Music Monday

I feel like this song takes some time to grow on you, especially if you are a Daft Punk fan. 

So you may want to play this a couple of times and then decide how you feel about it ;)

Mother's Day

Yesterday was was ridiculously hot. But, we are a bunch  that can't be cooped up indoors too long without going stir-crazy, so we grabbed some lunch and headed out to Prospect Park. It's a wonderful park that hosts a wedding venue, a preschool and a theater. The park is so big and has so many trees that while standing at any one of the venues, you can't see the others. It's a fun place to walk around and explore, although it would have been more fun had it not been so hot.

Despite the heat, it was a fantastic Mother's day- I got to relax and enjoy my kiddos. 

The O's acting out a sword fight on stage.

A view of the valley

This is what Charlie does when I ask him to smile

A special treat

I think we can all agree 105 is ridiculous

Relaxing

Why must he do this?

Music Monday + I'm tan!

I love this song. You should too:

Weighty Ghost by Wintersleep

Now, let's talk about my sweet tan! 

As you know, I'm headed off to Vegas in 12 days. During my stay I plan on spending some time by the pool and whenever I go on vacation and plan on laying out, I feel odd showing up pale. I don't know why. Maybe it's because swimsuits just look better when you have a tan?

If I am looking to buy something Target may not carry or looking for a sweet price on a particular item, my go to online retailer is Amazon.com. Not really knowing what exactly I was looking for, but wanting a good deal on some kind of spray on tan,  I went to amazon and typed in "tan", and this came up:

Like a good amazoner, I read through both the negative and positive reviews. I also google'd "best spray tan", and went to You Tube to see if anyone had done a review. 

After watching several You Tube videos and liking what I saw, I told Katie that we had to get some before Vegas and Katie, being the awesome BFF she is, used her Amazon Prime account and ordered two bottles.

I started Fake Baking on Friday, and I am super pleased. I have a developed a nice base tan that looks natural. I don't have splotches or streaks, and my skin doesn't smell funny-All things that have happened before with other tanners.

I will say that I followed every direction, as given on the following you tube video. I found it super helpful in achieving my awesome tan.

She talks a LOT before getting to the actual application part.

The box says for developing the best base tan, use three days in a row. I started Friday night just in case something went wrong. Showing up to work looking like an umpa loompa was not an option for me.

Happy Tanning!

Getting Fit 101

I started working out in November of 2012 after joining a boot camp my uncle was running. I have been working out every week since then. Working out consistently for six months does not make me an expert, but I have learned a few things on this journey. Allow me to share:

Commit

One of the first things my uncle said  to us when we joined his boot camp was "I give you my time, commit to giving me yours. If you're going to be a part of this boot camp you have to commit yourself to coming-even when you don't want to." My uncle does his boot camp  free of charge. I think that used to be one of the reasons I showed up (used to be- I now look forward to it). He didn't HAVE to do this for me. He CHOSE to. He took the time out of his schedule to prepare workout routines for the group. The very least I could do was show up, ready to work out.

Find People who  love want  to work out

I've never met anyone who loves working out every. single. day. But I have met people that are passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. If you can find someone like that-someone that will support you when you feel like giving up, hold you accountable for showing up, challenge you to push yourself to your limits, and encourage you to make healthier choices- you will be more successful in obtaining your fitness goals. If you can find more than one person, even better.

Throw away your scale

One of the worst things you can do is step on a scale to measure your progress. Weight fluctuates every day, sometimes by 3+ lbs. You don't want to get excited about a new work out routine only to get side-swiped by disappointment when you step on the scale and realize you've gained weight. And, that weight you've gained? It might just be muscle. I've been working out for six months and I've lost 4lbs. That's it. I could get depressed about all the weight I haven't lost, or I could be excited about going from a size 4 to a size 0. 

Don't Give up

Two days after my very first boot camp, I called in sick to work. My legs were so sore and stiff and I could barely move. It was the most pain I have been in since I started, and I will never forget how I felt after that work out. I was SO out of shape. I could have given up after that. I could have, but I didn't. I knew that if I kept at it my body would get used to the pain and I would eventually learn to love that feeling and get excited for that feeling-because that feeling means it's working and I'm doing something right.

Watch what you eat

If you want to see results, you have to change your eating habits. Eating healthy can be expensive and hard, but making better choices for your body is easy. Can't give up bread? Try 100% whole grain bread instead of whole wheat. Have to have a piece of chocolate during that special time of the month? Try dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, and limit your serving size. There a thousands of Pinterest boards dedicated to healthy recipes. Fad diets have been known to not work. Instead of torturing yourself with a crazy diet plan, try healthier choices for things your enjoy eating. The weight won't come off as fast. but you're more likely to stick to it and the weight is less likely to come back.

I'm not sure if this is 100% accurate. But it has to be close.

Don't starve yourself

If you don't give yourself a balanced, healthy diet your body will go in to famine mode and will hold on to the fat you're trying to lose. I've heard the best thing for your body is to eat six small meals a day and I think this throws some people off, because who has time to eat six meals? If you can't eat six small meals a day, try three, well proportioned meals along with three healthy snacks; I think you'll find it beneficial. 

Drink lots of water

Water is the best things for your body. It suppresses appetite and limits your food intake, it moisturizes your skin to keep you looking younger and healthier, it strengthens your immune system, and over all, keeps you healthy. How much water should you be drinking? I don't know that it's an exact science, but if you feel hungry, try drinking 8-12oz of water (the body often confuses hunger for thirst). Instead of having a soda with lunch, replace it with a glass or two of water. Buy a water bottle and try keeping it with you where ever you go, or at your desk while you work and every time you look at it, take a couple of sips. When it's gone, refill it immediately and repeat. If you don't like water, try infusing it with fruit at first or over ice to make it more appealing.

Give yourself a cheat day

One day a week, I allow myself a greasy cheeseburger, fried zucchini  or brownies with ice cream on top. After all, if you deny yourself all the good in life, life just ain't worth living. 

Your body is always a work in progress

I still have my fat days, most days I don't feel "ab-fabulous", and my inner thighs are still not where they need to be. But... my husband can't stop telling me how great my butt looks, I have noticeable muscle definition in my arms and I can now fit in to a size 0 jean. This didn't happen over night. I worked hard and kept at it for six months and I am just now starting to see the results of that  hard work and dedication. I still have a lot further to go if I want that six pack or those sleek and sexy runner's legs, but I am so happy with how far I have come.

I hope this helped to encourage you!  Now go out there and get fit! I know you can do it.

15 things

Things I'd like to do in this lifetime:

1. Get another tattoo

2. buy something with sequins and go to a fancy New Years Eve party

3. Rent a beach house for a week one summer

4. Purchase a good pair of jeans -no matter the cost

5. Learn French

6. Take cooking classes

7. Write a children's book

8. See the Grand Canyon

9. Finish a Sprint Triathlon

10. Own a Tod's bag

11. plant and maintain a healthy garden

12. Eat at a Michelin Star restaurant

13. Go swimming with sharks

14. Get a job I love

15. Take a year to travel all over Europe/Asia

I just want to dance!

Is it weird that Katie and I are planning a trip to Vegas just so we can dance?

No gambling. No Freemont Street. No Thunder from Down Under (gross, right?). Just dancing.

Every couple of months, we get the itch so we usually head down to San Diego but the last couple of times we were down there I felt sooo old.  I don't like feeling old, so Vegas it is!

In two and a half weeks I will be sipping on an adult beverage by the pool all day and dancing like Ren all night.

I can't wait.

Legit dance moves, right there.

My weekend in pictures

Favorite Stuff Friday

Oh! What a week.

And that's about  all I have to cover how insane this week has been.

So, let's move on to my favorite stuff...

1. John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo
I love Redken. I think it will always be my #1, but my #2 is John Frieda's Root Awakening Shampoo for Dry Hair and Scalp. I have been using this for about three months and I love it.  Southern California was so dry this winter that I found shampooing my hair every day was leaving my scalp dry and irritated. I saw this in Target and after a week of shampooing, it totally eliminated the itchy scalp problem. As a bonus, it leaves your hair smelling delicious!

2. Dr. Lipp Nipple Cream for Lips
Before I go to bed every night I put petroleum  jelly on my lips and I wake up with smooth, soft lips.
During the day, I wear chap stick or lip gloss, but I have found nothing that works as well as  petroleum jelly-except this stuff. I received this in March's Birchbox and I will be ordering a full size soon. It's kinda thick, but just a dab will keep your lips moisturized and soft for hours.

3. Maxi Skirts
I have a feeling I will be living in mine for the remainder of the year.  You can dress them up, dress them down, wear it to the beach, or wear it to work. You have to love something that is so versatile. I prefer black, but I love that you can get them in just about any color.

4. The Beach,
I probably won't be wearing my maxi skirt, but the boys and I are headed to Newport Beach this Saturday.
First beach trip of the year! The water will be cold, it will be overcast until 11:00am, but when the sun comes out and the people start flocking to the sand-It will be awesome.

5. The Lumineers
You have to have heard of this band by now. Their song Ho Hey is all over the internet, radio, television, etc. Everything I've heard of theirs is amazing. Folky, simple, make you happy songs.

Have a great weekend! 

We can't be friends if....

I am that person who has a lot of acquaintances, but very few friends. Maybe that's because my "We can't be friends if..." list is not as forgiving as it would need to be in order for my friend count to be nearer the double digits. I don't know, you decide.

We can't be friends if...You don't like to dance, sing or laugh. Because I do all three. A lot. In my house, we have jam sessions where we scream out song lyrics and turn the volume up so loud our 80 year old neighbor wanders over to "see what the bleep is happening" because "It's just SO loud over here". As much as I love singing and dancing, I  love laughing even more.It's painful for me to be stuck in a situation that calls for quiet and/or somber. I almost always try to lighten the mood in those moments. My jokes usually go over like a lead balloon, but I still try. 

We can't be friends if...You wear cartoon animals/Disney characters. No. It's just not right. I don't care if you were robbed of all worldly possessions minus your Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt circa 1992-and really, you should be asking yourself why it is they took EVERYTHING but that- you better not be wearing it when  I come over to help you file that police report.

We can't be friends if...You only use FB to stalk people. It's weird when I tell someone who has so little activity on Facebook that I forget I am friends with them about how great Bryan is doing in school or about the job promotion I received recently and they respond with " Oh, I know. I read it on Facebook." Really? Just say "Congratulations" and save yourself some creepy points, buddy.

We can't be friends if...You don't believe we all have a little Jenna Maroney in us. I love her. And yes, I am completely aware she is just a character on a t.v. show. 

There are a lot more than four. Some of them are deep. Some shallow. Some just plain weird. For instance, if you use the word "moist" often or like to chew on ice cubes  it's just not in the cards for us to be friends; but that's it for today. Now go turn up the radio and sing your little heart out! 

Orange County or not to Orange County?

I got a raise on Friday.
A substantial one.
A raise large enough for us to be able to afford to live in Orange County.
On top of that, Bryan is finally finishing up at Valley and ready to transfer to a UC or CSU and he needs to decide what his major is going to be.

There are so many grown up questions to answer now...



Where will Bryan go to school?
What  BS will Bryan choose?
Environmental Biology or Environmental Engineering?
What school are the boys going to go to?
If we don't move down south, how long can I ride the metro into Orange County every week without going insane?
Do we want to stay here for a couple of more years and then make the kids change schools again?
Can we move away from our fantastic support system and survive?

Maybe....?

Most of my thoughts are now consumed with all of these questions and different scenarios that I run in a constant loop and I am terrified of making the wrong decision.

Orange County or not to Orange County?   That is the question.

What I'm not

I'm not a fashion blogger. My clothes are outdated, I am terribly un-photogenic, my after-children body is not comfortable in front of the camera, and my eight year old is refusing to take any more photos until I agree to read up on child labor laws and 1099 him. 

I am not a mommy blogger. Owen, Oliver and Charlie are awesome. They have great taste in music. They are blow -you-away handsome. But I don't feel like I'm defined by my offspring and whoring out my children for GFC followers is just wrong-or so my husband says.

I am not a funny blogger. In real life, I'm toats hilarious. I crack jokes like I'm getting paid for it. I've even had people tell me I should try my hand at stand up (honest to God, truth)- but for some reason, my funny just doesn't translate well over the internet. 

I'm not a food blogger. I like the eating part more than the actual cooking it bit,and stopping to take a picture of every step of the cooking process is more annoying than you think it would be. And most of my dishes look like I put them together while having a seizure.

I'm not a Lifestyle blogger. My house is messy and  the people that run it are midget dictators who love pancakes for every meal and have a penchant for leaving smelly socks in every room. There are at least four baskets of laundry scattered around the house at any given time and dishes are always piled in the sink. If you wanted to know what it's like to never be in control of messes or boys under ten,

I suppose I could write a post or two-but let's be honest, who needs help with that?

So, what kind of blogger am I? I haven't figured that out yet.

I'm Crystal. A girl who decided to write a blog and didn't care to follow that thought through before she began typing.  I'm trying to figure it out though. I hope you'll stick with me until I do.

My Happy

My happy is listening to my husband tell a story when he's excited.

My happy is kids laughing in unison.

My happy is a long walk in the sunshine with my family.

My happy is baking.

My happy is  a song that makes me get up and dance around the room.

My happy is making my kids smile.

My happy is eating and not caring about calories.

My happy is reading a really good book.

My happy holding my husband's hand.

My happy is taking a moment to feel the sun shine.

My happy is spending time outdoors.

Happiness is a collection of all the little things in life that bring you joy.

What's in my purse

I had every intention of doing a post about healthy living. Working out, dieting, sleeping, you get the idea. But   rather than write that huge post today-complete with pictures of me doing the things mentioned above- I decided to link up with Lauren.

So....Here's whats in my purse. Prepare yourself for this.

1. Keyboard was not actually in my purse
2. Tod's Sunglasses
3.Burt's Bees Chapstick, Burt's Bees lipgloss, CG lipslick and Burt's Bees cuticle cream...can  you tell I     LOVE Burt's Bees?
4.My very old Volcom wallet that was a gift in 2008. It's just about falling apart but I'm on a budget- so until it does fall apart, this will have to do.
5.Carmex hand cream-this lavender scented cream works wonders on dry hands.
6. Car keys
7. Evening Primrose Oil (helps with PMS), Acetaminophen and Sinex (don't waste your money-it doesn't work!)
8. Designer Bandaids that came in my Birchbox sometime last year.
9. My keycard for work

And I keep it all in this lovely diaper bag by Kate Spade

My kids aren't babies anymore but this diaper bag can hold everything I need for my daily travels to Orange County. It usually holds my lunch, an umbrella, gloves, a water bottle, plus all the stuff pictured above.

I know this was not nearly as fascinating as healthy living post would be, but I hoped you've enjoyed it.

Music Monday + weekend stuff

Do you ever hear an old song, fall back in love with it, then hear it over and over and over again-like maybe the music gods are trying to tell you something? Well, that has happened with this song. 

Maybe the gods are trying to tell me I am ready for summer?  I did just buy that bottle of Jergen's Natural Glow...

On to the weekend...

Saturday morning we went to an Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by C21 Lois Lauer.

Charlie and I waiting for the fun to begin.

We had a GNI (Girl's Night In) on Saturday.  It included some of this...

And a little of that....

We sat and talked, enjoyed each other's company, and had a relaxing evening. It was great.

Sunday was Easter. The Easter bunny left  little scavenger hunt notes all around the house, making the boys  hunt for their baskets. They loved it. Unfortunately, it all happened so fast I didn't get any pictures.

Later, we had Easter dinner with the family. The kids had a lot of fun screaming at playing with each other.

Miranda and Charlie playing in the sandbox

Ollie. I love that his face is covered in chocolate!

Owen, playing baseball in the backyard

Hope your weekend was as good as ours was!