My Little Minx Amanda

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Friday, May 17, 2013

21 Rules to Live By!

This is from an email I received in the past.  Because the words are so fitting and definitely you can't go wrong living them, I wanted to remind us to remember to!

It is called The Lotus Touts!
Picture from http://reluctant-messenger.com/lotus_sutra.htm
ONE.
Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.


TWO.

Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their
conversational skills will be as important as any other.



THREE.

Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.




FOUR.

When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.



FIVE.

When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.



SIX.

Be engaged at least six months before you get married.




SEVEN.

Believe in love at first sight.




EIGHT.

Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.




NINE.

Love deeply and passionately.You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.




TEN.

In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.




ELEVEN.

Don't judge people by their relatives.




TWELVE.

Talk slowly but think quickly.




THIRTEEN.

When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask,
'Why do you want to know?'




FOURTEEN.

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.




FIFTEEN.

Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.




SIXTEEN.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.




SEVENTEEN.

Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.




EIGHTEEN.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.




NINETEEN.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.




TWENTY
Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.



TWENTY- ONE.

Spend some time alone.


So dear readers, we talk about this all of the time, it is not an easy life we live on this Earth.  But it is a life that can be filled with love and abundance.  No matter how bad your luck seems to be, just change your way of thinking.  I promise you, you will see changes for the better. Just trust in God, or the deity you believe in!   

Thursday, May 16, 2013

At What Price, Beauty?

I often talk about my body, the way I look, my goals to lose weight, whether I'm working out, or not working out, what I'm eating, indulging in, what I'm not eating, what I crave.....I go on and on and on.  And so do so many of us in the world dear readers.  So do so many of us.  We are as obsessed with food as we are with our looks. Why is that?  I believe we all know the answer to that.

Do we just say simply, "Because of the Media (magazine, television, etc.). Do we say, "Because of the designers, etc.  What do we say exactly?  We are so obsessed to the point of so many people have distorted images in their heads of themselves.  They don't like what they see in the mirror and they go to the extreme to change their own perception of what they look like!

If you follow the link below, it will take you to a Pinterest page that features people who have changed themselves because of their distorted views of themselves. Now there are some photographs of women who are without makeup, that's actually nothing to me.  I don't look so great when I'm not made up...I'm always tired, I can't imagine the actresses who are as well.  However, that's just my perception of me!  Don't do the injections in your body parts, or do surgery to make your butt bigger, or the lip enhancement that changes who you are......just don't do it!


http://pinterest.com/sheiladavis427/distorted-beauty/


While I don't see anything wrong with a little "tweaking" being done to anyone who chooses to, but by someone who is qualified to do it!  It is also not a good thing to take your tweaking to the extreme!

I'm not a doctor of any type; I'm not a psychologist of any type.  I am however, a woman, and I am a mother.  I am a woman who has had body issues my entire life. Through it all, I continue to focus not just on my body, but on me the individual!  Yes, I am still fighting my body-demons.  However, that doesn't mean that I do not love myself!  I do.  You have to learn to love and accept yourself, "warts" and all! It isn't an easy fete, and it will take some getting used to, but you can!  Be you! Love you! Accept you! Dress the way you want! Wear what you want to wear! Become the diva that is you!




Monday, May 13, 2013

Being Human and Living for Tomorrow

For so many of us in this world, it isn't easy living our lives. Some people are just living random lives, accepting each day that greets them, existing for the moment. There seem to be that question of what life is worth these days? Let us remember to not label ourselves, or allow others to do so. Even though it seems we will never get to where we want to be, we must continue to go after what we want our lives to be.

We live our lives the best way we know how. We manage, keeping one step ahead!  You must never forget to take a "bite" out of life and live a little. We never know what will happen next, so no matter how difficult it seems; no matter how hopeless you may feel; live for today with a smile on your face! Trust that you are not where you are in your life in vain. God has a purpose for each of us.

One of my Facebook friends shared the following which I thought was so perfect and so divinely appropriate!


Thursday, May 9, 2013

Five Tips for a Fun Day at the Beach


Who doesn't love the beach?  Unless someone isn't fond of water in the ocean or the pool, then I guess he/she would be the one!  Whenever my family and I make a trip to the beach, even if it is only for one day, not only is it a very big adventure because we don't go as often we like to, but it also becomes a road trip, a mini-vacation!

If you are like me and really love the Beach, I want us to have fun, but to also be comfortable. So I usually pack a lot of stuff to take with us, and thank heavens we do travel by car!   I was perusing fabfitfun.com and found some really great tips that will make your next trip to the ocean more coordinated and comfortable!


  • Number one on their list is applying sunscreen before you go to the beach (or leave the hotel). I totally agree with this!  I find it much simpler and easier to do it right after coming out of the shower!



  • They also suggested to pack snacks, number two on their list.  As a mom, this is always on my to-do list whenever going anywhere. It doesn't even matter how grown your children are, they are always hungry!



  • Bring bathrobes, not beach towels, number three on their list!  This way the kids can stay warm after their swim and will actually dry-off! What a cool idea! One that I have never thought of doing! Best tip on the list for me!



  • Pack beach toys for your toddler to play is number four! As a younger mom, I made sure to do this with each of my then toddler and even with the older children, books, musical stuff, etc!  Today, my children are older, and as they do get hungry, they whine even louder about being bored! So I have them bring games, books, comics, anything that will help them to pass the time!



  • Number five on their list is making sure to find a bathroom, especially for your young toddler who is potty training! Thank heavens this was never a problem for me! This is definitely tops on the list for families with younger children!


To read the article and see their comments, go to the article link here!





Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Hurts All Over

d-foreverserenity.com
Exercise is good for the body!
All over dear reader! My body is a spasm of pain from doing squats and running! I need to catch up with my squats today though. I'm at 70 squats...I should be further ahead, but you know what?  I'm doing it and that is what is important!  My goal is to get in shape, have a toned body and I will complete this mission...challenge!

I hurt in all the places I should though, thighs, derriere and arms...that means I am doing something right!  I need to stay focus and do this! Today's workout will be weights and running on the treadmill!  It's a pretty hot day today in Central Florida so workout will be inside today.....oh man I wish I was at the beach!!!! Because even if my body is not bikini ready, at least I could go lay in the sand! Hmmm, then again, I haven't worn a bikini since I was 18....!

If you my dear reader are way over 18 and can still wear a bikini, well, congratulations! Keep up the good work!  If not, have you decided to join me in this getting fit challenge yet?  You don't have to do the squats, just start moving by walking or even doing simple stretches.  Remember, you need your doctor's opinion on you getting into more aggressive physical activities so as to be sure you won't compromise your health!  Once you feel you are up to it, just start small, as time goes on you will be feeling so good you will want to do more!


Monday, May 6, 2013

Squats - Why did I agree to do this again....

My workout continues, and I'm already loving the results of what my body looks like.  I'm not where I was six months or even a year ago...having lost 37lbs, I was more svelte than I've been in a very long time....not since my now 18 year old son was one years old!!!!! I gained almost...ALMOST all of it back...due to negligence and slip-ups and brain-fart that happens to me once in a while!

But instead of sitting and chanting woe-is-me or blaming anyone (or thing) but myself, I decided I have to do something about it...withe the goal to become even better than I was a year ago! After all, keeping me healthy depends on it!  I've mentioned that I've been running, that is, jogging, (since I'm only doing a mile and a half at a medium pace, it's jogging), doing cardio workouts and recently begun lifting weights!

Over at Beyond Black & White, they have decided to have a fitness challenge. The reward is a $100 gift card, and other prizes too...(it runs from May 1st - May 31st), I was late in signing up so unsure if I'm even in the runnings, but I have decided to challenge myself to see if I could do any of the challenges suggested, and actually stick with it!  There is a choice of Squats, or Crunches. I don't do squats very well, that is my Achilles heel of exercise, even worse than push-ups!

I've heard of the squat challenge prior to this on Twitter and begun my first set of squats on Saturday!  My daughter Amanda decided she wanted to join in with me and a lively session ensued!  As I kept doing the squats, counting up to the 50-sets, I focused and actually managed to do it!  In between instructing Amanda, I taught myself how to do it properly...I hope did!lol!  Here is the chart of what I (and a few others) doing the squat-challenge will be doing!

I've put a copy of the 30-day squat challenge below.  Now, if my butt can look that firm...don't even get me started on the shape of the model in the photo... (I'm not ever going to look like her, but I can try!) Fingers crossed!