Cheeseburgers may be overrated, but cheese is not!

I love to cook and create new things in the kitchen.  It is one of my favorite things to do.  Cooking is my outlet.  To me, cooking can be many things, a coping mechanism, a distraction, a comfort, a connection with my family, and entertainment.  It can also be bittersweet because I do not feel the same way about dishes!

I have been vegetarian for over a year now and I really enjoy my new lifestyle change.  I feel better about how I feed my family.  Eric and I owe our new lifestyle change to the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP).  We graduated from the class last year and highly recommend this program if you want to lose weight, lower blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol.  CHIPS can do amazing things to your body with awesome results in just one month!  It is the best thing we did for our family and as a family.

CHIPS introduces a vegan based diet.  At first, cooking was a challenge for me, because I felt like I had to relearn how to cook.  After the class, it was easy to make the changes and recreate my recipes with the new knowledge I had gained.  This gave me the opportunity to start writing my own cookbook.  I hope to have it finished before the twins leave for college!

I cook mostly vegetarian and sometimes vegan for my family.  Becoming vegetarian has been an easy switch for my family.  Being vegan was a different story!  I do admit cheeseburgers may be overrated, but cheese is NOT!

Japanese food in Epcot

Cupcakes!

Beautiful presentation on the Disney Cruise Ship!

Dessert always brings a smile to our face!

Cheers!

Bedroom Redesign

March Madness Project

Eric and I suffer from allergies something fierce.  So we decided to remodel our bedroom.  The Allergist suggested we get rid of our carpet and the ceiling fan, so we did!  We replaced the carpet with gray laminate flooring that looks like hard wood.  Then we replaced the ugly ceiling fan with a charming chandelier.  I LOVE it!  

Eric had more ideas about adding a second closet, but at the last minute, I talked him out of it!  So glad I did because we utilized every inch of our walk-in closet.  I also talked him into letting me be the  "Project Manager" for this job.  He agreed because he thinks I am an awesome designer!  Okay, so he didn't say that, but he is the type of husband who likes to make me happy.  (I got a good one ladies.)  Anyway, I'm glad he agreed because my design aesthetic is bold, eclectic, and funky!  His is the complete opposite!  (Again, my words cannot convey how much I love you, Eric.)  : )

"Vintage Romance" is the theme of my design.  For the paint color, I mixed two different historic blues to get my peacock color.  It is classic, yet cozy.  Not to forget the knockout wallpaper, black and white stripes, my favorite!  I always have to add a funky twist, it's just who I am.  ; )  The windows are beautifully draped with white ruffled curtains, however, they sent me size 63" instead of 84"!  So I am patiently waiting for the new longer curtains to arrive.  They give the room a soft romantic touch.  

My master bedroom is one of my new favorite rooms.  I still need to change out the furniture, buy rugs, and hang pictures, but at least the big projects are done.  Now I get to go "junkin" to find more treasures to fill my room.  Yes, junk, is one of my favorite things!  Just wait till you see my redesigned french door turned into my new tufted headboard!  Can't wait!  More to come soon!

Micaiah and Jade love the bed!

Time Waits For No One.

AND OFF WE GO!

"Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, in the most delightful way!"  As a mother and a wife, I secretly wish to be Mary Poppins!  I could just snap my fingers and sing a song as my house cleans itself.  I could spend more time playing with my kids by jumping into a picture and bringing it to life around us.  Or catching up with my friends by having a tea party on the ceiling laughing until we cry!  Can you imagine?  All the stuff you would get done in one day!  

I am having a hard time keeping up with time.  I think it will slow down, so I can exhale, but it does just the opposite!  So I apologize for the two month lapse on my blog posts.  I need to stop the procrastination, if that even makes since to a Mom, because even when we think we are procrastinating we are still busy!  I believe I just created a new oxymoron for Moms.  It's not as eloquent as I would like it to be, but it works for now.  

The pictures below were taken at the 1900 Park Fair restaurant in the Grand Floridian Hotel.  We had a characters breakfast on the last day in Disneyworld.  This was one of my favorite things to do because it was beautiful, it had great food, and we got to meet Mary Poppins!  If we ever go back I want to do it again!  

I will sign off for the day with the famous words of Mary Poppins,  "Spit Spot", which means to us Moms as "Get back to work!"

SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!

Alice in Wonderland

Mad Hatter

DISNEY DREAM CRUISE

SAIL AWAY...

Our first cruise ever was MAJESTIC!  We sailed away on the 7th for three nights to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay.  It was an experience to say the least!  Our room was cozy and my favorite part was to sit out on the veranda and be surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.  The ship docked in Nassau, Bahamas on the first day and we booked a relaxing excursion at a beach hotel.  The girls explored the shore finding sea shells, crabs, sting rays, and an octopus!  They discovered fascinating creatures overlooked by adults as coral, soon became ALIVE when the twins captured them!

The next day we docked in Castaway Cay, Disney's private island, and did our first ever snorkeling excursion.  After that, we were hooked, and spent most of the day snorkeling at the beach.  This trip was a dream come true with many adventures along the way.  "Memories are the best souvenirs of all."

The Disney Dream Ship

Our cozy cabin

A hug from Captain Donald Duck!

It's ALIVE!

The sea is calling...

This picture makes me laugh!

Biking around the island

DISNEYWORLD!

"WHERE DREAMS DO COME TRUE!"

We left for Disneyworld on February 2 and stayed that the Riverside Resort until the 7th.  We explored all four parks from morning to night, walking approximately 11 miles per day!  Not once did we have to rent a stroller for the girls!  Amazing what Disneyworld does to a kid!

We met many characters along the way, Mickey and friends, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Mary Poppins, and Alice in Wonderland to name a few.  Our first night was spent in Magic Kingdom and it was beyond magical!  Animal Kingdom was also one of our favorites.  We LOVED the Mount Everest Expedition Roller Coaster, the Safari, and belly dancing in the street.  The girls are thrill seekers and the rides were by far their favorite thing to do.  On the third night we went to Hollywood Studios and participated in The American Idol Experience, Tower of Terror, Aerosmith roller coaster and Fantasmic.  We stayed for the after hour party and danced with the Disney Junior Characters.  We all had so much fun and there was never a dull moment!  The next day we explored Epcot.  It was very educational and the girls enjoyed the Kids Club activities and of course the rides.  Epcot was very enjoyable because we strolled through the day instead of rushing to see everything.  It was a low key kind of day.  Our last day was also spent in Magic Kingdom, a great way to say good-bye.  We went to Belle's Castle and to Be Our Guest restaurant, the newer part of the park.  Our favorite rides were Thunder Mountain Rail Road, Space Mountain, and the Test Track.  We enjoyed their parades, fireworks, and shows.  After Magic Kingdom closed we rode the bus to Downtown Disney and took the ferry ride back to our hotel for some much needed rest.

That is the first part of our magical vacation at WDW.  The second part of our trip is coming up next!

Animal Kingdom

Dance Party at Hollywood Studios!

ARRG!  We LOVE Pirates!

WHEEE!  Our last ride on Thunder Mountain Rail Road.