Tag Archives: golden

Family, Fun

A Keepsake

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To celebrate my first year of blogging, my Mom had the first 12 months of Flip Flop Follies printed and bound as a Christmas gift.

She found a small, local printer, Golden Rule Bindery, and I think it turned out perfect. This is just half the year! The other half is “in process”.

I wonder what my grandkids will think when they thumb through this book down the road.

A keepsake that I hope will be passed along from generation to generation.

Thanks, Mom….I love it. I appreciate all the time and effort you spent formatting and getting my stories ready for publishing.

Family, Fitness, Food

How Amy Got Her Groove Back

I’m the type of person that slips into a brief sadness after Christmas, a vacation (haven’t gone on one of those in awhile, though) or a series of exciting milestones (as we recently celebrated). It’s like a wedding…you plan and plan and then it’s all over within several hours. You know there is still so much to look forward to, but the initial quietness following the big event, for lack of a better word, is depressing.

I remember when this past holiday season ended and we welcomed in 2010, I felt like,”What are we going to have to look forward to until next Holiday Season?”

Well, duh! There is SO much to look forward to. Even if it’s not a birthday, or the Superbowl, or Valentine’s Day, or Easter, there are oodles of other events, both planned and spontaneous, that will pop up and fill our days with joy.

The year is almost halfway over.

It has been FAR more beautiful and exciting than I ever imagined. A reminder we can make each day or week special just by BEING.

With that said, I need to snap out of my post birthday/graduation/dance recital funk.

We’ve been having a quiet week at home and I am feeling a bit guilty that we aren’t out at the pool. Or at the park. Or at summer camp.

I’m not going to lie, I’ve felt A LOT of frustration this week. Kids not listening. 15 daily outfit changes (and they’re not mine, thanks!). Ants. Whining, arguing and climbing out of the cart while trying to pick up a few things at the grocery. Daring the Old Navy guy to tell me not to bring the Marshall’s cart in the store. No naps! My voice being at a much higher decibel than I’d like.

I’m missing the excitement and activities of last week. Visitors. Graduation. Dinner celebration. Making candy leis. A trip to the pool. Dance rehearsal. Beautiful recital. BBQ with friends. Etc.

I am all about packing a lot in and having a full calendar, but at the same time I enjoy days at home cleaning, organizing, doing laundry, listening to the little ones splash around in the water table out back, dancing around to our faves on iTunes and preparing dinner.

So, why am I having such a hard time this week?

I think it’s the pressure of Summer and the fact that we should be doing all sorts of fun things.

And we will.

This weekend is full of much to be happy about ~ Father’s Day, a matinee to see our friend Emilie perform in “Alice in Wonderland”, a Mommy “Bitch Bingo” Night, the maiden voyage with our new ice cream maker and just spending time as a family.

I can always get my groove back when I am reminded of all that we’ve had in the past, what we may (or may not) have presently and all that we have to look forward to in the future.

There will be busy weeks, boring weeks, fun days, not-so-fun days, but it all comes down to BALANCE.

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Must be the Libra in me.

Finding a healthy balance will always be what I strive for.

That is when I am in the groove.

However, Stella had the right idea…take a trip to Jamaica with a girlfriend.

Now THAT would definitely allow me to get my groove back.

Any takers?

*****

Flip Flop Fitness Update ~ 6.17.10

2 cups coffee with creamer: 4 points

3/4 cup Kashi cereal with 1/2 cup milk: 3.5 points

1 cup red seedless grapes: 1 point

Tuna salad on a sandwich thin: 5 points

Small Golden Spoon frozen yogurt (no topping): 4 points

1 cup ground turkey in lettuce wraps: 6 points

Total: 23.5 points

Workout:

Walked long route to clubhouse (1.5 miles)

32 minutes on elliptical @ 10 (3.o miles, 350 cals)

Ran home: (1 mile)

Family, Fun

Girls Only

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Lately I’ve been realizing that I never have one-on-one time with my Elliott.

Holdy and I share Tuesday & Thursday mornings running errands together and his secret “cheeseburger time” once a week while “Sissy” is at school.

We needed a little Mama/Daughter bonding time.

After her favorite dinner of lettuce wraps, we went to Party City and she picked out plates and napkins for her school friends. We’re taking mini bagels and cream cheese next week for snack to celebrate her birthday.

She vacillated between Spongebob, polka dots, cheetah and zebra print, Tiana (Princess & The Frog) and finally settled on her all time fave princess, Ariel.

Next stop…Golden Spoon!

She was SO excited that she got her OWN yogurt AND got to choose a topping!

Chocolate & Peanut Butter with chocolate chips:

In 7th heaven:

I chose Coconut & Toffee Heath Bar:

We sat and talked about her upcoming graduation, dance recital and plans for the Summer. She said she still doesn’t need swimming lessons because she remembers EVERYTHING from “last time”…..m’kay, we’ll revisit that later.

She threw 2 pennies in the fountain and made as many wishes…

And as if all that wasn’t enough, we skipped down to Target and browsed around there, too!

She even talked me into some sour candies at the checkout ~ “It’s for our date, Mommy.”

We really need to do that more often.

Maybe next time a pre-Kindergarten pedi.

Yes, that’s what we’ll do.

I love you my almost 5-year old. Where did that half decade go?

Frugal Finds

Frugalicious!

Last Spring we discovered Golden Spoon!

All of a sudden Pinkberry and Red Mango took back seat.

Golden Spoon may not be as probiotic friendly as Pinkberry and the others, but they have all sorts of fancy flavors, the majority of them being fat free!

Check out their website here!

Jay took the day off today and after a trip to The Picture People and Rubio’s, we stopped at G.S. for a quick treat before naps!

Missed out on the Gingerbread flavor today, but Jay & I shared Egg Nog and St. Nick’s Mint (my holiday fave!)

Being the frugalista I am, I love punch cards! That is one little extra that Golden Spoon has. This thing fills up QUICK over the Summer months!

I was happy that today put me at my FREE yogurt on our next visit! A little all around guilt-free treat in our future.

If you haven’t tried G.S. yet, I hope there is one in your area. Go in and check it out and get yourself a punch card ~ you’ll have your “free” one in no time.