Favorite Workouts.

I am writing this post to help encourage me in my process of "getting back in shape" after baby #3.  I had about a 5 month stretch between the end of nursing my 2nd child and getting pregnant with our third child.  And before that.....our first two are 15 months apart so there was no lag in time.  Lets just say in 3 years this body has taken a beating.

Before our first child was born, my husband and I completed P90X.  Yes, P90X the infomercial.  But, I am here to tell you that if you give it your all and eat right you will see great results.  P90X uses muscle confusion to reconstruct your body.  This work out is full of pull ups, push ups, and lunges.  Get ready to work.  It is a HUGE commitment.  Ninety days of at least 1 hour a day workouts and some days are longer than others.

After our second child was born my husband and I completed Insanity.  Insanity is exactly what it's called....INSANE!  It is one of the best cardio workouts I have ever done.  It is non-stop intense 45 minutes for 60 days.  I have never sweated so much in all of my life!  Get ready to work...this is not for the faint at heart and I will admit sometimes it feels boring doing the same videos over and over and over again.

And now after our 3rd child, I am working my way through a 30 day Crossfit program put together by some staff members at our church.  My husband has been doing Crossfit since last November and he loves it.  He loves to come home and tell me all about the crazy things they do at Crossfit during daily workouts.  I have to admit sometimes I think.....I really could never do that.  And honestly, gyms really intimidate me.  So I am working through the 30 day challenge to ease me back in and then I will see where the road takes me.

I really love this website by Lindsay Brin.  I found her site during maternity leave with our second child.  She really encouraged me through her "real life" pictures pre-baby, pregnancy, post baby, and back into fitness shape.  She documented her fitness track back after her first, second and third babies.  Love her sense of "realness" and her honesty about eating and cheating.  She is a fitness guru for moms pre and post baby but she always makes you feel at ease.

I love the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels.  I used this video a lot after our second son to "get back in the game".  It is not too intense like P90X, Insanity or Crossfit.  It really helped me prepare for something like Insanity.  I will say that it gets a little mundane but I just tried to keep the end goal in mind.

..................................

Really these days for me it is all about the MAXIMUM amount of work in the MINIMUM amount of time.  My goal is to get finished with my daily workout before "the real" workout begins {3three&under}.  Somedays it is hard for me to get this in but TRULY I feel better about myself and I really do feel like a better mom to my kids.  It is something for me.  Something where I can set goals, achieve them, and see results.

My goal is not about skinny.  My goal is about healthy, having a good self image, and being able to keep up with my kids.  {And I would like to wear my pre-baby clothes again and not have to buy a whole new wardrobe}

These are just my thoughts.  I am sure other people have varying opinions.  I get asked a lot about P90X and Insanity so I thought it might be nice to blog it out.

 I would love to hear what you are doing/have done to get back in shape post baby/(ies).   

Horizontal Striped Curtains {Nester Style}

A little over a year ago I stumbled onto 2 large rolls of brown and white striped fabric at a discount fabric store near my house.  I was so excited because this fabric would be perfect to make The Nester's Horizontal Striped Curtains.  And, it looked so similar to the fabric she used.

I bought all that the store had.  I sold several yards on EBAY.  And I made curtains for my home.  I LOVED how they turned out.  So when we sold our home and the buyer asked for my curtains.....I quickly said NO WAY.  I moved my curtains and my extra fabric to my new house.

Just this last week, I used the remaining fabric to make my sister's nursery curtains and I gave her the remaining 4 yards.  I also lengthened my old curtains because the windows in my new house are a lot longer.

I decided to put together a tutorial on how I made these curtains (using the ones I made for my sister last week).  I will preface this by saying....this is not for the faint at heart.  Especially when you have a newborn in your house.....

Decide how wide and long you want your curtains to be.  

I made these ~64" wide and ~100" long. 

 I cut them a little wider and longer to allow for seems along the top and edges.

Roll the fabric out horizontally and cut per your desired width

I cut these on my floor 

{I envy those HUGE cutting tables at the fabric stores}

I needed two sections per panel.

I made 2 panels 

I then laid the fabric out {right side down}

And decided how much to cut off one panel {in order to sew stripes together}

As you can see I left 5' of brown on one of the fabrics and cut the rest away

Here is what it looked like after the cut

Here is what it looks like on the printed/right side after the cut

Then I pinned the fabrics together

 

Here is what the panel looked like once I pinned the two fabrics together

Then I sewed the two pieces of fabrics together to make one long panel

I used white curtain panel for lining.

The white curtain panels are too short for any window in our house now.

I decided to repurpose them as lining for these curtains.

I double folded the edges of the panels in towards the white lining.

You want to sew the folds and the linings together so that they are one piece.

I always crease my fabrics with a hot iron for folds.

Next I folded the top of the panel {yes, over the grommets}

Ironed a nice fold at the top.

And sewed the top of the panel onto the white lining

And here they are complete with lining.

I did not hem the bottom.

I wanted my sister to be able to decide the exact length.

Hopefully my sister will send me some pics of her finished nursery 

and you can see how they turned out.

Here is how they turned out in our kitchen!

I am as please with them in this kitchen as I was in our old kitchen.

I think the Nester would be proud!

The Teal Egg on Instagram

The Teal Egg is now on Instagram!

Just adding in a little Instagram fun to the Blog.

{Follow on Instagram: thetealegg}

You can also follow The Teal Egg with  BlogLovin'

This is a really great way to keep up with all of your favorite blog reads

since Google Reader is no longer.

Hi Sugar Plum put together a great tutorial on how to use bloglovin'

if you are looking for or need direction.

{Follow on Bloglovin': The Teal Egg}

No More Storage.....

That is.....hard drive storage for all of my photos.  I am in the LONG process of saving all of my iPhoto   pictures to disks, labeling them, and backing them up onto our external hard drive.  Lets just say.....I WILL NEVER let it get to this point again.  It has been very time consuming and I am ready to be able to blog some new fun things.

But I am limited in my blogging until I get this all saved and cleared and can load new pics from my camera onto my computer.  UGGGGHHHHH!  

So bear with me and there should be some new fun stuff up soon.

• DIY Tutorial on Striped Horizontal Curtains (Nester Style)
• Reading List Update
• DIY Open Shelving
• What God is Teaching Me
• Workouts Post Baby
• #2's Birthday Details
• My Seven Update
• Preparing to go back to work

Keep checking back.  

I should be up and running by the beginning of next week!

Happy Weekend.

Library Book Reservation

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I had never used this feature at our local library until a few weeks ago.....

{Book Reservation}

I feel overwhelmed when I walk into the library.  I don't remember AT ALL how to look up books in the card catalog.  Nor do I remember anything about the Dewy Decimal System.  I think I would be embarrassed to admit this to the librarian.  And let just face it, with three kids three and under in tote, I am never going to be able to look up and book, find it, and check it out.  At least not right now.

Book Reservation allows me to access our library, select a title, reserve a book, and have it waiting on me when I can make it to the library.  I get an email notification the book has made it to my designated location.  I walk in the door of the library and it is waiting for me to check it out.  SO PERFECT!

I don't read a lot of hardback books but I had been wanting to read James Dobson's Bringing Up Boys and thought I might try out the library for more than just my kid's book selections. 

The library gave me the choice of hard back or book on CD and I chose the book on CD.  I felt like it would be great for listening in the car or even listening while I fed a baby.  Of course this led to needing a "CD Walkman".  Remember those.  I wasn't sure where I was going to find one.  I mentioned it to my husband in passing and the next thing I know he laid a "CD Walkman" on the desk in front of me!

I have always hated that he has a "junk" drawer but when he handed over the Walkman......I was thankful for a slight moment that he has a "junk" drawer.  (I will never admit that to him)

If you have never reserved a book at the library, I encourage you to try.  I promise it is not intimidating AT ALL.  It does require you have access to the internet and know the name of the book you want to reserve.  I even have one friend who reserves all of her kid's library books like this and picks them up.  Saves her from spend all that time searching for books while her kiddos are running through the library.  Smart Mommy!
    

Basement Organization {Part I}

When we first moved, I loved being able to say "just put it in the basement".  That was my catch all place.  But, after a few short months, I had to get some organization down there.  I function best with organization.  It is not to say that everything is always perfect because it is far from that.  But, I do love to know that everything has a designated place even if it does not always make it back to that spot immediately after use.

My recent basement project has been to find, unload and organize my craft supplies.  I sectioned off an area of our basement as "project space" and have been enjoying labeling and organizing all of my stuff.  My old "project space" was a section of our closet.  It is nice to be able to spread out for a change.

I am far from having this area complete.  Hungry children, laundry, dinner and diaper changes keep me from knocking it out. Someday it will be complete and I will share it in it's completed beauty with you.  For now, here are a few of the things I have done......

I had to sift through this mess to find my craft supplies!

WOW!  Was this really in my house?!

 This became my designated space.

Notice how nice and clean

I purchase these Sterile Shelves from Target.

And claimed this fold out table for my space.

I went through and organized all of my craft supplies into clear shoe boxes

and labeled them with vinyl cut by my Cricut.

This space has a long way to go....

1.  Inexpensive way to cover the back wall (I have some ideas brewing)

2. Make a table skirt for that table (will give me some extra hidden storage too)

3. Relocate a more comfortable chair to that area

4. Need a lamp or two for extra work light

5. Rug or a large piece of carpet for the floor

For now....this is what I have.

At least everything has a home!

Happy 4th of July

My two favorite holidays are

4th of July

&

Thanksgiving

Both have deep American roots.  

I remember the summer I lived in China

and celebrated our country's independence with just a handful of Americans.

I remember the emotion I felt so far away from my homeland.

I remember hearing the Star Spangled Banner that day and tears welling up in my eyes.

I remember how odd it was not to eat BBQ, see fireworks, and no sight of American flags lining the streets.

I hope today you will celebrate BIG and enjoy plenty to 

.

 We are celebrating the 4th with a lot of rain.

Looks like our annual decorating of the wagon will have to wait until the rain is over. 

While our kids were gone last week, I had sometime to put up some festive fun

I finally got to display the copy of the Declaration of Independence 

I bought in Williamsburg several years ago.

I went with pinwheels and accordions for a mantel banner

Shopped my house for some read flowers and put them in a glass vase 

I claimed out of an old barn earlier this week.

I left my starfish wrapped candles up.....

because I long to go to the beach this summer.....

but it is not going to happen (insert sad face)

HaPpPy BiRtHdAy, America!!!!!

Bloom Book Club: 2013 Summer Book

I have posted about Bloom Book Club several times on this blog.  I wanted to let you all know that Bloom Book Club has just started a new book review, Bread and Wine.  

 This one looks super good as there are cooking videos with the author.

I am a little behind in getting this post out....they have already jumped in.

However, what I love about Bloom Book Club is their videos and reviews stay up on their website and are easily accessible.  So if you read it now or you decide to read it in 6 months, this will be a great tool for you.

Here is a description of the book by author, Shauna Niequist.

“…the most sacred moments, the ones in which I feel God’s presence most profoundly, when I feel the goodness of the world most arrestingly, take place at the table.  The particular alchemy of celebration and food, of connecting people and serving what I’ve made with my own hands, comes together as more than the sum of their parts….

It’s not, actually, strictly, about food for me.  It’s about what happens when we come together, slow down, open our homes, look into one another’s faces, listen to one another’s stories….

[Food is] the thing that connects us, that bears our traditions, our sense of home and family, our deepest memories, and, on a practical level, our ability to live and breathe each day.”

I don't know about you, but every time my friends and I gather it usually involves food of some kind.  We enjoy good food together and good conversation always follows.

I am excited to add this book to my Summer Reading List.

The Bag Lady.

I have purchased 2 bags lately that I absolutely love.  

First Up.....

This Utility Bag from Thirty-One

I purchased this bag because several people I know have them and fill them full when they go to the pool.  I purchased this bag because with 3 kids three and under I was constantly having to run back in the house for things I had forgotten.  This makes for a cranky mommy and kids.

So I load this bag full of everything we will need on our errands (deposits, library books for return, things to mail, drinks, ergo carriers, returns, purchases....you name it).  And when we get home I have everyone grab a handful of "junk" and put it back into the utility tote so that I can get everything into the house in one trip.  I find that sippy cups, shoes, toys....you name it always end up on the floor of the car and then I spend way too much time picking all of this up.  This also is helping to teach my little ones responsibility for their things and cleaning up.

The Thirty-One representative that I ordered my bag from is a friend of a friend.  I don't personally know her but I can tell you this bag is awesome in quality and I had my bag in my possession in less than a week from order.  I also had our family name monogrammed in hot pink on one side of this bag and they did an excellent job.

Here is the link where I ordered.  https://www.mythirtyone.com/SummerV/

Second Up......

This wristlet from The Pleated Poppy. 

 I love my huge purse but with a utility tote, a diaper bag, and three kids I do not have enough shoulder space anymore.  I have admired The Pleated Poppy's work for quite sometime.  I decided to order this wristlet for my own personal belongings.  I ordered through her site and had my purchase in 3 days.

The quality of this bag is durable.  It is larger than I thought it was going to be (which makes me happy).  And it is handmade by The Pleated Poppy herself.

So far these two purchases have changed my life as a mom of 3 littles.  I guess for this season of life, you can just call me the "bag lady"!

Prayer Circles

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."  

Psalm 34:8

My husband and I purchased a rental property late summer 2006.  The market was good and we purchased this home for "investment/retirement" purposes.  We prayed about it and felt really good about our decision.  2007 the market changed for the worst and we wondered "did we really hear God correctly?"

This property has been a continual burden to us.  It reminds me greatly of Paul's thorn.  This property has really been nothing but a big ole huge thorn in our flesh.  We had to put french drains under the crawl space, a new roof, new windows, new paint inside and out, new carpet x2, new bathroom tile, new kitchen floor, new fixtures, new sliding glass doors, repair of the back deck, semi-new HVAC, septic tank repair, new appliances....

We have had 3 sets of renters since 2006 and only this last family has taken care of our home.  In the fall of 2010 we arrived to find our renters had vandalized our our property and abandoned it.  And when I say vandalized, I mean to the tune of $15,000/$20,000 dollars worth of damage.  I quickly learned we did not have the "vandalization" portion on our renters insurance and therefore our insurance would not cover the cost of repairs.  Needless to say....we do now!

BUT GOD has been faithful to us.  He has always provided the funds that we needed to take care of that home.  We have never missed a payment and have paid cash for every repair.  Do I wish those funds were in a savings account somewhere, YES.  But would we have learned all we have learned through this process, NO.  We have come to truly live in the fact that ALL MONEY belongs to God and He can do with it what He chooses.

Over the last year my husband and I have prayed "Circles" around that property.  We have physically walked every inch of it and prayed that God would remove it from our plate.  We read "The Circle Maker" a year and a half ago and truly began to put that house to continual prayer.  We did not know how God was going to do it in the current market.  We prepared ourselves to not only lose the $40,000/$50,000 we had personally put into it but also the difference of what we paid and what it would sell for now.

We have literally been on our hands and knees begging God for release.  We have spent many nights tucking our kids into bed and ending the prayer with "God, you know we have a rental house and we believe you can release it from our plates.  Please remove this burden.  We trust you to continue to be the Great Provider."

We listed our rental property again 2 months ago.  We had a lot of traffic through it.  And then we got the call that the back deck had literally ripped away from the siding with all of the rain during May.  We had to take it off of the market and do a $1500.00 repair immediately.  God once again provided the finances through a Segway my husband bought for $300.00, cleaned up and flipped for $1500.00. There is a back story to why he even bought a Segway in the first place (maybe that will be another post someday).

The repairs were complete and the house was placed back on the market.  May 30, 2013, during labor with our son, my husband was on the phone with our realtor learning of a contract that was coming in on the rental house.  Let's just say....God has a way with timing!

For the last month, our realtor has jumped through so many hoops for us and the sell of this property.  There have been days we thought it would close and days that we thought it would fall through.  Here is what we know

1.  The contract is for our asking price (a few thousand over what we owe the bank)
2.  The buyer is a cash buyer
3.  The buyer did not want an appraisal
4.  The buyer did not have a formal inspection (just sent on of his "guys" out)
5.  Our renters were willing to break their lease and God provided a new home for them
6.  Our realtor charged us no fee for the sell of this home 

And so today, Monday July 1, 2013, we close on this property.  And we know that GOD answered our Circle of Prayer.  We would have chosen closure to this a lot earlier than today but God knows what he is doing.  We are THANKFUL for the burden/thorn that He has removed from our plate.

I often read the verses below and think they apply only during times of adversity but God reminded me the other day they apply to times of joy and answer as well.  I think it is crazy and unheard of that all six of the things noted above have happened but I will rest in this Word.....

"For my thought are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9