life lessons.

we are on the ending stretch now...and then i may never blog again for my fingers need a break.  todays topic -'things you've learned that school won't teach you.'

let us start with one word.  everything.

life has taught me that people are good.  kind even.  sure, there are some bad guys out there and not so kind people out there, but as a rule i do think people are kind.  

being kind to others can get you far.

pets are one of life's greatest things.  bad day? but a happy little ball of fur still loving on you unconditionally?  
win win.

relax. have fun.  following the rules are good, but sometimes it is okay to deviate from those rules.

when you get crazy with your clothes and wear something that you think is really crazy. like a hat, funky hair. people aren't going to stare.  they don't care.  go for it.  be edgy.  take a chance with style.

watch the news.  be well informed. good, bad, whatever. it makes you feel and look smarter knowing what is going on with the world.

learn to like salad.  

drive the speed limit and throw your phone in the back seat so you are not tempted to text/talk and drive.

it is okay to be quiet.

be a good listener.

and think before you speak.

what about you?

clean eating: lettuce wraps!

**seriously people, read this, maybe just look at the pictures and run to your kitchen and make these and then eat them all.  
you'll naturally think i'm the smartest gal in nashville, so it's a win win.
you buying what i'm selling?

when brad asks for lettuce wraps, i get reeeeeeal excited.
because they are soooo good. and sooo pretty.
and i am a huge lettuce wrap fan in general...ever had them at rainforest cafe or the cheesecake factory?  this lends to OMG moments and i don't do OMG's. 

here's what you need to make some happy people!

lettuce wraps:
one head of iceburg lettuce (we tried romaine once and i just don't like it as well, i think you need the crunch.)
fill the lettuce wraps with:
turkey burger (i cook mine with cumin, red pepper, salt, pepper and clean taco seasoning)
salsa
cucumbers (not a fan, that's okay.  i just really really like cucumber and the crunch, again.)
plain greek yogurt (pile it ON, taste just like sour cream.  swear you'll feel like your cheating on your diet!)
you can add cheese, we usually don't, you really don't need it.

roll that bad boy up and devour.

i usually make black beans or refried beans as a side, but to tell you the truth, the wraps are so good, you just want to eat those.

can you tell i am excited about these things?  
i'm in love with lettuce wraps.
'tis true.

prayers for oklahoma.

in 1999, a tornado came through my hometown of clarksville, tennessee.  i was in college at the time at the local university, austin peay state university.

i remember going to bed the night before, sitting my alarm to wake up early to go in and take an exam.  i was a live-in nanny at the time.  

i remember tossing and turning all night because of a bad storm.

that was the methodist church where i attended.

i remember getting up and stumbling to the shower in my sleepy state and getting a knock on the bathroom door while i was in the shower.

"jessica.  you don't have school today.  we're not even sure there's a school left."

the campus was in shambles.  the city was devastated. as were the residents.

my hometown woke up looking much different than when i went to bed the previous night.

oklahoma.  you are in my prayers and thoughts.  last night was we celebrated my very best friends birthday with dinner, all i could think about was you.  your people.  your kids.  as we celebrated my best friend, her life, i couldn't help but think about birthdays that were shattered yesterday.

but oklahoma, here's what i learned from tennessee in 1999 - you are resilient.

you still shine and will shine brighter in days to come.

goodness will uprise from your roots.

but in the meantime, i will pray for you.

we will pray for you.

favorites.

day 21 - 'links to some of your favorite post you've written.'

this one about my dad and his struggles with parkinson's disease.

this one...when brad asked me to marry him.

love displayed...a day with henry. (my favorite post ever)


will you give me some links to your favorites you've written?  i'd love to see them.

p.s.  today is my best friend, bessie's, birthday!  happy birthday bessie!  i love ya like a sister.  no, really, i do.

weighty subject.

'get real, tell us something you are really struggling with right now.' said day 19 of the blog challenge.

my weight is a constant struggle for me, from as long as i can remember i have been on a quest to be thin.  to be pretty.  to be... you get the point.  i always felt like when i was thin, i would be pretty and i would have all those things that i lack.

except one time i was pretty thin, and everything stayed the same.  

then i gained it back, lost more again...and so the story goes.  i can not begin to tell you the brain power that i have spent in my lifetime trying to find that sweet spot and then staying there and maintaining.
and sticking to something?  i have an extra special ability to stick to something.  

since late last year i have been focusing on eating clean and become more aware of what is going in my body and committing to exercise hard consistently.  monday (today) i am going to add a morning tabata to my routine and start some carb cycling.  nothing really different than i am doing now, except actually eating more carbs! holla!

i learned a long time ago, after eating only eight grams of fat per day for about a year and loosing a TON of weight that fad diets, crash diets don't work.  eating clean and working out shockingly do.

late last year i half jokingly told brad, "i'm either getting really fat [pregnant] or really skinny this year!"

it is just always going to be my cross to bear, even when i am at that perfect weight and look and feel great.  weight is always gonna be my constant struggle.

and it is my responsibility TO BE responsible for my health and to be the best me that i can be.
i will get there.  i will.  
and then i will maintain.  i will.

Source: wendymiles.myrandf.com via Wendy on Pinterest

i am currently reading and studying chris powells new book choose more, loose more for life.  if you have a ton of weight to loose or just a little even, it is a great read and great motivator.

tiny dancer.

sisters dance recital was this weekend, girlfriend finally got to dance again on da big stage.  of course, she was perfect and we all grinned ear to ear as we watched the cutest little dancer take the stage in all her glitter for her one minute of fame.

i had to work friday night and when i put her in the bed, she said, "caca, is mister brad coming to see me dance tomorrow?" as i was shutting the door.  "yes, honey.  he'll be there."

i thought about joining them on stage since i knew all the moves, but i didn't want to steal the show [in the worst possible way] so i stayed in my seat.

you can breathe now.
maybe next year i'll be a ballerina.

favorite bloggers.

day 19 might be a favorite.  top five favorite blogs.

here's my routine, when i set down at my computer in the AM, i automatically go to these five blogs.

+ ohbrady.com

lisa is my friend. we met in the blogosphere, and have met once but i just really like her.  we often exchange texts throughout the day from everything to working out to kid stuff...lately she has overhauled my blog design which a love.  she always has a different hair color, her little girl has the best name and i feel really blessed to know her.  i think she's pretty great.

+ thecelises.blogspot.com

amanda and danny had a hard time carrying a baby to term and after three losses, she started writing about her latest pregnancy which resulted in sweet arlo.  she has a great eye for design [check out arlo's nursery!] and is just funny.  when i read her writing, i imagine myself just talking to her and she telling me about whatever she happens to be writing.

+ lisaleonard.com

lisa is my go to for presents for anyone really special in my life, her jewelry is beautiful. she shares her family and life throughout instagram and her blog.  she has two sweet boys and has an eye for all things creative and fashion.  oh my.  i think i read somewhere that she gets dressed every day, like dressed, put together and make up.  i mean, that's a reason to like [or hate!] her in itself!

+ ashleyannphotography.com

because her pictures and family and everything she does is pretty much amazing.  i wanna move into her house.  or at least lie to people and tell them i live there.  she's always got a project up her sleeve and recently built a chicken coop.  did i mention she has five kids?  five kids and chickens.  and some days i don't have enough time to blog.  chickens?  i can't imagine.  

+ kellehampton.com

if her photos aren't enough to draw you in, you will be mesmerized by her words.  she is creative and a mama of three.  i think she shines such a positive light on things that are really hard and puts an optimistic spin on things that we all need to hear and read.  her pictures tell stories and we could all learn a lot from her words.  her blog is more than a blog to me, it is a story unfolding that i drink in.

of course, there are a TON more i love, but these five are my favorites [lately] for so many reasons, many of which i listed above.

tell me more.  tell me more!