts." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So...I took the conversation to Facebook. There were a few comments in the "thunder thighs should be covered" camp (for the record, they weren't talking about me but rather large thighs in general) but there were a good portion who said that short lengths depended on too many factors to define. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally I took the plunge and wore the shorts...and like a good blogger photo documented.</span><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZXqoAx9e6k5tJicA2cvzhR-2xKu0ujYhNmQInpUEeYMKvdUWkBnn-eAI6J_qepR4VsBJqc_Q3Prs97SaDpdcrE1yzlIpMNbK68yqRL5rPXTb4GRqUY29YEe4jYG0skP7rCUdeLalBDR8/s1600/DSC02306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZXqoAx9e6k5tJicA2cvzhR-2xKu0ujYhNmQInpUEeYMKvdUWkBnn-eAI6J_qepR4VsBJqc_Q3Prs97SaDpdcrE1yzlIpMNbK68yqRL5rPXTb4GRqUY29YEe4jYG0skP7rCUdeLalBDR8/s320/DSC02306.JPG" width="240" /></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This pair I wore to the Repeat Boutique 70% off sale. My mother even told me this was a good length short for me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i47.tinypic.com/hta81f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i47.tinypic.com/hta81f.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The night before I wore these to our town's first ghost walk. It was a hot evening and I didn't think I'd survive in a pair of jean capris!</span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i45.tinypic.com/2r3e8hl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i45.tinypic.com/2r3e8hl.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are several morals to this story, but they all boil down to this: <b>Get over yourself already! </b>Mostly likely the only person obsessed with what you are wearing is you. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apparently I need frequent reminders of a truth <a href="http://www.tentmaker.org/Quotes/humilityquotes1.htm">CS Lewis </a>stated long ago: "<span style="background-color: aliceblue; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Humility is not thinking less of yourself <i>but thinking of yourself less</i>."</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: aliceblue; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-left;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: aliceblue; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-left;"><b>Do you have a seemingly simple life-lesson you have trouble grasping? Or if you're not in a deep kinda mood, what length shorts do you prefer?</b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-62984874258592170972012-06-29T12:13:00.001-04:002012-06-29T12:13:13.872-04:00Financial Friday - The $15 questionThis month, in a rare turn of events, Jay is almost over budget in his personal spending line-item and I am significantly under budget! $40 to be exact. I did, however, go over budget last month by $25, so I'm going to average those out and say I have $15 left for the month.<br />
<br />
Given tomorrow is month-end, I've got some shopping to do! The only problem? I'm not quite sure what I want to spend it on. Were I being responsible, I'd say to myself "Self, you've just bought a new house and are carrying 2 mortgages for the time being. You should just let the extra sit in your account." <br />
<br />
<b>However</b>, when I'm feeling fat I eat. Likewise - when I feel scared about money I like to spend it. The $15 question is "<i>on what</i>?"<br />
<br />
I like the running music idea, but would need suggestions for some good new songs. I've got plenty of books, so unless its a must read I think I'll pass. <b>What ideas do you have for me??</b>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-67108813998474450812012-06-28T15:24:00.000-04:002012-06-28T15:24:20.951-04:00Daily Thanks - the Heat Wave Edition<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm not feeling very thankful today, and of course I did a horrible job of keeping up with these daily (kinda the whole point). However I find a grateful heart is most needed on days I have trouble counting my blessings.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Friday </b>- <i>Shorts!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A friend of my mom's gave me a pair of shorts, but until Friday I hadn't had the nerve to wear them. Turns out {spoiler alert} they are far more flattering than the bermudas I had been wearing to cover up my legs.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Saturday </b>- <i>Shopping with family</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With an emphasis on family. My mother, aunt X 2, grandmother, cousin and I met up to shop the Repeat Boutique 70% off sale. I walked out with 5 items totaling $14.09. A disappointing result for my usual, but I like the pieces I got. Yet another camera/blog project to look forward to next week.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sunday </b>- <i>A nap</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />I'm pretty sure I used this one last week too, but nothing beats a Sunday afternoon nap. Nothing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Monday </b>- <i>Community Pool</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jay and my dad worked at the new cabin on Monday afternoon, so my mom and I took them supper. We also took a dip in the community pool that is within walking distance to the cabin.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tuesday </b>- <i>Netflix Recommendations</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Terri recommended the movie <i>If a Man Answers</i> and it finally made its way up in our queue. Jay's not typically a fan of older movies (this one is from the 60s) but we enjoyed this one. As always hit me up in the comments with any recommendations you have!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Wednesday </b>- <i>Cleaning</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
While I don't enjoy cleaning (okay sometimes I'll admit that I do get a weird high from it, but that's probably just the chemicals talking), I do enjoy the benefits of cleaning. Clean toilets are their own reward.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Thursday </b>- Chill bumps</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On any given day, I'll be overheard in my office complaining about the way the HVAC is ran. Today's forecast is putting temperatures up to 100*. I just had to make 2 laps around the building to warm up. While I wish I had more control over the thermostat in my office, I'm very thankful that none of my family has to work out in this heat. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Looking back over the week, for what are you most thankful?</div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-69548314261931713702012-06-27T15:15:00.003-04:002012-06-27T15:15:53.773-04:00First World Problems<br />
<ul>
<li>I've forgotten every day this week to bring my camera to work. </li>
<li>Said camera has pictures of me in shorts. </li>
<li>I want to do "A 30 Something's Guide to Wearing Shorts" blog post but can't without the pictures.</li>
<li>Currently, I am drinking a cup of hot chocolate. The outside temperature is 86*; the temperature in my office is -55*.</li>
<li>My Garmin charger is fried.</li>
<li>I had to borrow a friend's Garmin at lunch, and it isn't set up to "auto lap" on the mile marker.</li>
<li>My husband has been crazy-busy getting the house ready to put up for sale, and I've been having to stay up past my bedtime to see/spend time with him.</li>
<li>The first mile of the 4 I ran at lunch today was 10:03. So much for all my splits being under a 10 m/m pace.</li>
<li>My 3rd mile was slower than my 2nd. So much for negative splits.</li>
<li>The restaurant my dad picked for his father's day dinner is one of the few for which Jay and I don't have gift cards.</li>
<li>I went to the community pool on Monday and <a href="http://smartstrongsexy.blogspot.com/2012/06/displaced.html">I didn't meet any of my neighbors</a>.</li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<i>You know you are having a first world problem if you can spot at least once blessing in each of your gripes. Don't worry, tomorrow's Thankful Thursday and I promise to balance all of these out.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>What first world problem are you dealing with today?</b></span>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-51636707589774883722012-06-26T10:07:00.000-04:002012-06-26T10:07:14.824-04:00DisplacedI feel a little displaced at the moment. Reading the farmhouse for the market makes me feel like its not our home anymore. Sure I need to keep it clean, nice, but I can't pack up everything yet. Need to keep it looking "lived in" but spotless. Yeah, right!<br />
<br />
We're in transition, but its not time to shift yet. Yesterday afternoon/evening Jay and my dad worked at the cabin on the landscaping. My mom and I took them supper, then headed over to the pool. I had hoped to meet some of my neighbors (something I vowed to do in this community that I failed to do in our last), yet I struck out swinging. <br />
<br />
While the subdivision is made up of a mix of permanent residence, vacation homes, and overnight rentals - the only families at the pool were overnight rentals. Instead of making friends with the neighbors, I felt like I should have had a stack of Jay's business cards. They asked about the cost of living in the area, how much we gave for our cabin (yeah, they went there) and questions about the real estate market in general.<br />
<br />
Likewise,<i> I feel like I'm in a transition in my spiritual life</i>. I know God has big plans for me (ala Jeremiah 29:11) but we're just not there yet. I feel like I don't belong in a typical southern church, yet the hip-and-trendy churches aren't a good fit either. <br />
<br />
Looking at the church calendar, I get stressed about the ministry I'm involved in (funny change from this time last year huh?) yet somehow I feel like I'm not doing enough. Not in that ministry, just over all. I suppose my feelings betray my thoughts on my current ministry - making sure the preacher's microphone is turned off/on at the appropriate times does little to nothing to advance the kingdom.<br />
<br />
<b>I write my thoughts knowing they aren't true, so I suppose I need a reminder of that.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">The audio ministry does make a difference, every time a home-bound church member receives a copy of the previous Sunday's service.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">"Love your neighbor" doesn't just extend to the person next door who bakes you a cake on your birthday but also to the transient just passing through. <br /></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Love and serve God. The place is of little consequence. Follow Him and the rest will follow.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>How are you growing in the body of Christ right now? In what areas of your life could you use your bloggy neighbors praying with you?</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<i>In the non-spiritual side of things, what's the last nice thing you did for your flesh-and-blood neighbor? Or they did for you?</i></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-76443860440498909972012-06-22T15:32:00.000-04:002012-06-22T15:32:18.671-04:00Financial Friday - Tightening the BeltWe closed on the cabin Monday and, in theory at least, should be tightening our belts in the frugal family household. We've seen a lot of "out go" for fixing up the farm house to get it ready to put on the market as well as already written a check or 2 for work done on the cabin. Add (or subtract rather) to that the diminished savings for the down payment and our savings account looks pretty sad.<br />
<br />
In the interest of full disclosure (interest *sniffle* I remember what getting interest on money was like...), we haven't planned our June budget yet. Sad huh? Jay's been working his hiney off and instead of money talks we've been kicking back after a long, hard day's work with our feet propped up and a cold beer in our hands. Well, sometimes my gets lukewarm. I drink slowly.<br />
<br />
ANYHOO...<br />
<br />
We've really been slack this month with our spending - on a month it should have been MORE important to pinch those pennies:<br />
<br />
<b>Eating out - $116.49</b><br />
<br />
This includes a $40 birthday dinner, but beyond we've eaten away at it (see what I did there?) a little at a time. I hope to end the month under $150.<br />
<br />
<b>Groceries - $178.78</b><br />
<br />
This includes adult beverages. I suppose I should have separated those out and put them under "entertainment" or "pissed down the toilet" but I was too lazy. I'm sensing a theme this month...<br />
<br />
<b>Jay's Personal Spending - $92.93</b><br />
<br />
He bought a hat to replace one that didn't survive the washing machine. The price of dip has gone up (his favorite store changed ownership), and he found a restaurant beside his office he likes.<br />
<br />
<b>Brooke's Personal Spending - $68.58</b><br />
<br />
I'm doing better than him for a change! This includes one race registration, some work on my bike, and a couple of fast food visits. I'm hitting Repeat Boutique this weekend so I need all the $$$ I can get!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>How are you doing this month on financial goals? Have you found what truly motivates you to work toward them (or any goal)?</i>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-80147564918731259242012-06-21T08:31:00.000-04:002012-06-21T08:31:13.624-04:00Daily Thanks - The On-the-Move Edition<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Friday </b>- <i>Uno Mas!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now that we're neck deep into it, Jay and I love watching <i>How I Met Your Mother.</i> Its fun just kicking back at the end of the day, watching stupid mindless TV and saying "Uno Mas!" when its time to click through to the next episode. We're currently in season 5 (of 6 available for streaming) and are taking applications for the position of new favorite show. Suggestions?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Saturday</b> - <i>7 Islands</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YoevjU_amQTlNoJZQLW6k7Pv5eqQXx7KC87Cotzhyy8M_cogij8_QmoQ6XQ5N21UDI8tbl_N5sohPPdCdUBGe3Y_0Lx_ApgnC8NoPVsHdBNuGCCp1QGCw1B9HcvSZyTdCqTF8oq5_YHt/s1600/7+islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YoevjU_amQTlNoJZQLW6k7Pv5eqQXx7KC87Cotzhyy8M_cogij8_QmoQ6XQ5N21UDI8tbl_N5sohPPdCdUBGe3Y_0Lx_ApgnC8NoPVsHdBNuGCCp1QGCw1B9HcvSZyTdCqTF8oq5_YHt/s320/7+islands.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had a beautiful trail run on Saturday at the 7 Islands Wildlife refuge. Kinda made me sad that I haven't used this resource (only a couple minutes away from my house) more.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sunday </b>- <i>Daddy & Papaw</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm so thankful to have a wonderful father and grandfather in my life. I'd link you to the lovely tribute I did for them, but well...(see Tuesday)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Monday </b>- <i>Our new home!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45PbBRBVvVQYDazg91PuvAGdm2EY34-z14VZ1EyjLaKPmRH30dUwUvuTzLMXa1V9xs7JZbpyubdLPKVxJeHiMw-mw8-WGeeKJPpko-If6w16UCQA-lB9DfvxnUrWaFWwTi8iteikFOMVV/s1600/cabin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45PbBRBVvVQYDazg91PuvAGdm2EY34-z14VZ1EyjLaKPmRH30dUwUvuTzLMXa1V9xs7JZbpyubdLPKVxJeHiMw-mw8-WGeeKJPpko-If6w16UCQA-lB9DfvxnUrWaFWwTi8iteikFOMVV/s320/cabin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've still got some work to do on it before moving in, but we closed on Monday. EEEEEEEEEE! and EEEEEEEEEEEK! all at the same time. Now to sell our current home...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tuesday </b>- <i>Backup Plans</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Someone *coughJaycough* forgot to renew the Frugal Trophy Wife domain, so they shut the lights off. I'm very thankful to have this ole blog to fall back on while we get everything back up and running over there.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Wednesday </b>- <i>MIB3</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My parents took me to the movies and dinner for a belated birthday celebration. Great movie, great family, and cheesecake. What more can a girl ask for?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Thursday </b>- <i>Total Body weights class</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sad to dump my Iron Sisters, but the workouts just weren't meshing with my current training plan (and training buddies). We've decided to try the class again. I'm a little skeerd though, because I'm still sore from Tuesday's class.</div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-83320793431378972982012-06-19T10:45:00.001-04:002012-06-19T10:45:20.515-04:00Judgie McJudgerson<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m stalling again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I get this way when I feel like I need to blog about
something that won’t fall in line. I
like being accepted. I like being
liked. I like getting lots of “spot on”
comments. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don’t like the
feeling I get of stepping out into the great unknow. I feel uncomfortable challenging the
popular. I like bandwagons. I want you to save me a seat beside you on
it. For Pete’s sake I like the New York
Yankees! The only thing bigger than
their bandwagon is the “I hate the Yankees” band wagon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>See? Even as I type
this, I’m getting off topic.</i> Today we’re
discussing the first two chapters of <i>Evolving in Monkey Town</i> by Rachel Held
Evans. As an east Tennessee gal who
started attending church 9 months before I was born, I can undoubtedly identify
with the author’s experience. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marla even gave us a handy (and really difficult) set of
questions to aid in discussion:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<strong>1.</strong> <strong>What does it take to be saved?</strong><strong style="background-color: white;">2. <strong>How should our faith affect our politics</strong>?</strong><strong style="background-color: white;">3. <strong>What does Jesus think about someone like June?</strong> <strong>Is professing to believe Jesus enough to excuse a life of hatred?</strong></strong></div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 12.1pt;">I wish I could fall
in line.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 12.1pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 12.1pt;">Talk about how I feel about
politics, how I think both sides are wrong.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 12.1pt;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 12.1pt;">How I think both sides suck and my latest political strategy is to pray
for Jesus to come back.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 12.1pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 12.1pt;">Sure, Jay’s not
a Christian and would be up crap creek if Jesus came back today.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 12.1pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 12.1pt;">But I mean, really, he’s had his shot – no
one’s fault but his own for not taking it sooner.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Yes, I really do
feel this way. Not sure why I thought
I’d be a good candidate for North American Missions when I mostly feel like
everyone in North America knows about Jesus – or at least our distorted
American Jesus. I also know that this
attitude is piss-poor and totally not one with which Jesus agrees.}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Stop getting
distracted from the point Brooke! Out
with it!!!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>4. What
else in these 2 chapters do you want to talk about?</strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The “something else” I want to talk about
isn’t the content of chapter 2, but rather my attitude toward chapter 2. As I was reading it, something didn’t feel
right. While I could easily agree with
Rachel’s assessment of
June-the-horrible-no-good-is-she-really-a-Christian-lady, something just didn’t
fit right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I couldn’t put my
finger on it until this morning. We’re
judging the judgmental <s>lady</s> woman.
Worse than that – we’re judging a caricature someone else has painted of
her. We’re point our finger at how awful
and horrible and vile she is, yet aren’t we also awful and horrible and vile? Don’t we need the blood of Jesus to cover
our offenses just as much as June? Just
as much as the people June is judging?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kg6HedZ4xGs?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.1pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being judgmental is
something with which I struggle on a consistent basis. Don’t believe me? Travel upward in the blog to the point where
I judge everyone not</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 12.1pt;"> saved at age 8 like me. I don’t know the solution, beyond begging for
grace and mercy in my life and trying my
hardest not to get cranky when God provides the same grace and mercy to someone
of whom I don’t approve.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-66574457646994946452011-08-02T11:50:00.000-04:002011-08-02T11:50:59.721-04:00Maui Day 3Hey yall! Just wanted to let you know I blogged about our Maui vacation today on <a href="http://frugaltrophywife.com/">my new blog</a>. Check out<a href="http://frugaltrophywife.com/2011/08/02/maui-day-3/"> Maui Day 3</a>!<br />
<br />
Also if you've included me on your blogroll, you might want to double-check that you've got the new domain.<br />
<br />
Thanks guys hope you're having a terrific Tuesday!!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-22490010447974372692011-06-27T19:34:00.000-04:002011-06-27T19:34:00.028-04:00Today's post<a href="http://frugaltrophywife.com/2011/06/27/like-my-pappy-always-said/">http://frugaltrophywife.com/2011/06/27/like-my-pappy-always-said/</a><br />
<br />
apparently the google reader in my side bar is just for looks and isn't publishing in your google reader yet. hopefully Jay will get that working soon.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-92143477284108521062011-06-24T11:17:00.002-04:002011-06-24T11:17:30.008-04:00Check out My New BlogFrom here on out, I'll be blogging at<a href="http://frugaltrophywife.com/"> Frugal Trophy Wife</a>. Come visit me!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-56145599277519334402011-06-23T11:08:00.000-04:002011-06-23T11:08:55.978-04:00We have a winner! & Random profound thoughtsWhat to do: make you sit through my random thoughts or go ahead and get the give away stuff over with??? hmmm...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTQfcMerx67oKzxkpvDYQCmWdJLJ6BJL2TPNdRyY_dpe_Jkq8fScuejz6xrZtSNivDPD3svblsV6yCjKlyinYP5eTKmMVObMqr1nSZ7yid-1StBrR6ZvpJKLWL-8OY-Ey0XLD-hEmKDxG/s1600/brewery+beers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTQfcMerx67oKzxkpvDYQCmWdJLJ6BJL2TPNdRyY_dpe_Jkq8fScuejz6xrZtSNivDPD3svblsV6yCjKlyinYP5eTKmMVObMqr1nSZ7yid-1StBrR6ZvpJKLWL-8OY-Ey0XLD-hEmKDxG/s320/brewery+beers.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
hurrah the pictures are working!! now look at the pictures and <a href="http://smartstrongsexy.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-how-i-roll.html">read along with yesterday's post</a> to humor me. mkay?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBsvBG_6YlqvMGRfUI3Hiee513oJHnQzV-J7fZyWlW4EvrvuiJ_SCSZrMuejK5utR9AWIin19yqv3RG53kkkgPWDK_jRZ5BJK6HNsI4aUZ1hyphenhyphenb-3i2WkssF8jMyc-8utbGiyNrQVVt3x6/s1600/brewery+putt+putt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBsvBG_6YlqvMGRfUI3Hiee513oJHnQzV-J7fZyWlW4EvrvuiJ_SCSZrMuejK5utR9AWIin19yqv3RG53kkkgPWDK_jRZ5BJK6HNsI4aUZ1hyphenhyphenb-3i2WkssF8jMyc-8utbGiyNrQVVt3x6/s320/brewery+putt+putt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
yall are too good to me!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wvSfBuYJQQ0qyv_ABe2J7Vbtu-0HgmUHbO9vt5OCXRpiOlE2WFjvPkOLzws4HC52VpRReah3WYBKdpsPWoEIPX66QsLFMongoSHzWLEIK7UsmH7l_WeOvsGXSg-zk5-Df8_Z5ffTSHde/s1600/brewery+chad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wvSfBuYJQQ0qyv_ABe2J7Vbtu-0HgmUHbO9vt5OCXRpiOlE2WFjvPkOLzws4HC52VpRReah3WYBKdpsPWoEIPX66QsLFMongoSHzWLEIK7UsmH7l_WeOvsGXSg-zk5-Df8_Z5ffTSHde/s320/brewery+chad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
i was so proud to have pictures to go with my random blog and incredibly bummed when they didn't work!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJm3bFUBiGtXicQg4wBlEbJHrHd59vY7ktPhL_Gr5x5902Lq5jiCKZ7fXrABOOhntcPSsLrqfziaVh5bV4JG1MBLYtQv6eV4aEMRgVSlSx9DJMOC7JPdZ0W_Xbsgsd_Gtr5LTot91UHUG/s1600/brewery+skee+ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJm3bFUBiGtXicQg4wBlEbJHrHd59vY7ktPhL_Gr5x5902Lq5jiCKZ7fXrABOOhntcPSsLrqfziaVh5bV4JG1MBLYtQv6eV4aEMRgVSlSx9DJMOC7JPdZ0W_Xbsgsd_Gtr5LTot91UHUG/s320/brewery+skee+ball.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Okay so now that I've gotten that out of the way - time to give away <a href="http://smartstrongsexy.blogspot.com/2011/06/husbands-guide.html">a book about s-e-x!!</a> Into the candy jar every one's names go...okay not that one, its still dirty. Eww!!<br />
<br />
I'm stirring them up good I promise!!<br />
<br />
And the winner is...<a href="http://www.amuslovesbutch.com/">Amy</a>!!! Expect an email from me shortly. Congrats.<br />
<br />
Okay, now on to my ramblings. Hmm...what was I going to say? I remember it being quite deep and thought provoking.<br />
<br />
Speaking of, <a href="http://www.marlataviano.com/">Marla</a> (the author of said book about s-e-x), is having an interesting discussion on her blog today. Actually I think I'll just copy/paste my comment. (Subject being saving for the future vs giving it all to benefit the kingdom now.)<br />
<br />
<em>i have mixed thoughts on this subject. In some ways saving is important, even spiritually. This is a lame example but its the best I have so it’ll have to do. I’ve gained and lost 15 pounds and fluctuated 3 sizes. I held on to the different sizes not knowing where I was supposed to be. </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>then one day God spoke (he borrows the voices that are already in my head – he’s the one that suggests things that i don’t wanna do ) to me and said “give them up.”</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>me: what if i need them again?</em><br />
<em>God: you were able to get those, you can get more.</em><br />
<em>me: but I don’t wanna!</em><br />
<br />
<em>in the end i boxed them up and took them to a yard sale. there was a girl there (who i knew previously) who needed them, but she also needed to talk to someone who understood. she was less monetarily poor and more poor emotionally.</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>had i never purchased those pants, or gave them away too quickly I would have missed this appointment God had set for me. </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>God didn’t want me to just drop my pants off at the local thrift store. He wanted *that* moment.</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>I don’t think having stuff is necessarily wrong, but we must understand that they (or it if we’re talking money) isn’t ours. And if someone asks us for all of our size 8 pants we ask if they needs skirts too. </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>I just hope that in asking me to give away my 8s He allows me to fit into my 6s</em><br />
<br />
Unfortunately I don't think my heart is always that open, my mind in communication to God. I want to get there again. Stay there this time. <br />
<br />
I know I've said this before, but God has incredible things in store for my life if only I'm willing to unclench my fist long enough for Him to give it to me!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-9878438944938955412011-06-22T10:40:00.000-04:002011-06-22T10:40:53.202-04:00This is how I rollSure today is check in day at the <a href="http://shrinkingjeans.net/">Sisterhood</a>. <br />
<br />
Yes this is a quasi-post about just that.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://shrinkingjeans.net/" target="_blank"><img alt="Burst Into Summer Challenge" border="0" src="http://bit.ly/maGTba" /></a><br />
<br />
See - I even used the button. ^^<br />
<br />
I'm up a half pound today and am thrilled about it. I ate 3,000+ calories yesterday and am still suffering a bit from beer bloat. Only a half a pound is incredible!<br />
<br />
Wanna know why I'm struggling with this weight loss thing? Slip on these size 9 narrows of mine and take a little walk.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I got up early to run before work so that I could help Jay with an errand for the cabin at lunch. Breakfast was fine, as was morning snack. As I tried to eat my lunch before I left to pick him up, I just couldn't force myself to eat it. Chipotle lime chicken with rice. <br />
<br />
Might as well have been a stale saltine cracker.<br />
<br />
You see for over a year now I've dazzled my taste buds with exciting cuisine: chips and salsa followed by a chicken chimichanga with refried beans at the Mexican restaurant, pizza and bread sticks galore at the Pizza Hut buffet, and whatever my mom and I decide we're craving on Fast Food Friday.<br />
<br />
So instead of eating the chicken and rice, I rebelled. I did finish my salad, but I threw the rice away and put the chicken back in the fridge. Then after Jay and I were finished with the errand we stopped in Rotten Ronnie's for a burger, fries, and a hot fudge sundae (I'm a $1 menu shopper).<br />
<br />
After a dental appointment, Jay and I met his cousin and wife at our favorite local restaurant for dinner.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">{insert picture of 33 oz Black Bear Ale here} *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Beer, wings, and pizza was the order of the evening. Followed by a little mini-golf.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{insert putt-putt picture here}</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Around hole 16 it started thundering. By my turn on hole 18 it was pouring the rain and me (and my Ann Taylor work clothes) were drenched. We retreated inside to the arcade.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{insert picture of Big Chad playing a hunting game here}</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jay & I hated to waste money on tokens, but I did bust out a few mad skeeball skilz.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{insert skeeball picture here}</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So you see, with all that fun and excitement - how do I expect to lose weight? I'm certainly not going to be the girl who sips water and eats a salad while everyone else dives in to the <strike>fattening</strike> yummy food.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">*I'm highly annoyed with blogger right now. Its not loading the super cool awesome pictures I wanted to show you. So that's it for blogger. I'll announce my ebook winner here tomorrow, then Friday I'm moving over to my new wordpress site. Hope you'll join me there!!</div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-35898402166516907622011-06-20T10:26:00.000-04:002011-06-20T10:26:26.534-04:00Guess what I saw this weekend...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This weekend <a href="http://www.livinginagirlsworld.com/">Kirsten</a> & Co dropped by for a visit on their way north. While they were here we went on a short little hike. She's been driving practically daily since they left Nevada over 2 weeks ago (with 3 children) so a good hike was just what they needed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we headed toward the park, traffic was stopped. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We hadn't even gotten into the National Park and already a bear jam.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonYCO06GBLjYsVlzI7lzjCVsLCUxboavWpu0Q_1Fb1WaTOgkk5hvw3bQ1R5V6CRTDnnJNCsVzOroyigfMJtV3ZprqaNRJwq5X4uxJ53JwD8Gh_CcJKtvtHycQeo_wewvuy0txnUiN1azZ/s1600/bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonYCO06GBLjYsVlzI7lzjCVsLCUxboavWpu0Q_1Fb1WaTOgkk5hvw3bQ1R5V6CRTDnnJNCsVzOroyigfMJtV3ZprqaNRJwq5X4uxJ53JwD8Gh_CcJKtvtHycQeo_wewvuy0txnUiN1azZ/s320/bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This was a big ole bruiser. Remembering of course that I always use a zoom and never get that close, but still he was closer than I felt comfortable. I snapped a few pictures then hopped in the driver's seat so Kirsten could take some pictures with her super duper camera.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I stole this picture off Jay's facebook, but will share the rest of the pictures from our trip when I get <strike>unlazy</strike> a chance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What excitement did you have over the weekend?</div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-58720771803569075842011-06-19T17:15:00.000-04:002011-06-19T17:15:04.809-04:00They're Playin Our Song!Let me just start out by saying, we can be an unorthodox family.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoXfDfe_yL5W2_rNK_nPJHmqwTSYTXhEkzp2T7v5KK07ZgHHs6RanPGwfkyD13U8umSgrAjNz7pdgqiTM244AEoeK6xmlXyhllVFUmQUfYnM34V8q25Lu1ahmx9FLz5BwQVKTTdvDUiGJ/s1600/+160+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoXfDfe_yL5W2_rNK_nPJHmqwTSYTXhEkzp2T7v5KK07ZgHHs6RanPGwfkyD13U8umSgrAjNz7pdgqiTM244AEoeK6xmlXyhllVFUmQUfYnM34V8q25Lu1ahmx9FLz5BwQVKTTdvDUiGJ/s320/+160+%25281%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
No clue why my father felt the need to try on the Little Man's 'boggin, but we're all a little crazy like that. <br />
<br />
When we hired the photographer and DJ for our wedding back in 2008, I let them both in on surprise for my dad for which I needed their help. All along I told him we weren’t having a father/daughter dance. Those are always to corny songs, none of which seemed to fit our relationship.<br />
<br />
But as soon as Jay and I finished our first dance as a married couple the DJ moved right along in the music.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRIejQQP3URavTpWsgwZTJSnGMOd8Zzdi4s8c3cShZI_ce75xHDDVxM8JjsOg8hucm3gP0bLMGDqIdv1Dp6X3CsliMynUKoGr9NBJVYiRs7mzuaXBeBTdEyFzafziv5OEPVMKbZ4Wisds/s1600/+160+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRIejQQP3URavTpWsgwZTJSnGMOd8Zzdi4s8c3cShZI_ce75xHDDVxM8JjsOg8hucm3gP0bLMGDqIdv1Dp6X3CsliMynUKoGr9NBJVYiRs7mzuaXBeBTdEyFzafziv5OEPVMKbZ4Wisds/s320/+160+%25282%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
When Daddy heard Butterfly Kisses start playing you could see the surprise and delight in his eyes. He started crying immediately. I grabbed him and hugged him tight because I knew what was coming and couldn’t control the laughter. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkznpYYAJeQOy7EHoFzmeVoSZdX_QPU0UHT7JFgh8wbeZZD7IFBNKuupjX3uJXvPkbVicg2tDyfLTzfVIzaYyLuV-CFppcD_zzVdoqpd6OWf8s4GoaZP_pw4FZjoI45jaIK3o1XATNPTj/s1600/+160+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkznpYYAJeQOy7EHoFzmeVoSZdX_QPU0UHT7JFgh8wbeZZD7IFBNKuupjX3uJXvPkbVicg2tDyfLTzfVIzaYyLuV-CFppcD_zzVdoqpd6OWf8s4GoaZP_pw4FZjoI45jaIK3o1XATNPTj/s320/+160+%25283%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
He looked confused at the record scratch then the familiar stoic opening. “He had plastic bags wrapped ‘round his shoes, he was covered in the evening news...”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75KZcFw6ScfYD8tdHA8_gyxELq90uPQoRm01HdFto835UkuUN-A7TqMOKetlqy9imi9_gU3FQRcOwvOcwLR1oFGMuLydL1w3cT4EQEPodofrO31LCAqluOgcgnfMZMX_l0Pqowq55taRZ/s1600/+160+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75KZcFw6ScfYD8tdHA8_gyxELq90uPQoRm01HdFto835UkuUN-A7TqMOKetlqy9imi9_gU3FQRcOwvOcwLR1oFGMuLydL1w3cT4EQEPodofrO31LCAqluOgcgnfMZMX_l0Pqowq55taRZ/s320/+160+%25284%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Everyone told me that I couldn’t play a song about a homeless guy at my wedding. The only problem was that <em>Almost Home</em> by Craig Morgan is our song. My father is a sap who cries at everything. So when the song came out in 2003, he cried every time he heard it. <br />
<br />
And being a good daughter, I mocked him every time. Whenever I hear it on the radio, I quickly call him, turn up the radio, and put the phone up to the speaker. <br />
<br />
I knew it was the perfect choice for our father-daughter dance. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLuCYCZiKyaX0y2R9lbRC_kO7Fr_IdxRXJAemejxRPYu4XHQ3LfFdqcuQ-e7mCo3z10wIXMQR1kpYp79x8QH-V1LwnmIV5bXFyv_o5whYB9-LwGAzsK-GDse2uGkU0Nrj-iBfQbQUTadW/s1600/+160+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLuCYCZiKyaX0y2R9lbRC_kO7Fr_IdxRXJAemejxRPYu4XHQ3LfFdqcuQ-e7mCo3z10wIXMQR1kpYp79x8QH-V1LwnmIV5bXFyv_o5whYB9-LwGAzsK-GDse2uGkU0Nrj-iBfQbQUTadW/s320/+160+%25285%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div> <br />
It was everything I wanted it to be. Touching, memorable. But most of all real. I love my Daddy, but not in a way a sappy "Daddy hung the moon" song can convey. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndDXbDztqI8km5TvbzavM2PpZ9h7eWcb9l1hK_F82VM2FzmlNRlsqptbJqOh4crdbPsh77rEMuVjG3jaxTuP4oYTjMZpWrJvxGwXk0ARjI7JCRCHGMHig3vgR_vZ3nwNrdOl39zKICDP3/s1600/+160+%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndDXbDztqI8km5TvbzavM2PpZ9h7eWcb9l1hK_F82VM2FzmlNRlsqptbJqOh4crdbPsh77rEMuVjG3jaxTuP4oYTjMZpWrJvxGwXk0ARjI7JCRCHGMHig3vgR_vZ3nwNrdOl39zKICDP3/s320/+160+%252810%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
To honor him this Father's Day, I'm playing the world's most depressing song on my blog. After all, its so much more than a song about a homeless man. <br />
<br />
It's our song.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/73XaEvgrJkE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-83053283061610852972011-06-16T08:44:00.003-04:002011-06-16T10:54:38.508-04:00A Husband's Guide (& a Giveaway!)I feel like Sally Jesse Raphael this morning because we're going to talk about S-E-X today! <br />
<br />
Okay so not really, but I'm enough of a prude to feel weird writing this blog. My bloggy friend (I can call her a friend cause she responds to my comments right? Thought so) <a href="http://www.marlataviano.com/">Marla Taviano</a> just wrote an ebook about the subject and ask for a little help getting the world out.<br />
<br />
Her book (and <a href="http://www.husbandsgetlucky.com/">web site</a>) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Husbands-Guide-Getting-Lucky-ebook/dp/B00563EXZ4?ie=UTF8&tag=smastrsex-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><em>The Husband's Guide to Getting Lucky</em></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=smastrsex-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00563EXZ4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> was just released last night. Ordinarily this isn't a topic I would discuss in polite company, but I respect Marla and, while I haven't yet read the book, trust that she handled the subject in a tasteful and Godly manner.<br />
<br />
Her previous book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blushing-Bride-Wedded-Wife-Girlfriend-What/dp/0736917578?ie=UTF8&tag=smastrsex-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><em>From Blushing Bride to Wedded Wife</em> </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=smastrsex-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0736917578" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />has helped me tremendously in the area of loving my husband well. (Jay might not think so - but imagine how it'd have been without the book!)<br />
<br />
Marla took a few moments to answer question about the book (and herself) for this post:<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>1. What led you to write this book?</em><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c1130;">Well, I do like to write about sex. It's kind of become "my thing" over the last few years (along with zoos and Cambodia and Scrabble letters--I know, what a random collection, right?). Everybody likes to read about sex, but not a whole lot of Christian authors are brave enough to tackle the topic. So, it was kind of easy to find my niche.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c1130;">I never thought I'd ever write a book for guys though. In my experience, guys don't read books. We'll see if they prove me wrong.</span><br />
<br />
<em>2. Who is the target audience? Can women benefit from reading it? How about a non-Christian man?</em><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">Husbands are my primary target, but women can absolutely benefit from reading it (and I imagine a lot of them are going to want to take a peek). They can also benefit from their husbands reading it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">You definitely don't have to be a Christian to enjoy this book. It's not preachy, and I try to steer clear of Christianese. However, my faith colors what I think/feel/believe about sex, so that's going to come through loud and clear. But if a guy is worried that the book will be stuffy or boring, he need not fear. </span><br />
<br />
<em>3. What's the single most important piece of advice you'd give married couples?</em><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">Figure out your spouse's love language (the way he/she interprets and receives love) and love him/her that way. In other words, if your wife's love language is "words of affirmation," shower her with genuine verbal praise whenever you get the chance. If your husband's love language is "acts of service," find out what he'd most like you to do for him and do it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">A lot of the miscommunication in marriage stems from the fact that we don't understand how our spouse wants to be loved. That and we're too selfish to follow through on it. (I know I'm guilty!)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<em>4. What's your favorite kind of ice cream? (obviously not related to the book, but everyone loves ice cream!)</em><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">Are you sure everyone loves ice cream? Because, sadly, I don't. If you were going to force me to eat some, I'd pick some kind of coffee flavor or black raspberry chip. But ice cream isn't something I'd pick out of a line-up of delicious food. I'll take some nachos though!</span> <br />
<br />
Thanks Marla for answering my questions, although I do have to question that respect I was talking about earlier. I mean who doesn't like ice cream?!? She does redeem herself though...by offering a copy of her book to one lucky reader of Smart + Strong = Sexy<br />
<br />
TO ENTER:<br />
<br />
I've got some changes in store for my Smart + Strong = Sexy readers in the next week or so. For one entry (<strong>mandatory</strong>) comment on what you'd like to see in the new blog. Something you'd like to see change or perhaps a regular feature you don't want to see go away.<br />
<br />
+1 Tweet about this giveaway<br />
+1 Post about this giveaway on Facebook<br />
+1 Follow me - wherever I shall go ;)<br />
<br />
UPDATED - Giveaway ends next Wednesday at midnight. Winner will be announced on Thursday.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: Amazon Associates affiliate links were include in this post. Clicking thru and purchasing benefits this site. Who am I kidding - I am this site. Click thru and I get more books. Thanks!</span>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-45641754153494861682011-06-15T10:25:00.000-04:002011-06-15T10:25:36.189-04:00Burst into Summer - Week 1Today is the kick off of the <a href="http://shrinkingjeans.net/">Shrinking Jeans</a> burst into summer challenge. Once again its a team challenge, so I'm hopeful to have the support and accountability of not letting my team down. (We're team 8 and so far I've only "met" one of my teammates).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://shrinkingjeans.net/" target="_blank"><img alt="Burst Into Summer Challenge" border="0" src="http://bit.ly/maGTba" /></a><br />
<br />
Honestly I'm really not sure what else to say on this post. I'm at the same weight as last week. I tried taking my measurements last night, but I think I did it wrong. (I was under the influence of Benadryl.)<br />
<br />
To say much more would be to regurgitate posts from the past. I'm sick of being here but I can't get myself to do anything to change. <br />
<br />
How's that for the shortest check-in post ever?Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347737109684156629.post-26112209441269699002011-06-14T08:43:00.000-04:002011-06-14T08:43:39.977-04:00Book Review - Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Living-Confidence-Chaotic-World-Should/dp/B004HB1BRY?ie=UTF8&tag=smastrsex-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=smastrsex-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004HB1BRY" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>is Dr. David Jeremiah’s follow up to <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-World-Going-Prophetic-Cannot/dp/078523117X?ie=UTF8&tag=smastrsex-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">What in the World is Going on</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=smastrsex-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=078523117X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>? While his first book is (obviously) a “what” book, Confidence is more of a how book. Dr. Jeremiah lays out a plan of action regarding how Christians should react to the trouble times we are living in.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I struggled with this title. I’ve had the book for several months, yet I just finished it this week – reading it off and on over the course of the months I’ve had the book. For me it was difficult to really engage and get into the book. That’s probably more my fault than the author’s. This title was chosen because the author is well respected, but its not a subject I’m terribly interested in. I’m more of head-in-the-sand kinda girl. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">His points were clearly laid out, and someone interested in world affairs might find the selection impossible to put down. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: xx-small;">Disclosure #2: Amazon Associate links were included in this post. If you should click through and purchase this book thanks to my glowing review, this site may be compensated.</span>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793109148879037341noreply@blogger.com4