this + that

TGIF people! we made it! survived the week, got through conferences [with lots of positive words of affirmation from happy parents, score!], hubby had another successful Jump Rope for Heart [whew hoo-take that Heart Disease!], and even managed to squeeze in a Friday date-night movie [Act of Valor]. More about that later.

this + that

greek yogurt + pumpkin-spice granola + blueberries + honey =

a little bowl of breakfast heaven 

check it! this deelightful granola is made in MD!! [Baltimore]

found at Wegmans. go figure! 

wanna preserve your berries?

soak them in 1 tbsp white vinegar to 10 tbsps of water.

then drain and rinse off before storing in fridge.

seriously keeps them from getting moldy [bleh!] and mushy [eww]

can't take the credit for this brilliant move-- thanks Pinterest! 

sweet little night light made a new cozy corner in the kitchen, thanks momma! xo

daffodils mean spring is comin' 

[[happiness]]

bouncy ball? cat toy? ehh not quite. 

sooo...I have chronic back pain. 

i've gone to my regular doctor, chiropractors, and now I am currently trying the acupuncture route.

so far I've thoroughly enjoyed my experience. each time I learn something new about my body.

however tonight was a totally new experience + one I hope to never repeat.

picture this:

you're face down, with needles head to toe [25+] trying desperately not to move a muscle.

trust me with you learn very quickly the power and connectivity of your nerves after one or two sessions. you move a finger and your toe twitches. i'm not kidding. ok, well I may be a exaggerating a tad, but you get the gist. all of a sudden that terrible tickle in your throat, the one you've been fighting all day with waaay too many cough drops [seriously, how many is too many??] and endless amounts of water, is tickling its way into a full blown cough! and then boom- you're coughing. but you're not just coughing with your throat and chest. no, you feel these coughs everywhere. every-time I coughed I felt each needle as if it was zapping me with shock therapy. OYE! I quickly gulped down my remaining drops of water from my Tervis Tumbler, praying it would make the tickle go away. managed to focus my breathing + stop coughing, while ever so slightly drooling on the acupuncture pillow. HOT MESS! thank God I was alone in the room. or else I may still be there, paralyzed by embarrassment. 

 never. again. never again will I attempt a session with even the glimmer of a cough. see, when you know at any moment you could go into a electrical-cough spasm, it's not exactly the healing/relaxing experience it was meant to be. but lets hope this little acuball + cough-free acupuncture sessions will keep my sneaky-back from waking me nightly with spasms. a little more yoga here and there won't hurt either...I do believe. 

like I said earlier, the hubby and I managed to squeeze in a little date-night movie in the form of Act of Valor. WOW! what a movie! lets just say my nails no longer need to be trimmed + I found a new layer of skin inside my lower-lip. the fact that it features active duty navy seals, changes the whole feel of the movie. sitting next to my husband, the son of a retired Sergeant Major with 29+ years in the Marine Corps [including 3 tours], also changed the feel of the movie. my level of respect for those who serve our country could not be higher.  definitely a "man movie" as my husband warned me, but one I am glad I saw. although I'm sure it was not a perfect depiction of how it really is, it makes you [civilians] think of the instant sacrifices these people are willing to make. no hesitation. no seconding guessing. it's cliche to say, but we sleep soundly at night because of their Acts of Valor.  

march 2nd is Dr.Seuss' birthday. 

I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from his classic

"Oh, The Places You'll Go!"

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. 

And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? 

Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed)

 Kid, you'll move mountains.” 

here's to movin' mountains! 

xoxo