I’m Finally Getting a Crown!

On Monday, I received the extraordinary honor to represent my state as Mrs. Indiana United States 2013! I'm so excited and cannot believe it! It really is a dream come true, and I can only imagine the opportunities that I may receive to make a difference in the lives of others. I am reminded of Luke 12:48, “…to whom much is given, much is required of…”

In a world today where sometimes it seems as though the voice of one person will never be heard, I want encourage and inspire others to lift their voices high because one person can make a difference. The voice of one person may be small, but it’s not silent.

Whether it’s a grandmother who wants to help our veterans find work or a mom who’s worried about gun control, each person has something they’re passionate about. It has always been my personal mission to encourage others to dream big and then make those dreams happen.

With this title, I hope to inspire and encourage others in ways that only I could dream of before. So, I’m dreaming big, and I’m going to do my very best to represent my community and my state and, hopefully, make a difference in our country.

In July, I’ll be competing for the title of Mrs. United States 2013. It is truly an amazing privilege and honor to represent my state on a national level.  So, wish me luck… I hope I can encourage and inspire women everywhere to make their own dreams come true!

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Wonder Woman- My Hero

Do you ever have one of those weeks where it seems like the paperwork never ends?  The to-do list is a mile long? And the kids voices are a full octave higher than usual?

My, oh my!

Oh, and let’s throw in a few showings on your house at some inopportune times… yikes! (Where’s a housekeeper when you need one?)

This is my life. It is crazy busy and crazy wonderful right now.

Do you thrive in a hectic and slightly stressful environment?

I think that I do. When you’re a Type-A gal with three kids, you learn to take a busy schedule and really rock it!  You put your hair in a pony, grab your lipgloss and iphone, and make it all happen. 

It feels good when you look back on those days that were filled to the brim and realize that you made it through, maybe even with a bit of grace and elegance. 

So, it’s time to channel your inner-Wonder Woman because we, as wives and mothers, are Wonder Women.  We do it all every day for everyone in our families, and we look good doing it ;-)

Cheers to all of the wives and mothers out there inspiring us all to do our best and be our best every day- you are a Wonder Woman!

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When You Mess With MY Kid, Meet Mama Bear!

Have you ever had a “Mama Bear” moment? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, them you probably haven’t.

It’s that moment when someone treats your child badly, and you instinctively protect him, at all costs.

Well, I had that moment yesterday at the dental office when our oldest had to get his tooth pulled.  Our sweet, thoughtful, 7-year-old has been anxiously awaiting the loss of a tooth for some time now.  He’s watched his younger brother already lose two! So, the thought of having the Tooth Fairy pay him a visit was tremendously exciting, even if it meant that the tooth would be pulled out rather than falling out.

We arrived at the dental office, excited at the prospects of what we’d be leaving with- a precious tooth!

However… my sweet boy was met with a dental hygienist/dentist combo who were both in the mood to verbally belittle and horrify a child.  With threats to him of my not being allowed in the room to shouting in his face to, “Stop it!” (both of which were completely unwarranted and inappropriate).

Who shouts at a child for making a tiny, whimpering noise when a tooth is being pried from his mouth????

The answer is a big jerk!

I’m usually a very passive, lover-not-a-fighter, kind of girl, but yesterday made my blood boil. When that hygienist asked Grant, “Do you want your mom to have to leave if you…” for the second time, I quietly said to her in a “Mama Bear” tone, “Stop saying that because I’M NOT LEAVING!” Let me tell you, she didn’t say it again.

And when the dentist shouted in my scared son’s face to “Stop it,” I quietly said, “He is 7 years old!” That stopped Dr. Jerk right in his footsteps.

While my “Mama Bear” moments in that office were quiet and short, they made a difference.

This morning, I called Dr. Jerk’s office and had all of our records transferred and relayed a very long message to him of why we would never step a foot in that office again.  I simply couldn’t bear for that to happen again. 

On the way to school this morning, Grant asked if we would be going there again…

“Never,” said Mama Bear.

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Would you Wear This?

I really want to, and as much as I love to try out trends, this is one that I probably will not sport.

The only reason is because it’s a little “too trendy” for my neck of the woods :-(

Sometimes, I  think you have to gauge your locale…

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Realist, Romantic, or Both

Realist: One who is inclined to literal truth and pragmatism.

Romantic: Someone guided more by ideals than by practical considerations.

I’m a realist.

My husband is a romantic.

It’s like yin and yang.  Just the right amount of both makes for an exciting, albeit somewhat grounded, life together.

What’s your relationship like- are you the realist or the romantic?

 

{This picture from 1941 captures exactly what I’m talking about.  See how something on a stick is usually a fun treat- however, here it’s merely a carrot.  Ahhh, a healthy combination of both!}

 

Photo via Retronaut

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Brothers

Last night I watched two grown men, brothers, talk like I’d never before witnessed.  They were open, honest, and completely raw with one another.

I’m not sure what it was that elicited the words that began to flow from their mouths, but it was definitely something internal that summoned the dialogue- something opened a door that had been shut for a while… years, perhaps.

As I sat there, it felt as those I had become privy to parts of their lives I had never known.  I sat there, silently, and just took it all it.  Contributing to the conversation felt like an intrusion, as something truly special was unfolding right there in our kitchen.

I popped popcorn and just let the moment take place between two brothers.

At one point, my husband ran down to our basement and brought up a year book.  They huddled around it and reminisced.

I watched as they laughed until they nearly cried.

I watched as they shared past feelings until the air was so thick with raw emotions that you could cut it with a knife.

In was, indeed, a night that had been a long time coming.

If you’re lucky enough, there comes a point in one’s life where a relationship with a brother or sister turns into something more, and it seemed like that happened right there in our home last night.

You know you’re truly blessed when your friends become your family, and…

your family become your friends.

 

Photo via Retronaut

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Longing to Twirl

 

“You snooze,  you lose.”

That cliché hits home today because I saw this Anthropologie tulle skirt before Christmas and wanted it sooo bad, but, of course, I didn’t buy it, I just held it up to my waist and twirled around a few times in the store.

{I totally just admitted to that!}

And you guessed it, now it’s no longer available… so sad.

I would absolutely feel like a cross between the ballerina I was as a child and…

 Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City in this fabulous number.

 

Would you wear this, a pettiskirt, or something tutu-inspired like it?

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Easy Chicken Florentine Casserole

“This actually tastes good.”

{Coming from my pickiest eater.}

This Chicken Florentine Casserole recipe from Kraft was a real winner for my family last night.  The kids didn’t even realize they were eating spinach.  Ahhh, it was indeed a culinary miracle!

I think we’ll sneak in some sundried tomatoes next time.

 

You can find the recipe at KraftRecipes.com.

 

Happy cooking!

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My New Gadget- the Kindle Fire

My parents got me a Kindle Fire HD for Christmas, and I am LOVING it!

From streaming movies (free with our Amazon Prime account) to reading, pinning the latest thing on Pinterest, or tweeting about something funny, it’s the coolest, new device… and the perfect size, too.

 

Can our digital world get any better than that?

I just saw that the Consumer Electronics Show is being held this week. I wonder what awesome new thing will be making it’s debut.  Wouldn’t you just love to go to that!?

 

What’s the newest gadget you received or bought this season?

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I Can Finally Cook!

My good friend, Keri, knowing that I need serious help in the kitchen, got me a subscription to Kraft food & family magazine, and let me tell you… it has changed my life!

That magazine is full of great recipes that I can actually cook.

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