Thursday, March 21, 2013

Free Easter Printables

I hate that Easter is so early this year.  It's only left me 2 weeks after St. Patrick's Day!  So, this week I've taken down the green decor and put up SPRING!

Here are a few printables that I found and love...

 
There are a lot of Easter subway art printables out there, but this was my favorite from Bits of Everything.

*Freebie* Easter Printables | FamilyFreshCooking.com 

I love this idea for a simple, easy, quick gift.  These cute tags are free to print at Family Fresh Cooking.

 

This is a cute free Easter banner from Northwest Lovelies. 

 
 I also love this spring banner - I can't wait to make it!  The printable has everything you need, just add coffee filters.  Free from I heart nap time.

 
Super cute bunny cupcakes from Molly Moo.

Free Easter Printable Bag Topper and Cupcake Topper 
These cute cupcake toppers and bag tags are free from CEO of me.

If you have any Easter printbables that you've found and love, please share!  I hope you have a very Happy Easter!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The butt has lifted...

Okay, so I don't really know how much the butt has lifted but up it has gone.

Brazil Butt Lift Review...

So, here is what I like about the program:
1.)  I like that I can workout at home - you will come to find that I am workout DVD fan!

2.)   I didn't have to buy a bunch of extras.  The only other item you need for the program are a set of light hand weights (which I already own and are cheap if you don't) and some ankle weight (which you could get away without - though I think it's worth the trip to Walmart and the $10!)

3.)  The workouts has moves I hadn't ever seen before.  I am not any kind of fitness expert, but I've done a lot of gym classes as well as tons of workout videos; many of the use the same moves, so coming across some I've never seen before is always exciting.

4.)  It's specific to your body type!  I loved this feature.  You get to choose what your booty type is - he has 4 to choose from, including a combination choice if you aren't sure.  Though it kills me that one of the choices was the "Too Big" booty type.  Don't big booty's deserve more respect than that?

5.)  You can choose your time frame.  Well, within a four week parameter.  Each booty type has a 4 week program written for it and once you've finished your program (I was "Pear Shaped") you can continue on to the "Combination" plan for another 4 weeks or look through the program and pattern of workout and pretty easily come up with your own schedule.

6.)  You feel the BURN!  The first workout is the Bum Bum workout that is totally cardio and totally focuses on the BUTT!  Needless to say, I was SORE on day 2.  However, and this is something I love about these workout programs, the schedule is set to your recover and keep on moving.  The workouts kept me moving and recovering so I wasn't wincing my way through the workouts.

Now, for the few things I didn't love...

1.)  Sweat people!  These were those workout videos that the girls had perfect hair and make-up and didn't hardly glisten.  I know I'm  not in the best shape, but there were some workouts I was dripping and the girls were all smiles and no sweat.  Call me crazy or vain or needy, but I like to see the people in the videos struggling just a bit - it makes me feel better about myself!

2.)  Cardio Axe...this was the cardio workout that's included in the program.  It wasn't awful and you did get your heart rate up, but I didn't like it.  It was a dance "fun"-type, feel sexy kind of workout.  Now for someone like my sister, who teaches Jazzercise, this is great.  For people like me who run, if for no other reason than lack of coordination needed, not so much.  You do this workout a lot in the program and I got better, but I'm not one to shake the booty and feel sexy in my family room at 5am (Yes, that is when I work out.).  In the last 2 weeks I had some days that I was able to run and did that instead.

OVERALL - A BIG THUMBS UP!

 

My Valentines Day DIY Decor and more

Okay, so I am 2 weeks late, but here it is...Happy Valentines Day!  Part of the reason I am so late on this post is because we got a PUPPY!  She is super cute and, admittedly, more work than I'm loving.
Our cute little Guinea!
We got her the 13th and had a crazy week!







Between class party's and for the class my husband teaches, I made a lot of Valentines Day cupcakes!



  I love this for a simple and easy teacher gift.  I got the tins of (where else?) Target, shoved some floral foam in the bottom to hold the cookies, put in a little left over Easter grass and topped the cookies my kids lovingly decorated.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Brazil Butt Lift - 2 weeks in



Well, I certainly don't look like this yet (or probably ever really)...
 

However, I am loving the work outs and already noticing results!  

The workouts are fast paced and I will admit I underestimated them at first.  I'm not sure if I think I'm in better shape than I am really am or if I just tend to underestimate "it's so fun I didn't even remember I was working out" kind of workouts.  But, it works your butt off...literally.

The first time I did the Cardio Axe (dance, baby dance) it was the coordination extravaganza anyone who knows me might expect.  (I work out early in the morning, when I am utterly alone!)  After several times of doing this workout, I am starting to get it.  I'm not ready to do this workout in front of anyone or star in the next DVD, but at least I'm getting the hang of it!  And believe me when I say "If I can do it you can do it"!

The other workouts are hard, but not dance-y so, admittedly I like them better.  

I've been sore in places on my behind I didn't know existed.  He does moves that I've never seen in other workouts and get results.  I've already lost 1/2 inch on each thigh.  (I haven't measured anywhere else.)  I'm sure that once I get my tummy and mouth on the health train I'll see even more.  As for now, I'm giving it a BIG THUMBS UP!! 

Thursday, January 10, 2013

14 Free Printables for February 14th!

 
Happy Valentines Day!

It almost seems to early to start talking about Valentines Day.  Especially since, I will admit, I still have a few lingering Christmas decorations to put away (keep forgetting about the little trees my kids have in their rooms.).  But, it will be February 14th before we know it, so I thought I post some decorations that only require is some ink and card stock.
 
I LOVE printables and always stick with the free ones.  There are cute free printables for just about every occasion.  You just have to look, but there is the problem...time to look.  So, I've looked around and here are some of my favorites.

old valentines subway artI love this subway art from Pixels and Paperie

 
Here is another subway art that I love from designs by cp.

 
Subway print from Pink Polka Dot Creations


 
I am in love owls lately, this one was my favorite for Valentines Day from Confessions from a first year teacher- I'm going to add it into a banner .


Here are some of my favorite free banners...

  
This one is from Very Merry Vintage Style

  
This is from The Scrap Shop Blog

 

   

Both of these are from At Second Street.  I've use this sight for several printables and really like it!

 
This one is from M Originals


 Various Free Printable Valentine's Day Cards
These cute Valentines are free to print at Pumpkins & Posies

butterfly-valentine 
I love these butterfly's via Skip to my Lou .  I think I might suggest these ones to Little Miss for her class valentines.

 
These cute traditional Valentines are free from June Lily

These 4 designs are from Anders Ruff

Printable Valentine's Day Bingo Game Cards 
These cute Valentine Bingo boards are free from Family Crafts.  They even give you 3 different printing options - so if you don't want to use so much ink, you don't have to, have the kiddos do some coloring.


There are a ton more free printables out there, I could go on all day.  I hope you like these ones, that they get you in the Valentine mood and help decorate your home!


Rachelle


Thursday, January 3, 2013

Happiness Project - Month 1, Home and Possesions

Although every persons Happiness Project is individual and unique, I am using Gretchen Rubin's outline she uses in her book.  I love that it gives me a place to start, a pattern to mimic and makes everything seem not so overwhelming. 

Month 1 in the book was September, but for me it is January.  Gretchen had her first month as Possessions.  While I am using Possessions as well, I am expanding my focus to Home and Possessions.  Since I am a full time Mom, my home is my everything.  It's my most important possession, as well as my office, my escape, my playground and most significant way to express myself. 

My goals for this month:

Cultivate a Shrine - this is one directly from the book.  It is also not something I would think to of myself, but I love it.  I'm going to work on cultivating a shrine to running, family, and stationary.
Running - I don't have a great deal to put up for this, but I love running and sometimes I need to remind myself that I do.  I'm not in as good shape as I once was, but I've also accepted that my life is very different than it was a few years ago.  I want to display my few medal and a 1st place ribbon I got in a 5k a few summers back.  I have a cleared space in my closet.  That way it is where I will see if everyday and it is also where the first step to running takes place - getting in my running clothes.
Family - Most of my house is a shrine to my family.  My walls are decorated with family photos, my kitchen full of art projects my kids have done, pictures they have drawn for me and papers from school reminding me of Mr. Man's Gingerbread Man play and telling me when Little Miss has her B-ball practices and games.  But I wanted something more, just for me.  So, in the same little corner tucked in my closet I'm going to hang a bulletin board with my favorite pictures of my family.
Stationary - This one might seem a bit strange, but it is something dear to me.  I have always loved stationary.  I love notebooks, notepads, pens, pencils, desk organizers!  Back to school sales make me giddy and I have remind myself that I am buying supplies for my kids, not extras for myself.  Several years ago, I discovered that one of my best friends had the same affection for stationary.  We lived down the street from each other for a few years, with little girls the same age and being pregnant with #2 (boys) together.  The year that we were having our #2's both of our husbands were busy and not around as much as we would have liked.  My hubby was out of town often training for a new position and working.  Her husband was (and still is) teaching high school and coaching baseball and, at the time, was working on getting his masters.  We spent lots of time together!  Now we are in two different states and find that talking to each other is few and far between these days.  But, that is part of what I love about our friendship.  No matter if we talk everyday or once a year our friendship hasn't changed.  For birthdays and Christmas and sometimes at random, we send each other pens and notebooks.  I love my collection, not just because I love stationary, but because it reminds me of Ali!

Go shelf-by-shelf - This is also right from the book!  I have a list of areas that need attention.  Most of them are filled with things that could fill my garbage can for weeks.  I know myself though, I know that I get gung-ho on a project, then peter out, forcing myself to finish with only a half-effort.  So, I decided to incorporate it into my zone cleaning I do each month.  This way if I don't get to a space that needs de-cluttering I will get back around to it the next month.  Hopefully, this way I can keep things clean and clutter free.

Make my house a home - This is something I already strive to do, I have room for improvement!  I keep a clean home and my clean home does make me happy.  A place for everything and everything in it's place is my version of a happiness mantra!  That being said, sometimes I need to loosen up.  When I am stressing about something getting cleaned or finished my husband often tells me "Don't worry the cleaning police are on vacation."  While I will probably always stress, at least a little, about keeping my home clean, I want to accept limitations - don't worry so much about it being clean that it's uncomfortable and decorate for me.  Throughout the book the author admonishes "Be Gretchen."  Likewise I admonish myself to "Be Rachelle", I often look at things in other homes and love them.  It's not until I try to envision it in my home that I love these styles for their home and that's okay.  Often I like the way others have their homes decorated better than I have my own, but I want my home to be mine - not a copy of a magazine or of my friend who is maybe more stylish than I am.  Be Rachelle! 


Wednesday, January 2, 2013

My Happiness at Home project

The next book on my book clubs agenda is Happiness at Home by Gretchen Rubin.  I will admit I am not an avid reader of "self-help" type books, but am game for pretty much anything.  After reading this though I'm not sure if I would consider this a "self-help" book so much as a "this is what helps me be happy, what make you happy?" book.

By the time I finished the first section, I decided that I wanted to have my own Happiness Project.  I'm not typically one that does new years resolutions, but I happened to read this in December.  January seemed as good as time as any to start.