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that's us.

SportsFreaks? yes, that's us.

i was the vice president of the student athletic board - we promoted all of the non-revenue sports on campus - and we were interviewing for new members.  and in walks this guy wearing this absolutely horrible gold mizzou hat.  through his entire interview all i could focus on was that hat.  long story short, he became a member of our group and our paths continued to cross through the various baseball and volleyball games we attended to earn points for the best football and basketball tickets.  and of course, the guy ends up being my future husband.  go figure.  (and you know that one of the first things i did was lose that gold hat.)

our love of sports continued and has been passed along to our children as well.  literally.  the middle names of each of our children is a street around wrigley field - go cubs!  people always think when they hear their names that they are family names, and i'm sure they are, they simply aren't anyone we're related to.  now that the girls are both a bit older, it's awesome to watch their love of sports develop.  they know that mizzou plays on saturdays and the bears usually play on sundays.  granted, trying to explain the rules of football and basketball to a four and two year old is a bit tricky...

with the holiday season upon us, being like minded it's a win/win to find andy something sports related as a gift.  in fact, i already have!  i like to collect memorabilia for him to go into his "someday office."  that would be the space he'll have in a future house that's all his.  that he doesn't have to abandon to make into a room for one of our children as he has done in the past.  the bears calendar was the perfect gift for him and the rest of our family  to enjoy together as i was able to personalize it with our birthdays and anniversary dates, including photos.

i love that sports is what brought andy and i together and it's something that our family - no matter the age - enjoys together now.

Showing off your team spirit has never been easier! Whatever team you root for and whatever sport they play, find the gear you need at SportsFreak365.com. Just in time for the holidays, you can get 30% off  any purchase using the code “Clever30.” And while you’re there, be sure to enter to win $500 toward team gear in Ditka’s SportsFreak of the Week Contest!

I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective.

she tried.

 

this fall is camryn's second go round of playing soccer.  she played as a newly turned three year old and let's just say it was an interesting experience.  more hollaring at her sister on the sidelines and occasionaly she'd be in the same vicinity of the ball

this time, i was hoping things would be a bit different.

although she obviously is older, having just turned 4.5, this go round she's timid when it comes to taking the ball away from people.  or being agressive and running to where the action is.  she's the one that's concerned when someone from the other team falls.  and that's totally okay.  but she didn't really seem to be enjoying herself.

two games into the season, we asked her several times if she still wanted to play and she always answered yes.  so we took the time to make it a teachable moment.  it's doesn't matter if you win or lose, but just try.  try to be where the ball is.  try to just kick the ball once in the game.  

she did and then some.  she showed some of the spunk i know all too well.  on the very first play of the next game she not only kicked the ball, she dribbled down the field and scored a goal.  i was one proud mama.  i may have yelled a bit too loudly.

the best part? on the walk back to the car afterwards she shrieked, "i had fun!"  and that's all it took. just the motivation to put forth the effort and try.

 

Get a Kleenex custom oval BOGO until 11/15/12, just use the code PLAYOFFS at checkout on the MyKleenex site. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

review : sneaky pete's naturally oatstanding beverage.

 

a few weeks ago, i was approached with the opportunity to try a new beverage that promises that it's "the first soluble oat beverage of its kind" - sneaky pete's naturally oatstanding beverage.  being a foodie of sorts and one that loves to try new things, i immediately said yes.

when we arrived home from spring break, i had three bottles ready and waiting for me to give them a try.  i received the apples away, grape escape and mango mystique flavors.  i think my favorite has been the mango.  i LOVE that this isn't a juice type beverage but is totally water based and is actually light and refreshing.  the flavors aren't too strong and with only 40 calories, i don't feel like i'm loading up on "extras" but instead is a great beverage to have with me in the car when running errands and doing pickups and dropoffs as a morning "snack."  the fact that it contains extra fiber is a complete bonus and one you'd never suspect when drinking.  in fact, this is something i'd be totally okay with having my daughters drink because it ISN'T juice. (not that they would realize that.)

this is definitely a perfect on the go type of drink as it's low in sodium and sugar but also contains the same amount of soluble fiber as a bowl of oatmeal.  basically a drink you don't feel guilty in having!

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the fine print : i was given this product to try but was not compensated in any way for this review.  the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

discussing charity with your children.

 

as we moved the girls into a room together this past weekend and we prepare for baby number three to make his/her arrival, let's just say i've taken the term "nesting" to a new level.  everyone is paring down.  even the girls.  monday we went through C's stuffed animal basket and i asked her to put her favorites - as many as would fit - back in the basket and the ones left we could donate to another little girl that might not have as many toys as she had.  the ironic thing?  C was totally fine with this concept, it was her daddy that thought i was being crazy.  i'm hoping that through instances such as these, were able to instill a sense of giving to others in our children.

today - after naps that neither girl took - i found myself talking again about the decision to give to others and how even though it might seem that one person can't make a difference, when several work together a big impact can be made.  gathered around my laptop, we discovered a website called members unite in which their name implies exactly what they do.  the site finds impactful and meaningful projects and then lets members decide through a voting process which get funded.  for as little as $5 a month, less than a meal at mcdonald's, we can decide which projects get funed and 100% of our contribution goes toward the winning project.  hello democracy!

the way the projects are organized on the site is perfect for discussing with small children as each project is listed with a photo that illustrates what the project is about.  after chatting with C about each project and what they were all about in terms that a soon-to-be four year old could relate to, i asked her opinion on what her favorite was.  and i wasn't surprised by her answer as andy and i had went through the projects earlier and we both thought it would be her choice and it happened to be our first choice as well.

the project that we all voted was our favorite?  helping to give the healing power of man's best friend to wounded veterans.  "American soldiers put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and we need to work together to do our part to help them when they return home. In the course of their work, US soldiers often see and endure things most of us cannot even imagine. As a result, nearly 20% of the soldiers returning from places like Iraq and Afghanistan are likely to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Research has shown that one of the most effective treatments for helping vets cope with PTSD is the love of a dog. Soldier’s Best Friend is a philanthropic two-fer: they provide canine companions to veterans AND simultaneously find homes for dogs in shelters. If this project wins, we will be able to provide funding to rescue and train two dogs to provide love and support to two veterans and their families."

so now we wait with fingers crossed that our project make the first cut to become one of the six projects that make it to the voting round in week two!

interested in joining members unite and helping to make an impact for those in need?  our family is hoping to inspire ten others to participate this month.  if you join, be sure to leave a comment and let us know which project you voted for!

for a limited time, Members Unite is offering my blog readers a 50% off discount on the annual membership fee of $25! Use code “WELOVEMOMS” when you sign up!

dessert with friends.

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.

As the date on the calendar continues to creep closer to December 25th, I'm starting to think about important things like what type of desserts I'll be serving to family and friends. You see, I take the day off of cooking on Christmas - cooking a big meal is reserved for Thanksgiving. On Christmas Day, I want to enjoy a lazy day watching the girls unwrap gifts - it is an all day and rather slow process - instead of being holed up in the kitchen. Instead, we enjoy a favorite meal of spaghetti and homemade meatballs for dinner and various desserts throughout the day. Random? Yes. But so enjoyed!

As for desserts, I always make way more than needed so that we're able to enjoy everything for three or four days. Here are a few things I always consider :

• Storage. Usually during the holidays the fridge and freezers are stocked and there isn't much room to spare. I try and make only desserts that are good at room temperature to avoid having to shuffle things around all the time and make it fit within the confines of the fridge.
• Texture. Some people - aka my husband - like to fill a large dinner plate with multiple desserts during the holidays. He always complains of a stomach ache afterwards (shocking!) but that's his idea of a good time, so whatever. If someone is eating multiple desserts, you don't want them to all have the same texture. Trying to find a balance between crunchy, chewy, soft, etc. is key.
• Sweet. Along the same lines as texture is the different types of sweets available. In my head I classify them something like this : fruit, chocolate, nut. You want a variety of tastes so we usually end up with something like an apple pie, a pecan brownie pie and an upside down pumpkin pie which has nuts covering the top. All different levels of sweetness.

With that being said, I really need to nail down my plan of attack for dessert next week and get a grocery list made!

Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.

back to school shoes.

 

Thank you to Crocs for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Crocs’ new Back to School line. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

i can't believe that this year i'll actually be one of "those moms" doing back to school shopping.  or in our case, it'll simply be to school shopping as we've never gone on this adventure before.  C is starting preschool in just over a month.

the backpack has been purchased - blue with butterflies.  and of course, i had it monogrammed with her name on it.  i think she's more excited about the backpack than anything else.  she's carried it around the house for the last few weeks stuffed to the brim with all of her "friends."  that's what she calls the mountains of stuffed animals that she keeps in her room.

i don't think there are many actual supplies to purchase but i'm sure i'll find out soon enough.  instead, there will be the usual pair of tennis shoes to get her through the fall and winter.  because of all the snow and grim that accumulates here, i usually try and get darker colored shoes.  last year they were brown and the year before a dark pink.  both worked well.

 
i'm also thinking of giving something like this sweet little mary jane style a try for her.  this is the croc genna from their school approved line.  love the navy + pink lemonade color combo.  a nice mary jane style shoe that will stay put on her foot.  isn't it cute? and at $20, it won't break my budget and makes for a great alternate shoe choice that she can wear into the fall and then again in the spring.  cute and comfortable is always a winning combination.

now to see if these come in a size that would fit this mama...

 

crocs created this interactive video - you can click on the shoes to learn more - that features styles form their new back to school line.  take a peek and keep and eye out for easter eggs.  if you find one hidden in the video, you'll receive a surprise when you purchase a pair of shoes.

five fabulous bloggers.

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

a great way for me to unwind or take a few minutes for myself is by taking a peek through google reader.  i adore google reader and how easy it makes it for me to keep in touch with what's going on with friends, find new recipes and learn new skills.  the internet is amazing.

here are five bloggers that i always find myself clicking on first when i find that they've updated their blogs :

 

ali | ali edwards

ali is a scrapbooker who completely changed the way i think of putting a layout together.  i clearly remember the aha moment i had when i was looking at her work about eight years ago and realized that i didn't have to use cardstock as the base of my layout.  i could use patterned paper!  ali's blog is always full of inspiration.  whether it be a layout she created, a scrapbooking product she has designed or simply her day to day family life.  i always love seeing what she's up to and usually end up bookmarking or purchasing something that i've seen on her blog.  because of her, a package of photocurators is now on my wish list.

 

joy | joy the baker

i discovered joy's blog through google reader's recommendation feature.  see, i told you i loved google reader!  when i'm wanting to bake something sweet, joy is my go to girl.  i'm sure i've put on a couple of extra pounds because of her rocky road brownies.  this winter i made them during a blizzard.  best decision ever.  there's no better way to comfort yourself during a blizzard than by a warm from the oven brownie.  joy's personality emits from the words that she types.  i think she's a bit sarcastic.  i've heard that i am on occasion as well.  i'd like to think if geography wasn't an issue, she'd be my bff.

  
melissa | sew like my mom

disclaimer : i do not sew.  well, i did make roman shades for our house prior to this one.  and i made burp cloths for C before she was born.  but that's it.  my sewing machine and i tend not to get along.  with that being said, melissa makes me want to love my sewing machine.  like get a glass of wine, whisper sweet nothings to it and make something beautiful.  her step-by-step photos and instructions make me think i can sew anything.  or rather, whatever her photos dictate.  because the girls are so tall, i'd love to try my hand at making her easiest pillowcase dress ever.  if it's the easiest, surely i can do it!  or that's what i'm telling myself anyway.

becky | wisconsin larsons

i met becky three years ago at a bible study for resident significant others.  i was amazed at her grace, patience and attitude towards life the evening that i met her and i continue to be now.  she is an example of how i would love to react towards situations.  our friend amy and i often joke, "what would becky larson do?"  her Christian faith and grace inspire me to walk closer to Him.  and because of that, we asked her to be L's godmother.  it's comforting to know that even though she's moving away in a few short weeks, our lives will always be intertwined.  we trade recipes, compare notes as mamas to three year olds and discuss our husbands vocation choice in depth.  i've had this verse in my inbox as a reminder since she posted it in april.

 

stephanie | crockpot 365

it's a safe bet that you'll likely find at least one of stephanie's recipes on our weekly menu.  after googling a crockpot recipe, i found her site and haven't looked back.  if i want to make something in the crockpot because i'm short on time, it's her site i visit.  i sing her praises to anyone that listens.  it's likely her fault that i just killed a crockpot.  it's thanks to her that i had a back-up crockpot on hand so i didn't miss a beat when preparing my next meal.  i'll go ahead and blame her for purchasing another crockpot so that i once again have two in my kitchen.  her salsa chicken is the perfect nacho topping.

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.