Summer Memories

So I am officially terrible at keeping photos updated on my blog, my facebook page, mailing out prints, and even editing my photos. I do however, LOVE making Shutterfly books!!! Here is my latest:

Click here to view this photo book.

A Commitment...AndGiveaways to Get in On

Tonight I went out for a run again. I have had some crazy trouble with my legs lately - insane shin splints. Friday I only ran 3/4 of a mile before the pain forced me to hurl. I felt as though I would puke again for about 2 hours after I quit that day. (Yes, I know you are really glad I am sharing this part with you. Hang in there, the good stuff is coming.) A gal that was running the training program reminded me that I needed to run at least a couple of times in the next week so that I would not loose all that I had worked for. Determined not to let my legs get the best of me, I prepared to run tonight. (Preparing to run takes a lot of conscious effort, for me, for an entire day before hand.) I went down to one of my new favorite places to run (favorite because I can take a new route every time). I took a wrong turn somewhere, or missed a turn somewhere. After awhile I asked someone about to pass me where this trail headed. I knew the road they mentioned, so I kept on going, figuring I would turn back when I got there. My legs were opening up and I was feeling really good so I kept going. I was even able to sprint the last 1/3 + mile. I have now idea how long I ran and didn't know until I got home and hit Map My Run how far I had ran. 4.53 miles was the total distance - I walked just under a 1/4 mile to begin and also to finish. I ran just over 4 miles tonight!! As you can tell (by the long story) I am completely thrilled with myself. Have I told you lately that I love to run? I decided tonight that running is like a marriage...Sticking with it through the bad times is a must because when it is good, it's oh so good. :)

Drum roll please....

(Wait for it)

Today, Sunday night, May the 31st is the official day that I am committing to run the Houston 1/2 marathon along side 11,000 other people (11,000 more will run the full) this coming January. I am so pumped!

Now for some giveaways that I have come across and thought you might be interested in. (Again, these mostly appeal to my female readers, sorry guys.)


Bob Gear is giving away a Stroller Strides BOB Stroller to the winner of the best 'Workout Outfit Photo.' The contest runs through June 29th.
I could not live without my BOB!
Thanks Mom!



Athleta, the new GAP company has a Private Surf Safari Sweepstakes. (I have been entering daily, of course.) The giveaway includes round trip airfare to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, four night accommodations in an ocean front villa, daily meals, daily yoga, daily private surf lessons, and an Athleta wordrobe valued at $1500. (This trip is for 2 people. If you win, will you take me?) Enter to Win


Frigidaire wants to know what you would do with an extra hour of time each day. Visit Frigidaire and enter by telling them five things you would do with a much needed extra hour of time. All participants will be entered for a chance to win an entire suite of NEW Frigidaire appliances. You can also enter for your chance to win the new Frigidaire Affinity washer / dryer combo.

Katy Sunrise 5K

Last weekend was my first official 5K. I had some pretty tough leg trouble earlier in the week, and was afraid I wouldn't be able to run the entire race. Lots of ice, massaging, and 240 oz of water later...I finished the race! This is quite the accomplishment for me. I believe I was still in high school the last time I ran a mile, and never before had I ran 3 miles. I finished the 3.1 mile race in 37:43 - more than 2 minutes under my goal time. If I can work through these leg issues, I am going to commit to running the 1/2 marathon here in Houston, in January. Want to join me?

Mommy Madness Houston Soundbites

I'm on the radio, and not just for winning a prize! Thursday was such a cool afternoon. Joe was able to sneak away from work for a hour so that I could drive out to CBS radio to record soundbites for the new Mommy Madness radio commercials. I have to give all the staff at CBS radio credit, radio is much more intricate than I once believed. Generally not nervous at functions like this, I actually had to talk myself down, all the equipment was quite intimidating.

I could not figure out how to put audio on the blog (not easily anyways), so you will have to look at this lovely picture of Valerie (fellow Mommy Blogger), Natalie Mix 96.5 Radio Personality, and myself, for the entire minute commercial. Enjoy!



If you have not been to the Mommy Madness Houston Site in a while. Make sure to stop by. While you are there, please vote for your favorite Mommy Blogger. (Yes, you can pick me if you like.) Click the "Vote for the Madness" box on the right. Each time you vote, you will be entered to win a weekend getaway for four to Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, TX. (You have to be a TX resident to vote, sorry to all my super supportive out of town family and friends.) Thank you! I really appreciate your vote.

White Rules

Not- White Rules! But- The rules of wearing white. I am far from fashionista, and I don't follow trends. I did hear once, a while back, that you are not to wear white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. Joke's on me. That is only for you Midwesterners who live in a place where there is most likely snow on the ground during the entire said mentioned 9 month spam. Wearing white, no one would see you after the north wind blew you into a snow drift. In Texas, you must wear white, all the time. Why you ask? Well that would be to spare yourself the embarrassment of wearing a green button up shirt to your friend's son's birthday party (held outside) and having glaringly obvious and grotesque sweat marks displayed in places you didn't even know a torso could sweat.

Great party, by the way, thanks Courtney!

The Battle Within

If I had to, I would say that I was raised not to air your dirty laundry. In fact don't air your laundry at all. Is that bad, no. However, I have just recently learned how liberating it is to be yourself / speak your mind. Like many people do, I too decided on a few things I would do differently after our big move. This is a fresh start for us, so why not. The one that has brought me the most joy and reward, is to just be 'me.' 'It is very easy to be me. I don't have to perform. I can just relax.' (Adopted from Joel Osteen. When I heard this, I thought 'Yes!' this is what I have been doing that is working so well for me.)

That being said, today has been a battle. I run Tuesday nights. Tonight I wanted to take Cambry to see a Ventriloquist at a local church, so I would need to run earlier. Before running, I needed to make a playlist on my mp3 player because I was tired of listening to everything and having the hear "The ants go marching two by two, Hooray!" in the middle of my run. (Cam and I share the mp3 player.) Well the d*&% (sounds like ma'am) thing wouldn't work. Then it froze up completely. After an hour with tec support, I threw in the towel. I can't run without music, so I guess I'm done running. Without running, I will never loose the weight I need to. I'll be fat forever. (Yes, that was the thought process. I even verbalized it to Joe. He is so patient with me. lol.) Here is a little cartoon that reminds me of me. Remember: I'm a work in progress.


www.nataliedee.com

After slapping some sense into myself (literally), I spent another three hours on the thing, and finally got it up and running. Despite the fact that it was nap time, we were going running. If I didn't do it now, I never would. That's where the battle comes in, I drag myself to run each time (3 times per week). I feel great afterwords, but list off millions of excuses for why I don't need to or shouldn't run. I thought running would help me loose weight. Yes, still just over 50 lbs to go. Yikes! We I read recently that unless you are running 30+ miles per week, running alone is not enough to shape your body and loose large amounts of weight. Clearly. I have been weighting for weeks in hopes to see even just a couple of pounds shed - not helping the motivation so much. I thought maybe is I posted my measurements and checked in (like other bloggers), I would be held accountable. Not so much into that, I am still a little sensitive about it all. Then I heard something great today. "Treat it like a full-time job." (Thanks Noelle) Love it! My only job right now is to take care of the kids; I can handle another job right? I put my heart into making things the very best I can, why would I deliver any less on this job? So there you have it, I'm hired.

P.S. Check out the temperature. The picture was taken just before we set out to run 2 miles, yes outside. What was I thinking?

Amoung My Favs

This weekend ended my friend Matt's week stay in Houston. I think he enjoyed himself, although Houston was not his favorite city. Saturday night Joe came home early from work - just for me :) and Matt and I hit the town. We had dinner at the original Carraba's downtown. Delicious! We shared mussels to start, and I had clam pasta for dinner. Seafood and Pasta...can it really get any better than that? Afterwards we headed over to the Toyota Center for the Fleetwood Mac concert. I was hoping to share some pics, maybe even a video. No such luck, they were not allowing photography or recording devices of any kind. I have never been to a live show where they didn't allow this, not even the Eagles. Stevie Nicks was beautiful and talented for a woman in her 30's...being that she is in her 60's she was phenomenal! A timeless goddess! Lindsay Buckingham can still rock it too, wow! We had a great time; I am thrilled that we were able to go. Thanks George! After the concert we stopped by a little pub to watch some live music, cover band style. This was my first time to a bar in Houston.

Just when you thought a day couldn't be better, along came Sunday. After spending the morning with the kids, I went to pick up Donni for massages at Massage Envy, courtesy of the Mommy Madness Promotion. I will let the video do the talking.


Joe had to go to work for a bit after I came home. Afterwords, he picked up Chinese food from Yao's. (Yes, the Rockets own Yao Ming has a place here in Houston that his parents run.) This is for sure my new favorite Chinese place. Try the curry shrimp.

Despite all the stress from financial burdens, our home in Omaha, and my lack of income, life has been really enjoyable lately. Joe works really had everyday for us (the kids and I) to be together at home, and experience life to the fullest. You're the best Papa Joe!

More Mommy Madness Videos

There are a few of you who are not able to view my videos on the Mommy Madness site so I will continue to share them here as well. The first video is a the first video I made for the promotion (2 weeks ago). It is a little on the long side. The second video is just a fun video I added this week.




If you live in the great state of TX, make sure you stop by a Houston area Chevy Dealer to test drive the Traverse. You will receive a complimentary one hour massage from Massage Envy. Register (and vote for your favorite blogger) to win a weekend getaway to Barton Creek on the Mommy Madness site too!

I ♥ Faces - Adult Entry, Wk. 16 - Reflection

Welcome to my second week entering the I ♥ Faces weekly photo contest. Last week I mentioned the contest is only for amateurs. I stand corrected. Occasionally they do offer another category for amateurs, but in general the contests are open to all skill level. The theme this week, Week 16, is reflection. Perfect, I just entered my best reflection picture in the Self Portrait Category last week. :) That's the way it usually goes, right? So this week I was pondering how I would capture a reflection photo. Cambry was not cooperating, and Joe prefers not to have his photo taken. To spare phoning a friend, I decided the picture should be of me, taken by me of course. I am a die hard foodie and have actually been doing quite a bit in the kitchen lately. ('Quite a bit' by my standards is a step above opening the box and emptying it into a pan. Progress is progress.) What would me more appropriate than a photo of myself in my silverware?

I ♥ Faces Wk. 16 Reflection - Adult Entry

For more great reflection photos, or to join the fun yourself, make sure to stop by I ♥ Faces. Hope you enjoyed my photo. Thanks for stopping by!

Director, Producer, Videographer, & Lead Actress

Although I never thought I would say this, I am having a lot of fun making videos for the Mommy Madness promotion. It proves to be quite challenging to hold the camera yourself (or prop it up, turn it on, and run in front of it) A few of my family members have mentioned that they are not able to see the videos on the Mommy Madness site, so I am posting them here for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Friday Funnies - Go Ahead, Smile Out Loud

In our lives, around every corner is a good laugh. Although these may not be our proudest moments, I am going to make a point to share with you each week. Why not spread the joy, right?

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Yesterday at Boston's 6 month check, Cambry decided that the doctor would need to look at the pea size bruise she had on her leg from falling the day before. She asked me permission to ask the doctor. After getting the doc's attention, she asked, "Can you please look at my boo-boo? I could stop whining to Mommy about it if you looked at it."

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I have had this pair of unworn socks sitting on the ledge in our bedroom for sometime. When I went to go pick up my new running shoes, I attempted to return them. I explained to the woman that the package contained two left socks, rather than a right and a left. I wanted to know if I could exchange them, or by a package that had two right socks. She went to get the manager. It was then politely revealed to me that the "L" on the socks meant they were large, not left.

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This week I was fixing Cambry's hair in the bathroom. She is a gassy child, but knows it is nothing to be ashamed of. During the entire time I was fixing her hair, she was audibly passing gas. I was nearly finished with the style when she looked up at me and said, "I can't even stand in here; you smell so much!" -LMBO-

Purple Rain

During the four weeks I have been running, I have gone through three pairs of shoes. The Asics Gel Nimbus 10, the perfect shoe for me, split open at the seam after the first run. (exchanged no problem) The Adidas ____, well it was everything awful about a shoe - for me. (exchanged no problem) I then spent a week running in the shoes I use to mow the lawn as I awaited the arrival of the new Asics Gel Nimbus 11. Imagine my surprise / thrill when I went to pick up my new shoes and the woman brought out this gorgeous purple shoe. Thanks for splitting open Nimbus 10!

"Dark Cherry," "Ms. Can't Be Wrong," and "Grape Lightning" Life is good!

Mommy Madness - Tell Me More

Today was a HUGE day for me. I can not even put into words the amount of excitement that I felt today meeting with the contributors and creators of such a genius promotion - "Houston Mommy Madness." I could not contain the thrill behind it all, well it wasn't as though I tried either. If you're happy and you know it - show the world.

Being still quite unfamiliar with the Houston area, especially downtown, I set to leave the house more than one hour before the event began. Put the address into the GPS - fail. :) I ended up calling the organizers of the event, twice, for directions, and was the last to arrive. I chose my seat and was handed a packet and some paperwork along with a set of car keys. I began writing my name and glanced up for just a moment to look at the keys. My eye caught "Purp_" jotted on the tag. Without out thinking, I held up my keys and said, pointing to the tag, "Does this mean my car is purple!?!?!" (This most likely came out in a volume not at all appropriate for this business type meeting, but again, I couldn't contain it.) A PURPLE CAR! It really doesn't get any better than that.



Okay, let me digress for a minute to tell you how this all happened for me. Like any country girl, I am thrilled to be in Texas and immediately find the best country radio station and programmed it into my car. (Music of any kind is a necessity for me, but country will always have a special place in my heart.) One day while listening to the KILT I heard a ad for the Mommy Madness promotion. I immediately went online and submitted an application. A couple of weeks later, I went back to the site to see a notice that stated we should check back on April 20th to see the winners. I was a bit bummed to learn I wasn't selected. None the less, I went on with my day. Joe around noon to let me know that someone from CBS radio and Chevrolet had called the restaurant looking for me. Apparently, a woman with CBS Radio (Jeanie) was googling one day to see what sites were talking about or producing traffic about the event. Remember that post I made a while back about the Chevy Traverse and Mommy Madness?? Well, when she googled, my blog came up, as the first entry no less. The problem was, my application was not in their records (lost on the web somewhere?) so she had no way to contact me. Reading my blog, she read of the Flemings Town and Country opening and decided to call the restaurant and look for me. I called her and she offered me a place on the Mom Squad. AMAZING! Thanks Jeanie!!

So here we are, back around the board room table at CBS radio, joined by the creators of Mommy Madness, executives from GM, Chevrolet, CBS Radio and three totally rockin' Radio Personalities from their stations. Mix 96.5 - New Hot 95.7 - 650 AM - Sports Radio 610AM - KILT 100.3

Mommy Madness is an opportunity for five Mommy Bloggers to drive a brand new Chevy Traverse for 8 wks. In addition, we will be sent on "Mommy Missions" that tie into the madness of our lives and offer some fun opportunities for our families. We will make blog, picture, and video posts on our own blogs as well as the Mommy Madness Site several times through out each week. The site launches Monday, April 20th. Be sure to check it out and follow along. There will be incentives for you too. Check the site for how you can easily earn an hour massage at Massage Envy, and make sure you vote for your favorite Mommy to be entered to win a Girls Weekend Getaway (complete with spa services). *You can only vote one time. You will earn an extra vote for referring a friend.

The Mommy Madness promotion is currently running in three cities around the nation. Houston, Kansas City, and Dallas. The promotion will run from April 20th - June 14th.

Who is on the Houston Squad you say? We will make our debut on the Mommy Madness site on Monday the 20th. Until then, here are the Magnificent Mamas and their blogs.

1. Angie (that's me) - A Slice of Life
2. Valerie - Moms Living Fit
3. Christine - Christine Meeker Studios
4. Larami - The Alpha Team
5. Stephanie - Real.Life.Mom

Here we are thrilled to be just moments away from viewing our new cars.
(click to view larger)

Trying to contain ourselves as we listen to the walk through info.

And there is my dark cherry beauty parked in the drive at home.

A special thanks to CBS Radio and the Houston area Chevrolet Dealers for this truly unique opportunity!

Chevy Traverse Mommy Madness - We're on the Squad!

I have been anxiously awaiting the day when I can announce to you that we have been chosen to be a member of the Houston Chevy Traverse Mommy Madness, Mom Squad. TODAY IS THE DAY!! Five Houston Mommy Bloggers have been chosen to drive a new Chevy Traverse for 8 weeks and share their experiences through pictures, video, and blog posts online. Make sure to check back often to share the adventure with us. There will also be opportunities for you to win an hour massage and even a Girls Weekend Getaway! Mommy Madness begins next Monday, April 20th. Follow along here as well as the Houston Mommy Madness site. I will have many more details for you after we pick up the vehicles. Stay tuned.

Houston we have a farmer's tan!

Look closely...it's there. You mean it's March and I am already tanning? Where is this miracle land I am living in? And yes, for all my friends and family up north, I will give you the other side of the story too. A woman I met this weekend told me the best way to describe Houston summers is to say, "It's like living inside someone's mouth." LOL! Thrilled, and completely looking forward to it. I will make sure to update you on each and every heat stroke. :)

Is there a correlation?

Is there a correlation between getting a flu shot and having the flu? I began to wonder this today after an adequate amount of time had passed and Joe did not catch the flu we had. (Knock on wood) You see, each of the four years of my life I have gotten a flu shot (against my preference but required for work), I had the flu. The two years Cambry has had a flu shot she, she had the flu. The one year Boston has had the flu shot, he had the flu. You get the point. Joe on the other hand doesn’t ever get a flu shot, yet he is once again, the one and only member of our family to not get the flu. More than a coincidence? I think not. The question is, do I use my family as test subjects to attempt to prove my theory? :) …more on this in years to come.

Also, is there a correlation between lack of sleep and number of ‘blonde moments’ that occur? (This is not something I have pondered deeply; I just thought I would share.) So I found a great little top to wear to the invite only dinner at Joe’s new restaurant (shhh, there was a pair of pants involved too). I needed a tall size, so I was forced to order online. By today, when my package had not yet arrived, I called to figure out who dared to mess up my ensemble. Turns out, I had express shipped the package to the Omaha address and it had been sitting there for two days. (PANIC!) Thankfully Joe’s sister was teaching in Omaha this week; she came to the rescue. She overnighted my top to me and saved the day! Thank you, thank you, thank you Deb!

Children Bring Peace

Last night Cambry had the flu. Joe blew up a mattress so I could sleep next to her. After getting everyone settled and ready for bed, she and I lay there side by side (almost - her bed is quite low to the ground also). "Can I hold your hand Mommy?" she asked. *I melt.* This is something we used to do when she was younger. I would lay on the floor next to her, holding her hand through the rails of the crib, until she fell asleep.
I took her hand in mine. "Now you tell me if you need anything Mommy, a drink, or for me to cover you up, okay." she said. This coming from my little lady who just got done hugging the toilet for three hours. She is such a beautiful person! I lay there holding her hand thinking of her. I couldn't put into words how proud I am to be her mother. As I continued to reflect on who she is becoming, I remember this and thought I would share.
Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. (Unknown)