finally his two front teeth

Ian's two front teeth have finally arrived!

and just beacuse I love his 800 different goofy facial expressions.....................

Photography 101

Sunday I had the pleasure of attending my first photography class. I know understand aperture, ISO, shutter speed, and how they all work together. I am no pro, nut I am ready to shoot away and play with what I learned!

Here are some of my favorite photos I took during the class:

 Some I cannot rotate the right way, but you get the idea!

Embracing the big 3-0!

Some people dread turning the big 3-0. I am not one of them. Maybe it is because I do not spend my time dwelling on the perceived bad things that come with 30. Instead I choose to look at all the great things that come with turning 30. It helps me to embrace 30 instead of dread it. Although today is my last day of my 20's, I am blogging about this today because my Mr. has the whole day planned out tomorrow, and I am unsure of what it entails other than dinner. I will have to post that  Saturday! So here's to 30!

So here is my List.....the 30 best things about turning 30:

1.I get to check a new age group box on forms.

2.I get to say, “I remember when I was in my 20s”.

3.It is a milestone birthday.

4.It is more exciting to say “I am 30″ than “I am 29 or 31″

5. Women have more fun in their 30's, I am told!

6.I get 10 years to prepare for turning 40.

7.I get to take the time to look at a new vision for my 30s.

8.I have stopped trying to find myself and started creating myself.

9.I get to start anew in my new age range.

10.I have great experiences from my past and so now I get to add new ones!

11.I can celebrate BIG for this birthday.

12.I am officially a accomplished women in my mind. Career, check. Mr, Check. House, Check. Dog, check. Son, check. Perhaps the daughter will be worked on this year!
13.When I get carded it is a compliment instead of them not thinking I am old enough.

14.All the life lessons I learned in my 20s, I can now apply to my life.

15.Don’t have to worry about being 30 because I just AM.

16.Get to read all the self help books about surviving your 30’s and nod in agreement with them.

17.Do not have to do it alone since many of my friends are turning 30 with me.

18.A major birthday like 30 means better presents! (More on this later!)

19.If I have learn nothing else from Desperate Housewives, 40 is the new 30 and 30 is the new 20.

20.People naturally take you more seriously when you are in your 30s.

21.You get to smile when people can not believe you are 30.

22.No longer have to struggle to be an adult because you have years of practice.

23.5 more years and I can be president.

24.Instead of stressing about acne, I can stress about wrinkles and gray white hair.

25.When I was younger 30 was OLD, now I feel 30 is young.

26.I Don’t wait for Santa to bring me a wii, I can go get my own.

27.I maybe turning 30 but I will still always be the youngest at heart..

28.Turning 30 makes you appreciate your 20’s and look forward to your 40s.

29.There is only on option to not turning 30, that is death. I say, “Welcome 30!”

30.Like the Christina song, “Keeps Getting Better”

Happy 30th Birthday Momma!

Is anyone else turning 30 this year?

what i wore wednesday {1st for 2011}

This is my first week of  of 2011 back at “what i wore wednesdays” , where Lindsey over at the pleated poppy encourages and challenges each other to get out of our sweats by putting pics of ourselves up to keep accountable!

I must admit these photos should of been taken with my new nikon D3100, and were not, it's my goal next week! ( I have photography class this weekend!)  Enjoy and link up!!!

15 months old!

At 15 months old, Ian:

•Weighs 26 pounds: 90th percentile

•Is 32 inches long: 75th percentile
•Has a 16 inch head: 80th percentile
•Has 2.5 teeth!

•No longer takes his milk out of a bottle!  Basically, we just did the whole "out of sight, out of mind" thing and said goodbye to bottles!
•LOVES to read. He brings us books, turns around, and backs up into our lap so that he can sit and listen to us read.

•RUNS everywhere!

•Understands soo much! He'll help Mr. and I  clean up and bring uscertain toys when I ask for them. He is smart!
•Has LOVES fruit and yogurt. If we let him that would be his diet. He points to the refrigerator, I open it, and he opens the drawer and gets his yogurt.
•LOVES any kind of ball - and will repeat "ball" over and over again when he sees one. He especially loves footballs and soccer balls.... see??

•Is still a dancing machine, and loves music.

•Can say lots of new words. This week, he said "mine" and "luv you"! "Mine" is something we will work on, I do not like it one bit!

I love you so much pumpkin pie, you continue to amaze me everyday. Your so smart, and funny! {I'm in trouble when you start to date the ladies} You make dad and I smile all the time! Everyday I love you more and couldn't be more blesssed to be your momma.

                                                                     Love, Momma

All you need is {love}

Happy Valentine's Day

At Casa de Murphy we do not celebrate Valentines Day on the 14th...we celebrate it everyday of the year!!!! However I do decorate the house, and did snap some photos of e-man! I hope you enjoy your day, and share the love!

                                                    Love Bites Momma!

                                                Kisses for his best friend.

                                                 L.O.V.E.

How are you sharing/spreading your love today?

Live Laugh Lose

Grab a glass of water and be prepared to be inspired!

It was the day after Thanksgiving and my best friend Amanda was in town. She is getting married in June in Cozumel, I am one of three in her wedding party. We set out to find her wedding dress, and the parties dresses. This was my big "a-ha" moment. When I started trying on dresses she liked and as I saw my reflection, was disgusted. Disgusted at the sight I saw, at the sizes I was trying on, and knew that it was time. Now yes I just had a baby one year ago, and I know that it takes time to get your body back, however my year was now over by about 2 weeks. When I met Mr. I was fit, confident, active, I think you get the point. Since we moved from Florida to Georgia, the weight just slowly crept, and crept, and kept creeping. I had been too busy to even really take notice. Not really. I did take notice, I just had no time or energy to do anything about it. Until......the dressing room.

So that Sunday night I signed up online to start WW. Something I had been successful with in the past. It's been 11 weeks since then, and I am down 12 pounds, as of a few minutes ago at weigh in 14.5!! I would like to lose 15 more. My motto currently is: Live. Laugh. Lose. The holidays were a bit tough, I had a gain week, and 2 weeks of not going up, or down. But something was missing. My eating habits had changed, the amount i was eating had change, but no real change in cloths fitting, the way my body looked, or comments from others. I mean 12 pounds, I thought surely someone would notice. Nope. Then I knew I had to Bring it! I had to start working out, adding cardio, but the question was...WHEN? Working full time as a teacher, as all you teachers out there know is not just a 40 hour week, mom, wife, maid, cook, tutor, sister, daughter, friend, ect...I think you get the point. What and When?????? I had heard some friends doing P90X, (and no I am no way affiliated with P90X, or receiving anything from them for saying this), and had great results, love the way it made them feel and look, everything I was looking, but still questioned: WHEN? Stop questioning when and just do it, my inner voice told me. When little man goes to bed pop in the video and bring it! I did just that! It's been 2 weeks now, and I am getting comments already! I do have to tell you though my weight stayed the same on the scale, until this week! Down 2 pounds! I stopped making excuses, and made my decision to commit. My goal is to own my own success story. You read them everywhere everyday, and always think I want that to be me. Now it will be! Now that I have shared this little secret with y'all, I will update every Sunday!

To go along with this I also discovered e-mealz! It has made a huge differences in our lives. After one month with E-Mealz, not only did we make our food budget, but our food and grocery spending was nearly CUT IN HALF! E-Mealz has saved me time and money, not to mention provides great recipes that my husband actually likes!  It has many options to fit all family and lifestyles. So what it is? A weekly menu complete with the recipe and grocery list all done for you. The grocery list you can choose, Publix, Walmart, or Aldi, and it is mad emy aisle, and has the price already there. (Every week at check out my bill has been within 2 dollars of what they said!) P.S. How convenient that it has a WW meal plan for 2, with the points already right there for you! Check it out!!!!

What do you do to stay in shape and meal plan?

playgrounds and ice cream trucks

The weather here in metro Atlanta was beautiful today. Well when I say beautiful I mean 54 degrees. Considering it snowed Wednesday night, I would say that is beautiful. We took full advantage of the situation, and headed out to the playground. Ian loves it their! Climbing, swinging, sliding, sand, watching the big boys. Ian also helped Mr. wash the car. As they were finishing up, I head a very familiar sound I haven't heard in a long time.....the ice cream truck! Immediately I grabbed my change purse and ran out the door. Ian was so excited!He had no idea what it was but it was playing music, and the boy L-O-V-E-S music! He paid the man all by himself and even said, "tank you"!

How did you spend your Saturday?

over{loaded}

no blog entry for two weeks...{stop.the.world} as Abby would say over at Babbling Abby, I wish I could somedays.  I must admitt, I have overloaded myself. Life has been crazy busy! I have been trying to learn as much as I can about my new camera and picture taking, before school tutoring started and who volunteered, Me! (Letme  just tell you so not worth it. Last week I was to get 130 extra dollars in my pay check , and after Uncle Sam got a holdof it I made 50), aside from being Momma, Wifey, Teacher, Friend, Sister, Daughter, ect....I also have taken on the challenge of P90X Y'all. . My plate has been FULL! So that is where I have been.  I know full of excuses everyday life!

This is how my schedules looks for the past 2 weeks, brace yourself...
4:30am - wake up and work out
5:30am- Shower it up
6:10am- Drop off e-man at Ms. Jennifer's
6:10-7:15am commute into the city for work
7:15am-8:15am- Tutor
8:25am-3:45pm- Teacher
3:45pm-4:15pm- Plan for tomorrow
4:15pm-5:45pm- Commute home to the country
5:45pm Pick up my little man
5:55pm-6:30pm Dishes, Dinner, Playtime with Ian
6:30pm-7:30pm All PLay, All Ian
7:30pm- Bath time
8:00pm- Reading as a Family, Ian goes to bed.
8:20pm-9:30pm Workout.
Shower
10:00pm- Bed.

See what I mean. Not much time in their for blogging. ugh. I am blogging right now as my students are writing me a letter to convince me that Eleanor Roosevelt was the best First Lady America has had.

So that is where I have been. I know this post is lame but your in for it with the next few....P90X & WW, EZmeals, and Photography.

And because no post is complete without pictures......and to prove we do have fun even with a busy schedule:

                                                   Who me? Nah couldn't be!

                                                     my little ham

                                                         buble guppies with daddy

                                                               Playing with Momma

Changes....

I am taking the plunge! Diving in head first! Wearing the little yellow polka dot bikini...... I have invested in a fancy smashncy new camera and a few lenses. I have always loved taking pictures. As a young girl my grandpa ward always had a fancy camera with him 24-7. It always interested me, and I was often caught with it snapping photos and giggling! Since I have had Ian I have been come a little obsessed passionate about capturing every moment. So I have the camera and now I am going to start the never ending process of teaching myself how to use it.

I love like teaching! I love my students! I love that we have a love hate relationship most days. What I want more is to be getting paid to do what I love, while also getting to stay at home with the one thing I love even more.

My hope/goal is to learn as much as I can over the next year and be proud and confident for that. having my name out there and having my own business next summer! Being a photographer has aways been a goal of mine. I encourage my students everyday to write down and think about their goals and work hard at achieving them. I am finally taking my own advice.

Goal making will be has to be a big part of my plan. I really had no idea where to start...so I told myself, meliss, just start-Just Do It! Camera ordered and delivered, lenses ordered and delivered, cute bag for the gear being made, first class signed up for (Feb.20th). Next I am heading to check out a few books from the library, reading blogs, looking at photos, and taking them!!

Right now I am running on faith, love, and passion...letting god teach me these things, and hoping he doesn't let me lose momentum. Am I afraid I may not succeed? Of course, I am human. However my grandfather always told me 'every minute you doubt yourself is a minute you can't get back'.

I have the passion it is going to take to learn, the patience I am working on.....I know it will be a process of trial and error while learning the who-what-where-when-and why of photography.

I have my end goal in mind and am focused on reaching it.

wish me luck....



Flatout...{Pizza}

My Mr. loves pizza, with chicken wings of course....excuse me buffalo wings. So I have been enrolled online with WW since the week after Thanksgiving. ( I know, I know...please forgive me for not letting you in on this little secret....I will post later about it.) Anyhow.....I knew with his pizza cravings I had to find a way to make pizza he would like, and also keep it healthy for me. Flatouts! We love them- we use them for sandwiches, quesadillas, breakfast wraps, ect.....why did I think think of this sooner? Y'all it was delicious! And for half the pizza 6 points! 6, which leave the other half for lunch!

Gather the following:

1. The number of flatouts you desire. (This is your 'crust')

2. 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese

3. 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese

4.1/2 cup of marinara

5. 8 slices of turkey pepperoni

6. peppers, red onions, and mushrooms sauteed up

First you must saute up your veggies.

Next you place the flatouts directly on the oven rack for 4 min @ 350 degrees.

Then place the marinara, and cheese, followed by pepperoni, and veggies

Place on pizza stone and bake at 350 degrees for about 6 minutes.....

The result...

Pizza even the Mr. will love! Enjoy!!

Sunday {Funday, Football, and a giveaway}

A lot going  on today. Sunday's always seem to be full no matter how many times I say to myself, "Were just going to relax today.", ha, who am I kidding? We started off the morning making Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Ian was a big helper by stirring in the chocolate chips, followed by handing me the bowl and saying, "All Done!". Bless his little heart.

After this was playtime of course, and then nap time. Yes, I did nap today when Ian did. I was exhausted, and it felt good! Then Mr. and I sat down and decided what we were going to have for dinner this week, and made our grocery list. Our grocery bill has been seeming to increase over time, and I came up up with a little solution. I was inspired by Lianne over @ a content housewife. I saw this  Menu Board she made, and that had a tutorial. I loved it, and it sparked an idea for me. If I make a menu before we go grocery shopping I will not buy anything that I do not need. (This is the problem that has made our bill keep increasing. The "oh its on sale let's get it.")I will also post it, so we stick to it! 2 weeks and it's going really well. I followed her tutorial and added a few flower embellishments. Love it!

When we returned it was Daddy time for Ian so of course, I started browsing through my favorite blogs. And guess what...Lisa @ Lisa Leonard Designs is having another giveaway, 2, TWO, did I say 2, $50.00 gift cards, and a free coupon code that is good until tonight at midnight for 15% off. All you have to do is go to her blog and leave a message on how you plan to spend your Valentine's Day this year! That simple. You may blog it, tweet it, facebook it for extra entries.

Here is our wishful thinking....

 

Now it's Football time!!!! Mr. says, "Go Packers!", I say, "Go Jets, GO , go, GO!", Ian says, "go jets". hehe

I hope his team, and my team win, it will make Super Bowl Sunday so much fun!!! Love you babe, but the JETS will win!

Go Jets!

Happy Sunday Y'all

Getting to Know You {2011}

Michelle over at Imperfectly Wonderful World is linking up a Getting to know you 2011. I have gained a handful of new followers so I thought this would fun! Join in! If you do please leave me a comment that you do , so I may read your post!

Getting to Know You {2011}

1. What time did you get up this morning?

7:12 A.M.

2. Pearls or diamonds?

Diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

It's been way too long. It was right before Ian was born: The Christmas Carol

4. What is your favorite TV show?

Private Prcatice

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?

oatmeal and coffee

6. What is your middle name?

Ann

7. What food do you like the least?

crockpot chicken wings, they are just too slimy for me

8. What is your favorite CD at the moment?

The Only I currently Listen to is Baby Genuis Favorites -2 Full Hours. Ian is obsessed.

9. What kind of car do you drive?

Dodge Journey, and Hyundai Accent

10. Favorite Sandwich?

Veggie

11. What characteristic do you despise?

People who are dishonest and manipulative ( I have to agree with Michelle) and negative

12. Favorite item(s) of clothing?

Express Jeans, Yoga Pants, Jets Sweatshirt by Victoria Secret

13. If you could go anywhere in the world for vacation, where would you go?

 I LOVE to travel...but Australia and Iceland

14. What color is your bathroom?

Baked Scone

15. What is your favorite brand of clothing?

NY & Co., Gap, J.Crew

16. Where would you retire?

Lake Tahoe, California

17. What was your most recent memorable birthday!

21, big deal. Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, good times!

18. Favorite sport to watch?

Hockey, Football, Baseball, Soccer

Anything but Nascar, is that even a sport?

19. Favorite saying?

You are responsible for you no matter what anybody else says or does.

(This may be a bit overuse din my classroom as well.)

20. When is your birthday?

February 18th

21. Are you a morning person or night person?

Morning

22. Are you part of the problem or the solution?

Tough question. I feel it depends on the situation and who you talk you. But I like to solve problem and not be involved in conflict.

23. Do you have any pets?

Dog: Monroe

Cat: Riggs

24. Any new and exciting news you would like to share with us?

For my 30th birthday, although it is still about 28 days away my family bough tme a Nikond3100 with 2 different lenes. Also I am attending a photography class in Atlanta to learn all about shutterspeeds and aperture.

25. What did you want to be when you were little?

A hair dresser.

26. How are you today?

I'm great, it's Saturday! The weather is great. Spending the day with e-man while daddy is at the office. Lot's of dancing, playing trucks, and eating goldfish:)

27. What is your favorite candy?

Cadbury Eggs, it's a good thing they only come out once a year. Reese's Penutbutter Cups are my weakness.

28. What is your favorite flower?

Gerber Daisy

29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?

February 20, it's the day I am taking the Atlanta Urban Experience: DSLR class.

30. What are you listening to right now?

I believe little bo peep is on the cd player, and Ian is saying, "tank you", fo rhis goldfish crackers.

31. Do you wish on stars?

Yes

32. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

Purple

33. How is the weather right now?

Cold- but the sun is bright!

34. What is your favorite soft drink?

Cherry Limeade from Sonic

35. What is your favorite restaurant?

Carabba's Italian Grill, Jimmy's 21

36. Natural hair color?

Dark brown

37. Siblings?

Monaca, Lance, and Paul. Brother-in-law: Shawn

38. Favorite day of the year?

Christmas

39. What was your favorite toy as a child?

Softball, Glove, and Bat...I grew up to hate it becuase my parents pushed it on me. I will never push a sport on Ian.

40. Summer or Winter?

Summer--no school! I am a teacher!

41. Hugs or Kisses?

Both

42. Coffee or tea?

Iced Tazo Tea

43. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Both Mixed: a Twist

44. Favorite season?

Fall

45. Last time you cried?

Monday. Ian was so sick and in so much pain I felt helpless, and I hated it. It broke my heart. I wish I could of taken the pain for him. He is much better!

46. What is under your bed?

Nothing, well maybe some lint balls.

47. What is your favorite smell?

Home for the Holidays (Yankee Candle)

48. What are you afraid of losing?

My jumpdrive. It has all my lesson plans and files along with all my pictures of my family and Ian since he was born. I really need to invest in an external hardrive.

49. Salty or sweet?

A littl eof each, I like how they compliment each other.

50. How many keys are on your key ring?

3, one for each car, the the house key.

51. How many years at your current job?

7

52. Favorite day of the week?

Thursday, it means tomorrow is Friday!

53. What was the last thing you had to drink?

Cranberry Juice

54. Ever go to camp?

Does Youth Commission Count?

55. Favorite book?

To Killa Mockingbird. A guy I dated in college, ok Doug, bought me a first edition for Christmas one year, it is aweosme!

Thanks for taking the time to get to know a little bit more about me!



Back to the Grind

After 10 days off from our wintery mixed, and 2 extra for little man not feeling well, it was back to the grind today. Bittersweet if you ask me.....but I did miss this view: