Two days until Christmas everyone!!
Are you ready? I've still got a few more presents to get, how about you?

While you are finishing up your last minute Christmas preparations, be sure to pin this cute idea for your New Year's Eve celebrations that will surely sneak up on you! (or am I the only one that happens to?)

You really don't want to get caught without some sort of sparkle for your NYE plans!? Am I right?
These sparkly food tags I'm sharing on SNAP! today are so easy you can whip these up in less than 30 minutes! And of course - you get the FREE printable too!!

See you over on the SNAP! Blog!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
No lights on the house this year but let's focus on the positive:
We did go to Santa's Christmas Tree Forest again this year (about 3 weeks ago) to get our tree. (although as we were trying to leave, Clara and Ema decided they were too old to go this year which really upset me.  Determined to make them regret their choice for not going, I was all set on coming home with the most scraggly "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree ever but I ended up just settling on a small tree. I also tried to have Ella and I eat the entire bag of kettle corn, (one of my favorite parts of the whole "picking out a christmas tree" process), before we got home so I wouldn't have to share any with the Clara and Ema!) Ha!
The Christmas tree is fully decorated.
Stockings are hung.
Almost all of the presents are wrapped.
Stuart has been popping up in unexpected places every day…keeping an eye out on all of us.
We had our annual Cookie Baking with my aunt Susan and cousins Kalie and Beau. I missed my mom joining us this year because she was up in North Carolina helping out her sister, my aunt Joyce, who's husband had a stroke in October.
The girls and I went to see the Nutcracker together this weekend. (although the mood was almost completely ruined by a heated discussion Ema and I got into right before we left - ugh!! AND this year's performance was called "Clara's Dream" and it actually seemed like more of a recital than an actual "production" PLUS there was never one mention of the Nutcracker? Not even one? Unless you count the nutcracker garland Clara and her mom hung on the tree together? Weird.
We also took Ella to see a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Musical on Saturday afternoon. She LOVED it. It was actually much more entertaining and impressive than the Nutcracker. Hmm?

COMING UP | Celebration Brownies

It's time to CELEBRATE!

I've reached another milestone in my Whole30 Challenge.

Today marks 60 Days of strength, commitment, perseverance and determination.
I've successfully navigated my way through a maze of hurdles, temptations and moments of weakness with regards to food.

The Whole30 people would probably disapprove of me celebrating with FOOD. *frown*
But...
The Whole30 is only a 30 day challenge...
I've pushed myself even harder and doubled the challenge to 60 days so far.
My goal is to go a full 90 days without grains, sugar, dairy and legumes...
which means I am two-thirds of the way there.

So...
I deserve a little somethin'-somethin'!
I whipped up tiny batch of these and they turned out absolutely tasty...

Whole30 Approved - No-Bake Raw Vegan Brownies

(see this previous post for the link to the recipe)

This Whole30 approved tasty treat is just what I needed to celebrate.

I totally deserved this!
I will be sharing my entire step-by-step process for making these tomorrow.

So...my Whole30 results?
I promised to share them if they were noteworthy so here they are:

DAY 60 UPDATE (Days 31-60)
go here for the results from Days 1-30
- more energy
- sleeping more soundly
- definite change in the way my clothes are fitting
- feeling lighter
- bloating is almost non-existent

and again...as I said before...
although this isn't the most important one...
it's certainly the most measurable...my weight.

During the last 30 days, I lost another 9 lbs.
Add that to the 11 lbs. I lost during the first 30 days...
and my total weight loss is exactly 20 lbs.
(I can't believe I even just said that).

Again - I have only changed my eating.
I have not yet incorporated any exercise - still working with a local chiropractor on alleviating some back pain I've had for the last 8+ months).

Feeling pretty awesome today!
Celebrate with me!

KEEPiNG it REAL
I only made 9-10 bite sized brownies.
I ate 3 or 4 yesterday...
I've already eaten 3 today...
and I've only got 3 left. *wink*

FAMiLY | Ella's 4th Birthday

It was Ella's 4th birthday on Wednesday. (November 14th!!) *sigh*

Because of scheduling conflicts...

we just kept things SUPER simple. *gasp*

Trust me.

I fretted over not having a party for her.

The theme was picked.

The invitations were done.

The planning had been underway for several months.

I was fighting a losing battle though.

Life is much busier when you have two teens and a toddler. 

(That could totally be the name of a t.v show) *wink*

BUT...

We still made her feel special...

surprised her with balloons and breakfast in bed...

If you follow me on Instagram, you saw this photo last week...

She got to choose her birthday dinner: Spaghetti

and birthday dessert: Strawberry Cupcakes

And we had dinner, cake and presents with Grandma & Grandpa A.

Here's a 1 minute video I made using Ptch to capture the evening...

http://ptch.com/ptch/50a673608d4f9835a9859021

I would embed the video but Ptch doesn't have that option yet. *frown*

By the way...

Don't judge...

Ella's hair was looking a bit crazy...

And I'm no professional Ptch videographer.

But it's definitely "keeping it real" for you.

KEEPiNG iT REAL

Honestly, as I type the words...

I still can't believe I didn't have the party I'd been planning.

I may need therapy to help deal with this loss...

It truly feels like a loss...

a missed opportunity. *heavy sigh*

#momguilt

PHOTOGRAPHY | Homecoming 2012

This weekend was one of those moments in my life...
I didn't really expect to come so soon.

How did my first daughter...
my baby...
suddenly become sixteen...
ready to attend High School Homecoming?

It was just yesterday I was stuffing her backpack for pre-school...
listening to her requests for "oat-ma-meal"...
and singing all of the lyrics to "Titanic" at age two.
Where did the little girl go that used to secretly bury eggs from the refrigerator...
around our yard...
in hopes of them hatching?

There she stood on Saturday...
dressed in a beautiful pink dress...
standing in silver heels...
sparkles in her hair...
a gorgeous young woman...
in the middle of her beautiful close group of girlfriends she's known since elementary school.

Homecoming 2012

I love her.

And I love the "little girl" laughter I can still hear just by looking at these photos...

KEEPiNG iT REAL

Honestly...I think I'm in denial.

I can't possibly have a Junior in High School.

I feel much too young...

except when I verbally announce I have a daughter who's a Junior in High School. *wink*

CELEBRATE | National Picnic Month

Did you know there is a National Picnic Month?
Can you believe I didn't know it even existed?
Me? A picnic lover...
How could I NOT know this important piece of information??

After researching it a bit more...
I found myself on an emotional roller coaster.
I realized from Four Seasons and Old Navy...
National Picnic Month is NOW!
I only have one weekend left to celebrate.
Then I was disappointed when I found Country Living and others...
citing National Picnic Month as having occured in July. *sigh*
How could I have completely MiSSED it?

So which is it?
After several Google searches...
which included an unsuccessful inquiry as to whether Martha Stewart has an official National Holiday Calendar...
and searching for some feedback from Facebook Fans...

I've come to the conclusion that...
it really. doesn't. matter.
Which is WONDERFUL because I could literally claim my birthday month as National Picnic Month...
if I wanted to.
And maybe I will??

Regardless...
I'm ready to have a family picnic on this very last weekend of August.
If you are considering a picnic as well...
perhaps these images will give you the added push you need to make it happen.
And if you weren't tossing around the idea at all...
perhaps you will now...

Source: dressdesigndecor.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: sweetasacandy.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: frenchbydesign.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: joshandmonicasstudio.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: hwtm.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: wix.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: cannellevanille.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: celebrationsathomeblog.com via Jessica on Pinterest

xoxo
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Do you HAVE to bring hand-painted wooden utensils...
or bell jars to cover your food?
Of course not.
You throw some snacks/beverages into a bag...
maybe even include a frisbee or a football...
don't forget the blanket...
and you've got yourself a picnic. *wink*

BUT...
By doing a couple of things to make it a little extra special...
you'll have a GREAT photo opportunity awaiting you.
You KNOW you are going to need a great picture for those...
Dare I say it???
Christmas/Holiday cards you'll be sending out...
sooner than you think. *wink*