Crazy Apple Set

I waited forever for my first apron. It hung about 3 hours away from our home in a small shop in Cambria (where we had our Honeymoon) and every time we would visit that shop I fought with myself not to get it (didn't want to spend the money on myself I guess)! Finally 3 years later for an anniversary gift my hubby bought our first born and myself matching one's!!! Everyday I still cook with that very apron and still love it just as much as ever. But that doesn't mean I cant have more =) Since then the company that makes the fabric has discontinued that print and we have searched high and low to fine an extra for our second baby girl but no luck. So we decided that I'm just going to have to find another mother daughter matching set, the only problem is that I feel like I have to love it just as much as my first which is hard but I think I've found one that comes really close. Here is it....


I'll have to sleep on in for a night or two but it might just do the trick! Not that we have the cash flow for this but its always fun to dream! Some of the best aprons out there are on Etsy.com like this one. You might have to weed threw to find something you like but I think they have an apron for every ones taste. If not you can always start thinking about making one of your own. I say that but I've only made one (half apron, pix below) but have bought my fabric for my first full apron and I'm dying to start it.



I'm headed back to look for more. Hope your wearing what ever cape makes you happy ,
Laura Bray

My Spandex Cape!

In a past post I talked about how before having my second kiddo I was on the fast track to getting healthy. I had enough energy to fly around and get not only everything done for the day but also grab my new breathable spandex cape and get a good 2-3 hour work out at the gym every weekday! It was amazing... *sigh*, I miss those days. Anyways, I have made the first steps in getting that cape back on. Since having baby #2 I have lost 30 of the "oh I'm pregnant" pounds that I so shamelessly gained during that very short time. Yay!!! Unfortunately I have very little of the lean muscle left. No I cant quite fit in my Spandex cape quite yet but I'm bound and determined to before my 7Th anniversary in 2 weeks. Next step: walking, jogging, workout whenever where ever! So let me tell you how I did it..

I started to read this book "Thin Within" by Halliday. Its a grace-oriented approach to lasting weight loss, at least that's what it says in the book and what I found to be true, until I started stuffing myself cause I was "eating for 2 (ok maybe more like 3)". It highlights the fact that ones stomach is naturally their fist size. So if you eat when you are at a 0 (on a scale from 0 stomach growling really hungry-10 hurting your so full) and only eat your fist size that you will naturally get down to your God given size no less no more. The first time around I lost 20 lb and lost 2 dress sizes in about a month. Then started to work out and build lean muscle and went down another size. It was going awesome till one day on warming up on the tread mill I started to feel sick... and hour later and a pregnancy test found out I was pragers! Long story short (as my dad always says) it really works and you never feel like your starving.

I think the reason why its worked for me is cause I can eat whatever I want as long as I don't over eat. I literally have eaten a piece of cake for breakfast (cause I was craving it). But after a few days your body will start telling you what it needs (no joke). You will start craving milk, eggs, fruit, veggies, and bread. Its amazing how God really did make our bodies to inform us when we need something or don't need anything. This made it so that I could cook anything and everything for my family and not have to make a separate meal for me, or have to pay out the nose for food that was pre-packaged and full of processed junk all to shed some weight.

The result: about 4 weeks ago I started back with this approach. This morning I just weighed myself and I have lost 18 since starting. That's almost FIVE POUNDS a week!!!! Yes I've fallen off the wagon but I'm walking with the Lord on this one and really Im not going to beat myself up for something I know takes time.

Food for thought... 1Corinthians 10:31- So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. If we have excepted Him in our hearts then how are we keeping up on the maintenance of the place in us in witch he is (our bodies)?

Spider Webs And All!

OK, yes I know I'm a slacker but give me a break its been very stressful around here! You see I thought since the hubby would be spending more time around the house that I would have tons of me time... well at least a bit more from day to day. Instead Our schedule has increased by what seems like 4 people instead of just one. No complaining here, we really have been enjoying our time together as a family its just this has been the only 3 day period that we have not been out of town since.... almost two months ago! And in that time there has been a few changes, the best one being that we are DEBT FREE! Yay, finally even with all the "stuff" life has been throwing our way (job loss, baby #2, and the house being on the market) we still scraped, pinched and saved and by some miracle God made it work for us. Cant tell you how awesome it feels. Best thing we have ever done for our marriage and our family. But enough with all that lets get to cleaning up some of these cob webs...

Although cutting back on the bills has been hard its also been great! In fact not only did I nail the plan for the last post but I just challenged myself to another. This past Monday I "needed" to go shopping for food, or so I thought. With less then $40 cash left till the next check comes in (11 days) I had to make a change. I made a meal plan for the remainder of the pay period with what little I had on hand (fridge/freezer/cupboards). Made a short list for fresh fruits to finish it off and sent the hubby to pick them up and grab a hair cut. With $20 left for gas for this week (if needed) all has gone pretty good. Still have 6 days to go but all is on track. My cape might have been tightened up but I think it fits better now! When you think you "have" to go grab a few things to make dinner double check your stock again just maybe you'll see a week or more worth of food that's just been sitting there.

This next week Ill have a few more post. PROMISE!
So back to dreaming about new aprons or at least surfing the web for some.

Laura Bray