Manic Monday

Health
Okay so New Years Eve wasn't great for me food wise or exercise wise. On the other hand my husband, daughter and I had a ball making music with drums, a lute + tambourine. Hopefully we scared away all evil spirits for 2012! ;). I was told by a friend about a free web site where you can keep your food journals, weigh in, join forums and challenges. It's . I think this site is really helpful. I also joined one of the challenges to try to encourage myself to work harder at lifestyle changes of eating healthier and exercising. I came across this interesting blog on overeating that I'd like to share: http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/blogs/overeating-understanding-and-taking-back-control

Toddler Literature
My daughter, who is 2 1/2 yrs old, loves watching the NickJr show on TV called Wonder Pets. She also loves her Eric Carle books: "Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?", "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?", and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". These books are published by Henry Holt who published another book my daughter loves called "The Babies on the Bus" which is a kin to the song "The wheels on the bus". Anyway I just like sharing things that seem to be a hit with my daughter as I figure other moms may find it helpful.

Visual Arts
So in a earlier blog I mentioned my husband's photography. I am trying to encourage him to submit some of his most recent work to see if he can get his work shown in a gallery. I'm excited because I believe he has the talent + potential. I also never pursued trying to show my own work and am a frustrated visual artist so I guess I'd be living vicariously through his experience. I haven't been doing any art for quite some time and miss it. So I suppose that might be a future goal down the line to get back to having some kind of creative outlet again. Perhaps getting back to illustrating and doggy fashion & product design. Here are some of my earlier attempts of doggy fashion design:



Nature / Animals
I came across an interesting post on a blog I follow called "Geeks are Sexy", about 11 new species that were discovered, so I have included a link to the original source: http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/2184-species-discovered-2011.html Also my husband and I finally had a long overdue "date" to spend some time as a couple and went to see the "Journey to the Stars" and the Hayden Planetarium at The American Museum of Natural History http://www.amnh.org/. We both enjoyed it immensly with exception of being next to a crying baby through most of the show.

The picture shown to the left - Cnemaspis psychedelica. Credit: © L. Lee Grismer.

20 Things I am Grateful For and More

Happy New Year!

I recently read a post from Joyce Meyer Ministries on facebook saying before asking God for something think of 20 things you are grateful for...I have decided this would be a good way to start my blog and the new year.

20 Things I am Grateful For:

1. My daughter
2. My husband (although this can very from moment to moment LOL)
3. My family
4. My health
5. My job
6. God
7. Nature
8. Art
9. Friends
10. Learning New Things
11. My dog
12. Joyce Meyer Ministries
13. Dr. Wayne Dyer
14. Music
15. Second, third and fourth chances
16. Zumba
17. Swimming
18. Hugs
19. Love
20. Laughter

Dr. Wayne Dyer wrote: "Forget about those New Year's resolutions in which you decide on the first day of January how you will be conducting your life for the next twelve months. Instead, set up day-to-day goals for yourself, and then resolve to begin living with present moment awareness for the rest of your life. When you get good at living your present moments one day at a time you'll see yourself changing..."

My friend Lisa just started a blog yesterday. Check out her blog at: www.lisal2012.blogspot.com. In addition she makes some great cake pops - check them out at: www.goodiebites.com I was inspired by her. I attempted to start a blog 2 years ago but my husband told me I had to write about something people were interested in and that I knew enough about. I agreed he was right and didn't pursue it any further. However I often have given into the defeatest attitude and have found this way of living has not served me well thus far. So after my friend Lisa started her blog yesterday I decided why can't I write a blog as well? and that I no longer want to give up before I even really give it a shot.

I have a number of talented and creative friends who's work I would like to share as well as things that come up just in living life and being a mom.

I have recently been looking for educational materials for my daughter and found a series of DVDs by First Impressions and small fry for children ages 1-5 years. Subjects include, letters, numbers, shapes, sounds, and animals. What I like about these DVDs are the educational activties and that there are multiple choice questions where your child can select an answer and it's interactive. "Baby's first impressions and small fry have received over 30 awards from national organizations that recognize the very best in children's education and entertainment. Some of these include: USA Today, Coalition for Quality Children's Media - Approved By Kids First!, Child Magazine - best video of the year, Parenting magazine voted #1, and more."

I have a friend who has been making some wonderful designs. Check her designs out facebook - Nelesc Designs. I admire her work as being a designer is something else I started to pursue and gave up on. I was working on designing dog clothing and accessories and furniture and kind of let it go by the way side.

Also I'd like to share my husband's photography web site: www.yahyiaphotography.com I am very proud of his work and eagerly await him sharing some of his most recent work from his trip to Yemen.