May Day love.

Today is a special occasion!
It's my 60th blog post
& it's on May Day!

(& I love spring!)

60 posts.... wow.

I actually followed through with my plan to start a blog and continue to learn more and more about myself through it. I had started 2 blogs prior to this one in the last 2 years, but I guess my heart was not quite into those ones. I love writing posts, I love hearing and seeing the support behind me and my passions, I love the contentment of finding photos, that fit into my ideas, and most of all I LOVE being able to express my thoughts in an unfiltered way. Awww.....


Happy May Day to all and thank you for your support.

Aj

kids vs. food vs. parents vs. ME

Being a "Big" in the Big Brother Big Sister program is definitely a learning experience. I knew that it would be from the begining and I am so optimistic about the things that we approach in our friendship/mentorship.

I am learning SO much about myself, about other people, and most of all.... kids. Wow. With not being completely positive if having a child of my own will be in my future, I know that kids are a huge element in our world and adore them so much. My love for kids brings up so many emotions when it comes to the way they are parented, the way they are treated, and the way they treat themselves.

I am on this recent journey to help mentor my "little" on the importance of nutrition and health. Coming from a family that was "low income" as a child living with a single parent, and my "little" being on the list of "low income" with both parents at home, I know how difficult it can be to feed these little growing bodies. In a generation of FA(s)T FOOD the alternative is time consuming, more expensive, and more complicated to buy and prepare. I get that.

So today I went to the library and pulled as many books as I could on nutrition and cooking for kids (and a few for myself). The issue I have had is giving my "little" an option (because I am not there to be her parent) of what to eat when we go out.

"Fries!!!.... maybe chicken strips too. OH, and a mountain dew!"

Ok, I usually refuse the soda to the server.

But how do I go around this without stepping on the toes of the parents? That is my challenge.

{Couple books I pulled}

Carbonated Beverages-The Incredibly Disgusting Story

http://www.rosenpublishing.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=55302&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Weight Watchers-Eat!Move! Play!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=87051

Dinner for Busy Moms

http://www.dinnerforbusymoms.com/

Yum-O The Family Cookbook from Rachael Ray

http://www.yum-o.org/

Any suggestions that YOU would like to share about child nutrition???? Please comment & share.
Aj

easter veggie tray

Here is the veggie tray I made for this Easter's lunch at Grandma's today. Kind of fun, right? Maybe this would make kids eat their veggies more.

Rabbit Food.

Hope everyone had a {GARNISHED} EASTER!


Aj

cute spring clothes & rabbit food.

A relaxing start to my morning, sipping on coffee, & planning my wardrobe for this

Easter Sunday.

OH, and I cant forget to make my veggie tray for Easter lunch. I title it

"Rabbit Food".

Using individual cups with a dallop of garlic tzatziki dip in each mini cup, then a sliced carrot, asparagus, and some broccoli trees placed strategically.

Ill post a photo this afternoon for the result!

(maybe, if it turns out ok. I'd hope that I cant even mess this one up)

hello earth, i think you're pretty

Happy {Earth} Day

How cool was it that coffee shops all around Seattle gave out

FREE DRINKS

if customers brought in their own travel cups!

Any other fabulous ways that companies were promoting

EARTH DAY today?

(unfortunately, I realized I did not go above & beyond in lieu of our beautiful piece of the universe).

BUT, why just limit it to 1 DAY!?

My Earth Day will be tomorrow!

Aj

photo shoot sesh 2

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I would be doing makeup artistry and styling (again) for a fabulous shoot with 2 fabulous women. The shoot was amazing and the completed images were even more impressive! Always a pleasure working with this team.

Let the bags inspire.

Love it. Or dump it.

In The Sack.

The transformation

Designer-Alexis Cristianne

For more images and info on these bags or photos visit
Alexis at: http://www.tienlimited.com/
Andrea at: http://www.lifeiluli.com/

Love. Comment. Share.

Aj

an expensive lesson.

Today I realized something about myself and came to terms with it. The way I feel about money is way more than just the ability to purchase something. It's an emotional thing. It covers my insecurities.

Wow.

I can't believe I just admitted to that. Phew, I didn't even die after I said it either.

Curious if any of my wonderful readers have an emotional tie to money as well.....

(no pretty image on this post. I mean, really, that was hard enough to admit and took all of my energy)