To Me, You Are Perfect

I fell in love with you the way I fall asleep - Slowly and then all at once. Not sure where it happen but probably somewhere between the way you made me laugh and the way you made me cry. My walls came down that I spent years building up. I crashed into you fully and never looked back. When I am with you, I feel like a kid again - seeing the world for the first time. Experiencing joy, happiness, being scared and being brave. We are complicated people, you and I. We are stubborn, strong headed and "want our way". We can make almost everything in our life 100x more complicated than it has to be. We argue often and at the most inappropriate times. But our frustration is only fueled by our passion and caring for one another. I always will confront you, I will push you and I will do my very best to keep you grounded and focused. I will not let you slack on your talents or your dreams. I crave the very most from you. I love you, all of you! I love all your edges, all your roughness. Your Imperfections Are Perfect To Me!!

This Elf Doesn't Even Sit On The Shelf...

So this Elf On The Shelf business is tough

Yes yes, I started late in the month and totally spaced the idea until 4 am on Sunday....

"And the Mother Of The Year award goes to... drum roll please... "

Day 1: 4 A.M. on Sunday

This cute little Elf took flour from the cupboard and made a snow angel (Thank you Pinterest) Flour got everywhere- in the wedges of the table, on the floor, all over me and all over the elf. HA-HA Good Freakin Mornin! Where's the Whiskey?

Tess has decided to name her elf Spirit. Cute, right?!

Day 2 - 

Welp Spirit decided to grab a Barbie from Tesslynn's room and all my nail polish and create a Nail Salon in the living room. It was great. The Elf titled it "Sprits Nail Salon" (Yep, you read that right, Sprits!) The Elf then had to go back to Elf school and learn to spell her own name right.

Day 3 - 

Tess was getting up in 5 minutes and Spirits silly little self just woke up too. Oops! I'm sure she was running around this morning trying to think of something extra fun for Tess but was left without many options considering she had five minutes. So to be such a sweet Elf, she got everything out for Tesslynn's cold lunch today. Tess was super stoked! Mom never lets her have cold lunch because I just dont have time.... Go Figure. Running out of time in the morning and the Elf does something that I say I DON'T have time for each day.

Day - I lost count

The elf brought Tesslynn a cute little ginger bread house village for us to do as a family.

These things never look like the box images.

(not my image)

Day - Almost Done

What does the elf do when its running out of Ideas and places to hide in a little 2 bedroom apartment? It gives Tesslynn $5 dollars and suggests she gets someone very special in her life a Christmas gift that she is sure will make them smile. She wants to pick me. CUTE!!

However, I did suggest she pick someone who has maybe had a tough year, someone who needs that extra smile and loving gesture.

She is thinking long and hard about this one... Stay tuned for who it is. I am anxious to know too.

Stay Tuned for more Elf On The Shelf Stories. I'm sure its going to get more entertaining

Open to suggestions as well

To The Guy Who Stopped Appreciating The Girl He loved BY: ANNA BASHEDLY

“That’s when I finally got it. I finally understood. It wasn’t the thought that counted. It was the actual execution that mattered, the showing up for somebody. The intent behind it wasn’t enough. Not for me. Not anymore. It wasn’t enough to know that deep down, he loved me. You had to actually say it to somebody, show them you cared. And he just didn’t. Not enough.” ― Jenny Han

It’s not the thought that counts.

You thought it’s enough to think it. You thought it’s enough that deep down, you love her. You thought that being enigmatic was an excuse to stop appreciating her - so you let your past, your pride, your demons, your selfishness, the fact that you’re weak or scared, be a validation for why you stopped fighting for it, making an effort for it.

But this is the girl who you need to appreciate.

Give her your time, all your love, take her on a crazy adventure. Hold her hand, teach her something new. Kiss her face a million times, take her somewhere she’s always wanted to go, dance with her cheek to cheek, spoil her, make her feel special every day.

This is the girl who has changed your life, who has made you a better man. This is the girl who loves all your wrongness, all those parts of you that you hate. The girl who wipes your tears when you speak about your dad, who kisses your edges, who loves all your roughness. Those parts of yourself that you only show to her, she adores them - her love warms them, your imperfections, it changes you.

This is the girl you need to appreciate because you know in your heart you will never give all of you like that to anyone else; no one will love you better. No one will make love to you with as much passion.

A true connection is once in a lifetime.

Extraordinary love is rare, it means something. You need to fight for it, make an effort for it. You think choice means something. You think easiness is good. You think the more chances you have, the better. But, trust me when I say that she is in your heart. Your roots have entwined together, she looks at you as if you’re magic. You might think there’s something better - but it’s all an illusion, it's all bullshit - that's just your ego talking.

This love is extraordinary, you think you want it easy; calm seas and smooth sailing. But the girl you fell for is opinionated and smart, who doesn’t always agree. She is difficult, she requires effort; it will be a challenge, work - but the easy girl will never satisfy you. She will be sweet but uninspiring. She will always leave you wanting more.

Dating her is not the end of your liberty - it’s the beginning of it.

She argues with you because she cares. She craves more from you - she has opinions and big dreams for the future. She never lets you get away with slacking on your talents, and no matter how much she loves you, eventually she will leave if you stop putting in effort.

Because she knows what you have, and she will never put up with not getting everything she deserves.

Don’t risk losing the best thing you ever had.

Whatever you do, don’t let her get away. It may be difficult at times - she’ll drive you crazy, she’ll frustrate the hell out of you. But she will never leave you uninspired or unsatisfied. Although she will leave if you keep taking advantage of her.

You think that no matter what you do, she will always be there because she loves you. But remember that you fell for the girl who isn't easy — as in, she won't just "go with the flow.” She knows her worth. She is the girl who will not settle for someone who doesn't put her first.

You have a love that builds, that makes your soul alive. Don't let this love get discarded for the next hit. Don't lose this love because of your pride, fears, ego or selfish ways. Because someone will value how special she is - someone will put in the effort it takes to be with her.

Wake up and realize she's worth fighting for. Because if you don't, you are the one who will suffer the most.

BY: ANNA BASHEDLY

(Not written by myself) Credits to Anna Bashedly

Its Broken!

“Being brokenhearted is like having broken ribs. On the outside it looks like nothing’s wrong, but every breath hurts.”
― Greg Behrendt, It’s Called a Breakup Because It’s Broken: The Smart Girl’s Break-Up Buddy

Bad Habits Die Hard

You glare at me with these disapproving eyes of disgust while I inhale another puff.
You question why I continue to go back to that bad ol habit after kicking it so many times,
specially if I know its no good for me.
My response as I exhale that sweet vapor "Same reason I keep coming back to you, darlin."

That's my girl

Me: You need to make sure you eat your breakfast, it's the most important meal of the day.

Tesslynn: No it's not! Basgehetti (spaghetti) with elk meat is the most important meal because I love it.

Who says you need a taco shell to have Yummy Tacos

On Thursday I decided to make tacos for the family but instead of having a hard shell or a tortilla, I made mine with a massive piece of crispy, delicious lettuce. I really wanted to go back for seconds because it was so amazing but I let my food settle a bit and that filled me right up.

Oh and did I mention that the meat was pure elk burger mixed with bacon? While browning the burger, there was not one bit of grease that needed to be drained out!

This whole dinner consisted of 206 calories. :)

Salmon for Dinner

A great healthy dinner after a workout = Amazing!! Tonight's dinner: Salmon, one of which is Triple Citrus Glazed and the other is a Sweet & Salty rub - both homemade. Then some grilled asparagus and whole wheat pasta.

Day One

Ilan can whip up what is really a simple, easy dinner and make it look like a Masterpiece. Dinner last night was so amazing. Spinach mix, black beans, corn, chicken strips coated lightly with BBQ sauce, a little bit of shredded cheese, and bell peppers. Mmm, Mmm, Mmm!

Time to be a Fit Momma!

When it comes to working out and eating right, I never have any motivation or desire and unfortunately my weight wasn't something I ever had to worry about. Growing up I had such a fast metabolism and I could eat anything and everything. That is no longer the case.

After being at the lake this weekend, I realized I needed to make a change. Seeing the pictures of me in a bikini was not as hot at I thought. I consumed more beer than should be allowed and ate everything in sight. 

Monday morning after my week long vacation I came in to work and weighed myself. Holy shit I gained more weight than what I was when I was pregnant. This is not ok!! Even trying on my jeans I feel like one of those biscuit rolls. Ya know, the ones you peel and it pops? Yep, that's me. 

I decided to blog about my progress for extra motivation. I feel like if I am going to let the cyber world know where I am at weight wise, it'll be inspiring and encouraging to keep going. I will be posting pictures of my delicious or not so delicious meals. Before and after pictures as well as anything else that'll keep me going. 

I am actually really excited to start blogging again so stay tuned. :)

XOXO 

- Manda

It'll get rid of your zits....

Tess: Mommy want some medicine (SweetTart Candies)
Me: No thank you. I just brushed my teeth
Tess: Its good medicine
Me: Im ok, honey
Tess: Mooommmyyy It'll get rid of your Zits
Me: Oh well we dont want any of those

Well if there are any honest people left in this world, its your 5 year old.

LOVE THIS!! HAD TO RE-BLOG!!

Having been married only a year and a half, I’ve recently come to the conclusion that marriage isn’t for me.

Now before you start making assumptions, keep reading.

I met my wife in high school when we were 15 years old. We were friends for ten years until…until we decided no longer wanted to be just friends. :) I strongly recommend that best friends fall in love. Good times will be had by all.

Nevertheless, falling in love with my best friend did not prevent me from having certain fears and anxieties about getting married. The nearer Kim and I approached the decision to marry, the more I was filled with a paralyzing fear. Was I ready? Was I making the right choice? Was Kim the right person to marry? Would she make me happy?

Then, one fateful night, I shared these thoughts and concerns with my dad.

Perhaps each of us have moments in our lives when it feels like time slows down or the air becomes still and everything around us seems to draw in, marking that moment as one we will never forget.

My dad giving his response to my concerns was such a moment for me. With a knowing smile he said, “Seth, you’re being totally selfish. So I’m going to make this really simple: marriage isn’t for you. You don’t marry to make yourself happy, you marry to make someone else happy. More than that, your marriage isn’t for yourself,you’re marrying for a family. Not just for the in-laws and all of that nonsense, but for your future children. Who do you want to help you raise them? Who do you want to influence them? Marriage isn’t for you. It’s not about you.Marriage is about the person you married.”

It was in that very moment that I knew that Kim was the right person to marry. I realized that I wanted to makeher happy; to see her smile every day, to make her laugh every day. I wanted to be a part of her family, and my family wanted her to be a part of ours. And thinking back on all the times I had seen her play with my nieces, I knew that she was the one with whom I wanted to build our own family.

My father’s advice was both shocking and revelatory. It went against the grain of today’s “Walmart philosophy”, which is if it doesn’t make you happy, you can take it back and get a new one.

No, a true marriage (and true love) is never about you. It’s about the person you love—their wants, their needs, their hopes, and their dreams. Selfishness demands, “What’s in it for me?”, while Love asks, “What can I give?”

Some time ago, my wife showed me what it means to love selflessly. For many months, my heart had been hardening with a mixture of fear and resentment. Then, after the pressure had built up to where neither of us could stand it, emotions erupted. I was callous. I was selfish.

But instead of matching my selfishness, Kim did something beyond wonderful—she showed an outpouring of love. Laying aside all of the pain and aguish I had caused her, she lovingly took me in her arms and soothed my soul.

Marriage is about family.

I realized that I had forgotten my dad’s advice. While Kim’s side of the marriage had been to love me, myside of the marriage had become all about me. This awful realization brought me to tears, and I promised my wife that I would try to be better.

To all who are reading this article—married, almost married, single, or even the sworn bachelor or bachelorette—I want you to know that marriage isn’t for you. No true relationship of love is for you. Love is about the person you love.

And, paradoxically, the more you truly love thatperson, the more love you receive. And not just from your significant other, but from their friends and theirfamily and thousands of others you never would have met had your love remained self-centered.

Truly, love and marriage isn’t for you. It’s for others.

-Seth Adam Smith

Love shouldn't require Windex to be clear. I either is or isnt.

Think about it: If you have to chase a man or convince him why he should be with you, do you really want to be with him? You are far too fabulous t beg, crawl, manipulate, or convince. Its time to write yourself a big ole reality check and keep the change. Let go of that dead-end relationship and hit the highway to Loving Yourself Too Much to Wait Around for Someone Who Doesn't Love You Enough. Someone out there will be excited, thrilled and honored to call you his girl that he would never string you along. But you'll never meet him as long as you're clinging to Mr. Wrong.

- The Single Woman

Know that if this man isn't looking for a serious relationship, you're not going to change his mind just because you two are going on dates and being intimate. You could be the most perfect woman on the Lord's green earth-you're capable of interesting conversation, you cook a mean breakfast, you hand out backrubs like sandwiches, you're independent (which means, to him, that you're not going to be in his pockets)-but if he's not ready for a serious relationship, he is going to treat you like sports fish.

She has bad hair days. She'll buy a new dress at Target and hope it passes for something a little fancier. Sometimes she struggles to make her rent and her car paument in the same month. Because she bought too many shoes? Sometimes. But the only pair of designer shoes she has in her collect is a pair of Christian LaCroiz that she got half-off at a sidewalk sale. Sometiems her friends let her down. they dont always say the right things. And the elusive One That Got Away? She has days when she still cant cut the strings. She has moments of panic when she wonders if her Price Charming got lost somewhere or decided to settle for another less complicated, less stuborn, less independent princess. Sometimes she doesnt know where she's going until she gets there. She hasnt got it all figured out.... for from it, in fact. But she loves God and she loves to dance, and she is her own better half. The bravest woman I know? She is the reasons I do what I do She is The Single Woman She's me. And she's you. -The Single Woman

Change

People are nature's #1 creature of habit. We tend to get comfortable, stuck in our ways and fear change. We like to hold on to old things in order to hold on to old memories, when usually they hold us back from making new ones. Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and make a clean break from the past to start a fresh beginning. - Willie Robinson (Duck Dynasty)

Hope this helps, Men!!

Answers to why she may not be putting out. READ CAREFULLY She’s pissed This is probably the most common reason that women withhold sex. If you’ve done something that made her furious, she may not be above punishing you by keeping the one thing you really, really want out of your reach. The last thing a woman wants to do when she’s feeling any kind of negative emotion, whether it’s mad, sad, frustrated, annoyed, stressed, or worn out, is get busy between the sheets. While many guys can turn off the unpleasant feelings and get down to business, a woman finds it more difficult to push those emotions aside and get aroused. You might be satisfied with angry, violent sex, but she wants to work out her angst before she jumps into bed. The solution to this is to find out why she’s upset and try to fix it. Sometimes simply acknowledging that you've done something wrong is enough to make her calm down. Other times, the only way to get out of the doghouse is to participate in one of those long, heartfelt conversations in which you share feelings She’s manipulating you Another reason women withhold sex is to get something out of you. When no other methods of getting what she wants are working, she might resort to revoking your sex privileges until you agree to what she’s after. This will usually be a pretty big thing. Generally, she’s not going to bother holding out on you in order to get you to take out the garbage. The easiest way to get around this is to give her what she wants. If that’s not a possibility, you’ll have to appeal to her sense of reason. If that doesn’t work, try giving her something similar to what she wants. If you can’t make that happen, you might have to wait it out and service yourself until she comes to her senses. She’s bored She could be avoiding sex with you because she’s not enjoying it. Some women are embarrassed by the idea of talking about sex with their partners, especially if there is a problem. So instead of telling you what’s wrong, she might just close up shop. To get around her sex ban in this case, try suggesting something new sexually. Take her to a sex shop and buy something fun for both of you. Buy a book with suggestions on how to spice things up. If you show some interest and put some effort into making some changes, she may open up again. She’s tired Maybe she’s not putting out because she’s just too damn tired. Perhaps you want to do it more often than she does, and she just can’t keep up. Other life demands might be stressing her out and keeping her busy too, making her too worn out to enjoy sex as often as you’d like. To get her back into the idea, pamper her with some relaxing treats beforehand. Draw her a bubble bath or give her a massage. If she’s relaxed, she’s more likely to feel sexy. Or, you could be truly unselfish and devote your time entirely to her pleasure for one night, making her more likely to want to return the favor another time. Also, you might consider cutting back a bit on the frequency. Instead of going to her every time you’re aroused, take matters into your own hands every now and again. - By Sarah Stephanson

ODE TO GIRLS

This is what I don't understand. Men sit and question and whine that girls are only attracted to the mean guys, the guys who berate them and belittle them and don't appreciate them and don't want them; who use them for sex and think of little else than where their next conquest will be made. Men complain that they never meet nice girls, girls who are genuinely interested and compelling, who are intelligent and sweet and smart and beautiful; men despair that no good women want to share in their lives, that girls play mind games, that girls love to keep them hanging. Yet, men, I ask you: were you to meet one of these genuinely interested, thrillingly compelling, interesting and intelligent and sweet and beautiful and smart girls, were you to give her your number and wait for her to call... and if you were to receive a call from her the next day and she, in her truthful, loyal, intelligent and straightforward nice girl fashion, were to tell you that she finds you intriguing and attractive and interesting and worth her time and perhaps material from which she could fashion a boyfriend, would you or would you not immediately call your friends to tell them of the "stalker chick" you'd met the night prior, who called you and wore her heart on her sleeve and told the truth? And would you, or would you not, refuse to make plans with her, speak with her, see her again, and once again return to the bar or club or party scene and search once more for this "nice girl" who you just cannot seem to find? Because therein lies the truth, guys: we nice girls are everywhere. But you're not looking for a nice girl. You're not looking for someone genuinely interested in your intermural basketball game, or your anatomy midterm grade, or that argument you keep having with your father; you're looking for a quick fix, a night when you can pretend to have a connection with another human being which is just as disposable as the condom you were using during it.

So don't say you're on the lookout for nice girls, guys, when you pass us up on every step you take. Sometimes we go undercover; sometimes we go in disguise: sometimes when that girl in the low cut shirt or the too tight miniskirt won't answer your catcalls, sometimes you're looking at a nice girl in whore's clothing - - we might say we like the attention, we might blush and giggle and turn back to our friends, but we're all thinking the same thing: "This isn't me. Tomorrow morning, I'll be wearing a tee-shirt and flannel shorts, I'll have slept alone and I'll be making my hung-over best friend breakfast. See through the disguise. See me." You never do. Why? Because you only see the exterior, you only see the slutty girl who welcomes those advances. You don't want the nice girl.. so don't say you're looking for a relationship: relationships take time and energy and intent, three things we're willing to extend - - but in return, we're looking for compassion and loyalty and trust, three things you never seem willing to express. Maybe nice guys finish last, but in the race they're running they're chasing after the whores and the sluts and the easy-targets... the nice girls are waiting at the finish line with water and towels and a congratulatory hug (and yes, if she's a nice girl and she likes you, the sweatiness probably won't matter), hoping against hope that maybe you'll realize that they're the ones that you want at the end of that silly race.

So maybe it won't last forever. Maybe some of those guys in that race will turn in their running shoes and make their way to the concession stand where we're waiting; however, until that happens, we still have each other, that silly race to watch, and all the chocolate we can eat (because what's a concession stand at a race without some chocolate?)

By Jessica Leigh Griffith

A Woman's Love

“Nothing on this planet can compare with a woman’s love—it is kind and compassionate, patient and nurturing, generous and sweet and unconditional. Pure. If you are her man, she will walk on water and through a mountain for you, too, no matter how you’ve acted out, no matter what crazy thing you’ve done, no matter the time or demand. If you are her man, she will talk to you until there just aren’t any more words left to say, encourage you when you’re at rock bottom and think there just isn’t any way out, hold you in her arms when you’re sick, and laugh with you when you’re up. And if you’re her man and that woman loves you—I mean really loves you?—she will shine you up when you’re dusty, encourage you when you’re down, defend you even when she’s not so sure you were right, and hang on your every word, even when you’re not saying anything worth listening to. And no matter what you do, no matter how many times her friends say you’re no good, no matter how many times you slam the door on the relationship, she will give you her very best and then some, and keep right on trying to win over your heart, even when you act like everything she’s done to convince you she’s The One just isn’t good enough.
That’s a woman’s love—it stands the test of time, logic, and all circumstance. ” 

Steve Harvey

THIS WILL MAKE ANYONE SMILE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class ...began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was
Full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full..

The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car..

The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put
The sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children.

Spend time with your parents.

Visit with grandparents.

Take your spouse out to dinner.

Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.

Set your priorities.

The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.

The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.See More