It Made Me Laugh Tuesday

In case you have had a day like me, I hope this will give you a little chuckle!

Have a great evening everyone!!

Week In Review via Instagram

Can someone please tell time to slow down??  It seems like as the days are getting shorter, time is speeding up more and more!

Another busy week around the house.  Momma definitely goes to sleep easy these days due to everything going on.  However, I cherish every moment!!

Monday was spent catching up on putting all my "engagements" into my planner.  I am telling you right now, I would literally cry, if I lost my planner.

Wednesday was the 12th anniversary of 9/11.  Still feels like yesterday at times.  

My fur babies of course made a weekly post on to Instagram.  I never thought I could love two animals more than I do these two dogs!

My new define bottle (that I WON) came in the mail Thursday!  I was so excited!!

My honey surprised me with this book.  Do you think I should be taking a hint here??

Finally, yesterday my son's Boy Scout troop went to the Exhibition Coal Mine.  It was a really great trip.  The scouts and the families all seemed to have a really great time!

I wish you all a great week!!

A Trip To The Coal Mines

Coal Mining is definitely a way of life here in West Virginia.  Many that live in this state is touched in one way or another by coal mining.  I myself am the quintessential Coal Miner's daughter.  My daddy worked for many years in the mines.  Yes, there were many days when I worried sick about daddy.  Thankfully though, he came home to us everyday.

Today, my son's scout troop took a trip to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine (http://www.beckley.org/exhibition_coal_mine/).  This was an actual mine that operated by the Phillips family in the late 1800s.  

I was excited for my son to take the tour that takes you 1,500 feet beneath the ground.  It had been years since I last had went on the tour (fourth grade to be exact).  A lot had changed since I was last there; however, the experience was still the same.  

Honestly, I am in awe of what these men use to work and still work in everyday.  I definitely can say I appreciate my daddy even more.  I realize that many advancements have been made since the 1800s when the mine was first opened.  However, mining is still a dangerous job.  I give thanks to those who go into that black hole day and night!

I would highly recommend taking the tour if you are ever in the area.  I think you will love it as well.

Have a great evening everyone!

Cliff, our guide, showing us the carbide lights used by the miners.  Yes, he turned off the lights to demonstrate!

Braces...Again

If you did not know, I am a dental hygienist.  Needless to say, I am a little obsessed with teeth.  That is especially true for my own teeth.  

I have been in braces a couple of times.  The first time was when I was 25.  I had pretty much decided I never was going to afford them, so I just wrote braces off.  Then one day, the dentist I worked for told me I had an appointment with the orthodontist.  So began my first 18 months in braces.  

Spring forward 10 years.  All of a sudden, my teeth start doing crazy things.  My bottom teeth started separating for some unknown reason.  So began 6 months back in bottom braces.

Now spring forward until about 5 months ago.  One day I noticed that my teeth did look exactly right.  "Oh no," is the first thing that went through my head.  I really started to freak out and it turns out for good reason.  This time the teeth are tipping out forward for NO REASON again!  "What the heck??"  

We tried a retainer; however, to no avail.  So, guess what ladies and gentleman?  That is right!  Braces here we come again!!  GEESH!!  

Now, I had psyched myself up for the bottom braces again.  I honestly thought that would be it since the bottom teeth were the ones "jacked up" again.  However, I was in for a HUGE surprise Tuesday.  After doing an another exam, full braces were placed for the 2nd time!

Now, I can't blame my orthodontist at all for this craziness.  The dentists have been wonderful.  They are just as confused, like me, as to WHY this is happening!  

I don't know yet how long I will be in braces this time.  I just hope that whatever is going with my rogue teeth, stops!  Because I can honestly say, there will NOT be a fourth set!!

Hope you all have a great night!  Love to you all!!

Excited over my new...

Define bottle!!  I received this today in the mail:

What is a Define Bottle?  It is a totally cool infusion bottle that you can make healthy flavored water at home that you take anywhere with you!!  I am super excited to begin using it tomorrow.

Another thing I find interesting about this bottle is that the owner of the company is a 15 year old.  I am totally in awe of this young man.

If you would like to find out about the Define Bottle, please check out http://www.definebottle.com/.
I think you will be truly amazed with the cool product!!

Hope you all have a great evening!!

PS - I am so sorry I haven't posted before now.  The new diet is working great.  I feel so much better. However, due to my early mornings to get breakfast fixed/lunches packed, bedtime is now around 9:00.  Honestly, I think I am just getting old - LOL!  See ya tomorrow!

Week In Review via Instagram

Another week is in the books.  It is beginning to feel more and more fall like here and I am LOVING it!  I will be in heaven when the leaves begin to change in a few short weeks.

This week's review is going to contain a few more pics of food.  Not too many.  However, with the start of our new diet, I have posted a couple more that usual to Instagram.  

Had a great breakfast of leftover chorizo scramble and avocado.  Absolutely delicious!

Said "See ya next season" to our favorite usher Bill!!  This man is awesome!!

Captured this #nofilter picture at my work the other day.  The sky and weather was absolutely beautiful.

Realizes I may have a slight addiction to pens.  I found all of these in my purse.  All the colors are really pretty though.

Had another great dinner Friday night of Sausage/kale sauté and broiled eggplant.  Very yummy and Paleo friendly!

Then Saturday morning made a western scramble and sweet potato hash.  Yes, sweet potatoes can be white in color.  Did not know that until I began dicing them.

For the last three days, I have been enjoying watching my men bond over pXbox.  They are actually playing as I am typing this post.

Finally, I have enjoyed a really nice weekend with the hubby!  Honestly, this man is my world and I can't imagine my life without him.

Have a great evening everyone!

I'll have a "Voss" water

I will admit something.  When I saw the movie "Grown Ups" and the kid asked for "Voss" water, I thought it was something made up for the movie.

Oh, you haven't seen the movie?  Well, here is the clip(s) from the movie. (Btw, get the movie - it is hilarious and great family comedy.)

Grown Ups VOSS Water link

I honestly had never heard of Voss water before that movie.  If it wasn't something  like Dasani or Aquafina, it had not been brought into my home.  Quite honestly, I get my water from the tap and forget about buying water.  That might come from the fact that my thesis dealt with testing many brands (69 to be exact) of bottled water.  Believe me, you would be surprised where some of your bottled water "springs" from in the US.  However, that is a story for a different time.  

So, the other day JJ starts talking about Voss water.  Apparently, he had seen the water at a local mom and pop store.  JJ became so excited about this, I relented and let him purchase on today.

First, taste wise it was pretty good.  You could definitely tell it had been through a vigorous filtration.  Second, the price really threw me.  $1.79 for one bottle!!  What?!!  If I would add approximately another 80 cents, I could buy a 24 bottle case from Walmart.  GEESH!!  

Will I ever buy it for him again?  Maybe.  Would it be something I would buy everyday?  Absolutely not.  Though as a "treat" for JJ, I will let him buy Voss from time to time.

Hope you all have a great day!!

Lazy Friday Night

What a lazy night it has been around the house.  I love and live for nights like this.  Yes, the hubby has had to run two fire calls.  Other than that though, it has been a quite evening.

The men are playing X-box.

The amount of trash talking going on is hilarious.  I am just thankfully they have such a great relationship.  Does a mother's heart good!

I have been working on my blogs between my phone and the son's iPad.  

Thanks bub for letting mom borrow your technology!

Even the dogs are being lazy tonight.

Honestly, everyday is a lazy day for my fur babies.

Hope you all have a great night!!  Love to you all!!

Picture the Beginning

They say a picture can say a thousand words.

Oh, they are so right.  However, I know

that this is just the beginning.  

I know big things are in store for all of us.

I present the Day 1 pictures of the family.

Please don't worry, I won't be posting pictures

every week.  I just wanted to show where

we all started on this journey.

The hubby

The son

The mom (aka Me)

Yes , Johnny definitely has the least 

to go of all of us.  Of course, he has

the least amount to lose.  The man has already lost a whole person.8

JJ and I are a work in progress.8

It will not be an easy journey; however,

it is already a little easier than I expected 

in the beginning.

Plus, I am already starting to see

the results.  I have lost 1.5 lbs in just three day.  I believe that is another 

motivational tool.  Now, if I can

just stay off the scales until my 30 days

are completed on October 6.

I hope you all have a great evening!

Love to you all!!

It Made Me Laugh Tuesday

Sorry this is a late tonight my friends!  Being busy around here between cooking for our new eating lifestyle, helping a friend and spending time with my family!  

Hope everyone had a fabulous day.  Here is to a great tomorrow!  

Thought this one was appropriate for our new Paleo lifestyle!

A Family Outing

Something really neat came to our hometown this weekend.  An amazing WW II ship came to our area and it was definitely something worth seeing up close.  

The LST 325 had a very long and detailed history while it was in service.  Not only did it bring troops and equipment on D Day, it also made 40 crossings between England and France.  

It was quite an impressive sight today.  I just wish we could have completed a tour of this mighty ship.  However, with a wait time of 1 1/2 hours, it was not in the cards.  

We were all a little disappointed that we did not get to tour LST 325.  However, at least we can say we saw the glorious ship.

Have a blessed evening everyone!  Love to you all!