Superbowl XLVII Printable Pool

What more could I ask for? The Giants won the World Series and now the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl led by University of Nevada, Reno alum, Colin Kaepernick! WOLF PACK!

Photo credit

We are just one week away from Superbowl XLVII, a sports mania of ridiculously overpriced commercials, wing-induced burps, frosty mugs and countless football players praising the Lord. I can't wait! Go Niners!

To make the game even more fun, here is a printable pool. My family always did this when I was growing up. (Probably because my mom is the oldest of nine, so we had a lot of names to fill up all of the squares.) I think it makes the game even more exciting, especially if you aren't necessarily a fan of either team. Just get friends and family to pick squares and pay up before kickoff on Sunday... 

Dolla dolla bills, y'all!

Grace during the Super Bowl last year. #Badcall

Good luck, have fun, and don't drink and drive.

Now if only the Kings weren't leaving Sacramento...

Check out 2016's Super Bowl 50 Printable Pool here!

Tell Me What You Really Think

You know how when you're pregnant strangers just have to say something about the size of your belly? Some people just physically can not keep their mouths closed and their opinions to themselves. 

"Wow, are you having twins?"

I honestly think they don't realize they're being rude, but most pregnant women are not interested in their commentary. 

The same principle applies to babies and toddlers. Strangers just can't resist saying something. However, sometimes what they say is entirely inappropriate. 

"Well she certainly gets enough to eat, doesn't she?"

Likewise, parents and strangers in the checkout line dole out labels and backhanded compliments about Grace that leave me wondering if I should be offended or proud. 

"She's a sassy little thing!"

So, in the interest of parents everywhere (and completely in good fun) here is an easy list of translations:

They Say "Sassy"  They Mean "Disrespectful"
They Say "Picky"    They Mean "Ungrateful"                            

They Say "Creative"    They Mean "Doesn't follow directions"

They Say "Mischievous"    They Mean "Naughty"
They Say "Sensitive"    They Mean "Cry-baby"

They Say "Healthy"    They Mean "Fat"    

They Say "Smart"    They Mean "Typical" 

They Say "Independent"    They Mean "Unfriendly"

They Say "Ham"    They Mean "Show-off"    

However, I have to hand it to the strangers. For once they actually got it right! Grace really is one sassy, picky, creative, mischievous, sensitive, healthy, smart, independent ham!

I couldn't be prouder!

Citizen Responder

Last weekend I spent all day mouth to mouth with a dummy.

Too much information? While Cole and I may or may not have had a crazy make out session, I was actually getting my First Aid and CPR certification from the American Red Cross.

I would like to introduce my training partner, Mildred. 

7 hours, 4,500 chest compressions and 300 rescue breaths later, I joined the ranks as a Citizen Responder! I drove home just looking for an emergency situation for which I could assist. (Not really, but kind of...)

I've never been required to be CPR qualified in the past, but after completing the class, I feel empowered. I absolutely recommend it to any of you with little ones especially. It's just a little peace of mind and one more tool in your arsenal should something go wrong. I hope I never have to spring into action, but knowing that these skills could save a life is a pretty great feeling.

Interesting tidbit: Do you know what it's called if someone is choking and you grab them from behind and whack their back and then give abdominal thrusts? The Heimlich maneuver, right? Wrong! (Sort of!) The Heimlich maneuver was named after Dr. Henry Heimlich, for his role in the development of the procedure. Apparently, after his death, his children approached the American Red Cross and requested royalties for using the name "Heimlich maneuver" in their classes. Red cross said, "uh, no thanks," and started calling it abdominal thrusts. 

True story. Everything else I tell you, I make up. 

Getting my CPR certification is the first step in completing my goal of becoming a Group Exercise Instructor through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). If everything goes as planned, and I don't fail my exam one month from TODAY, I will be one step closer to becoming an instructor with Stroller Strides of Fayetteville. Push it!!!!

Grace and I first started Stroller Strides last January when she was just 2 months old. I was already starting to feel cabin fever staying at home every day, we didn't know anyone, and my husband was preparing to deploy. From huffing and puffing through our first class (me- Grace slept), to today, Stroller Strides has given Grace and I a group of friends, daily motivation and a reason to get out the door in the morning. I was able to get back into shape and train for and complete a number of running races last year, including the Maryland Half Marathon. We've gone on play dates, Mom's Night Outs and met up for weekend runs. I can't say enough how happy I am to be a part of this group of mamas. Thank you! I am so excited for this next step!

Grace is an SS baby for life!

Training buddies!

Push It in 2013

Instead of a resolution, this year I was inspired to choose a theme word to live by for the year. There were so many great words to choose from: Discover, persevere, create, enjoy, control...

Discover seemed too Christopher Columbus-ish.
Persevere made it sound like I was overcoming hardships.
Create is good, but too open-ended. Create what?
Enjoy. Isn't that a Coca-Cola slogan?
Control. Birth control, pest control, gun control. I don't think so.

I couldn't choose just one word, so I choose two. 
Two words, but it's really more of a motto: 

Push it.

Not like Salt 'n' Pepa's P-push it real good... more like, push it beyond my limits. Run further, try harder, do more. Push it.

Limitless. Photo Credit

I don't want to worry about what kind of life I should be living, instead, I just want to live the life I have with all of the fire and love and joy and strength and courage that I can give it.

This year I want to push my relationships, my boundaries and my mind. Sure, I want to be a better mother, wife, daughter and friend but I think the key to this is pushing it when I feel lazy, uninspired or it gets too hard.

I decide what I can and do. I can push it!

Sorry for going all "motivational speaker" this week... there's just something about the start of a new year that gets me excited! It's only January 1st, and I already have plans to learn something new, pursue a hobby and do something that scares me... I promise to tell you more soon!

Reflecting on 2012, my highs and lows centered around Cole's deployment and return home. Grace made me laugh more than I've ever laughed in my whole life. I learned about a mother's love. I leaned on friends and family and surprised myself. I ran. If I had to choose one word to represent 2012, it would be home. I got to stay home with my baby, and I tried to make our house a home. Grace and I went home to Cool while Cole was away. Finally, in August we welcomed our hero home. 

Home + Family = Love

Happy New Year beautiful friends! Wishing you happiness, success and love in 2013. 

Push it.

(real good)

Writing prompt from Mama Kat:

Instead of a resolution, some people choose a theme word to live by for the year. Choose a word for 2013 and tell us why you chose it.