Bento Box/ Muffin Tin Kids Lunch

I saw the cutest lunch idea for kids the other day: Bento boxes! They were adorable! But when I went to the store to buy the tupperware I couldn't find them. Instead, I found muffin tins at the local DollarTree (I'd seen the muffin tin lunch ideas before, but I thought the bento boxes were waaay cuter...oh-well).

My kids are p.i.c.k.y. with a capital P, and they can't have very much sugar or heavily processed foods (don't ask...it's a long story) so getting them to eat is a definite challenge. To get them to at least try all of the healthy food, I decided to wrap a surprise treat that they could only open after they had finished the rest.

*animal crackers *Plain Greek yogurt with a little manuka honey and sprinkles *no sugar added apple sauce *PB&honey sandwich *Surprise (half a granola bar)
*Green Machine juice

We had a great afternoon lazing on the back patio having a nice picnic, feeling and watching the baby kick. And now they're outside...coloring all over themselves with what I hope is washable marker.

Thirty. The big 3-0. It's not a big deal...nooope. No big deal. Nada. I'm totally fine with it. Totally. Really, I am. That is if you considering me throwing the ultimate tantrum and screaming "Why, oh why am I getting older?" as I drown my sorrow in a gallon of icecream, donuts and chick flicks "fine"...then yes, I'm totally fine.

However, there is a teensy thing bothering me. I didn't accomplish either of the goals I set for myself. I didn't have tons of them...just 2:
1. To own my home free and clear. Well, the economy kind of took a toll on that goal. That's okay. Stuff happens.
2. To write a book (something I've been working on on and off of-well...mostly off- for the past 4 years) .

Here's where my dilemma comes to play: I have very limited spare time, so do I work on something that's been a dream of mine, even when I know that the chances of getting published are slim to none. Or, do I do something that I like (photography) that doesn't pay all that much (but a little is better than nothing!) and put aside writing the book.

You see, I don't have much time to decide because once baby #3 arrives, I doubt I'll have any spare time for writing, but before baby arrives (now) is the season for family pictures. Am I wasting my precious spare time by doing something that makes me happy...even if it doesn't bring in money?

What you gon' do with all that junk?

(I'll post preggo pics tomorrow...I can't figure out how to get the pics of my hubby's new camera..which since I'm a photographer I probably shouldn't admit that...)

I'm almost 26 weeks now and I'm feeling a bit...um huge (it doesn't help that my dear sweet husband likes to add sound effects every.single.time I bend over).

"You're not fat, you're pregnant!" Yes. Yes, I am...but there's not a baby in my behind.

I don't know when it started, this obsession with finding our faults and our flaws. Having contests with other girls to see who wins for the worst self-image. It's a cycle: someone insults themselves and you can't say "Whoa, yeah...I totally see what you mean. You're butt has gotten a lot bigger since the last time I saw you!" so instead you say. "What?? That's nothing. Have you seen the bags under my eyes? And these wrinkles! Don't even get me started!"

Well, if you're looking for flaws, you'll find 'em. If you keep pointing them out over and over (and over and over) then pretty soon that's all you'll see. That's how it was for me. Years and years of focusing on flaws instead of seeing the original beauty has taken a toll, but I'm not only affecting my self-image...but my daughter's as well.

I was having a particularly bad day filled with self-deprecation when I came across this blog article. Amazing. I love it. Read it.
Cardigan Empire

Did you read it? Yes? You're welcome.
Don't be hatin'. Love who you are. If you're scarfing down the cookies, then don't complain about it when it hits your rump. If you have healthy eating habits then embrace your bootiliciousness. And wrinkles? Me? Oh, no, no...I don't have any of those. I just have proof that I love to laugh ;)

(I bet you have the song stuck in your head now, huh? I don't think you're ready for this jelly, I don't think you're ready for this jelly, 'cause my body's too bootilicious for ya babe!)

DIYADD

I have DIYADD. What? I just made that up? Oh, no..I can assure you it's real (just ask my husband). I look around my house, get annoyed that it's not how I want it and frustrated because we don't have the cash for what I want. So, what do I do? I see all of these great DIY projects that I can do (never mind the fact that I have two crazy-bored kids and I'm so tired all.day.long that I can barely keep my eyes open let alone pick up a hammer). I get so excited and psyched, I go out and buy what I need and then another project catches my eye (squirrel! That's for you, Olivia). So, here's my list, let's see how much of it gets finished before baby arrives!!

Kitchen:


Mikayla and Hunter's room:


Reupholster chair:


Make some frames:


Baby Nursery and crib bedding:


And then of course, I have all of the Holiday crafts and decor...but I'll save that for another post!