This year our family decided to do a group costume from our beloved movie The Greatest Showman for Halloween. We had so much fun last year dressing up as The Incredibles that we wanted to keep the good times rolling. I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to actually find these costumes or an easy way for me to recreate them. And that is how I found myself at Hobby Lobby in the sewing department looking up patterns. I hit the jackpot because the day I went the McCall patterns were on sale for $1.99. I purchased M6143 a patriotic pattern that looked like it would work perfectly for a P.T. Barnum inspired coat with tails and fabric, thread, and buttons. In total I spent $8. Everything was on sale and super cheap. The last time I sewed anything was in middle school, thankfully my grandma is an expert seamstress extraordinaire who lives 5 minutes away. She was thrilled to help offer her knowledge and surplus of items that helped me finish this project. Here is my grandma … [Read more...]
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
We ventured to Boyce Thompson Arboretum for the first time this month. When we left I was already trying to figure out when we could visit again. I loved it and can't believe I have never visited this gem before. And I wish I would have taken more pictures. This place was so pretty. We saw a few other people meandering about but for most of the two hours we felt like we had the entire place to ourselves. We brought our double jogging stroller for the two little ones and the older two walked with us. There are two parts on the main trail that narrow and our stroller wouldn't fit but we still felt like we were able to see a good majority of the arboretum. If you are going with toddlers I would recommend a stroller. It was helpful to be able to contain Jesse at times, especially by the Cactus Garden. He walked a good portion of the time we were there but it was nice to have the stroller. The day we went we had just finished a week of study in Genesis 1:1 learning about what God … [Read more...]
My Most Read & Loved Fiction Books
I love reading. My husband bought me a Kindle tablet last year for my birthday and I didn't realize how much I would use it. I think I am reading more now because I have such easy access to books. I really enjoy having Kindle Unlimited too because for $10 a month I have access to loads of books I can read for free. Below are my all time favorite fiction books. It was hard for me to narrow it down but all these books are either books I have read multiple times or books I am planning to read again in the near future. Uncharted by Angela Hunt "I'm beginning to think the island wants to keep us here." It was supposed to be an adventure. A little time off to honor the memory of a friend and complete a service project in the tropics. Do good deeds while getting a tan. But when a storm rocks their plans, five long-time friends from college find themselves hurled onto a desolate island, and relief fades to fear. Here nature rules with a vengenance. The lone shelter from raw … [Read more...]
3 Day Split Workout
Building muscle mass and gaining strength are fantastic goals to have. It can sometimes be challenging to know how to begin to program a routine that will yield these results. I have you covered with my 3 day split workout program that can be done at the gym or at home. You will need moderate to heavy dumbbells that you are able to lift for multiple sets of 8-12 reps. If you have access to a barbell that will be super helpful but you can always substitute with dumbbells if needed. BENEFITS OF A 3 DAY SPLIT WORKOUT A spilt workout is a strength training method where you train different muscle groups on different days of the week. This method allows you to spend more time on each muscle group and train with more intensity than a total body workout, plus it also allows your muscles more time to recover. 3 day spilt workouts are easy to follow and are the perfect fit if you are having a hard time making it to the gym or even to squeeze a workout in at home. These workouts will challenge … [Read more...]
The Phone Call
Bathtime can get a little hectic in our house with 3 kids under the age of 5. On this typical evening in our household the kids were splashing away in the tub singing, laughing, and getting louder and louder by the minute when Josh's phone began to ring. My curiosity was instantly piqued. We had been waiting for a phone call for our first foster placement and I couldn't follow him around the house while he walked and talked like I normally would because I needed to stay with the kids in the tub. Minutes later he came back into the bathroom and told me that we had received a phone call from our agency worker about a baby in need of a foster home. After that first call Josh and I tagged team bathing the kids and as we made several more phone calls back and forth between myself, Josh, our agency worker, and the Department of Child Safety. In less than 10 minutes we had a plan in place to pick up the baby in the morning. The limited details we had were heartbreaking. I clung to Josh … [Read more...]
Movie Workout: The Greatest Showman
Josh and I watched The Greatest Showman several months ago for the first time and it quickly became a family favorite. It also became the new soundtrack for our family dance parties that happen daily. This movie just makes me happy when I watch it. The dancing, the singing, and costumes are all amazing. Our oldest is dressing up as PT Barnum for Halloween this year and I am in the process of sewing his coat. Wish me luck. This soundtrack has been on repeat in our house for the last few months. I have shared only one other movie workout on the blog it was for Frozen. So it has been awhile since anything like this has been posted. You can do the workout while you are watching the movie or you can do it listening to the soundtrack. The soundtrack version of this workout is tough because there is no rest and you are working for 39 minutes straight. For the entire duration of each song you will either rotate between two exercises or do a single exercise. Disclaimer: Not all … [Read more...]
