Life In the Z Lane

What’s in a letter?

2010-04-14T11:47:00.006-07:00

What’s in a letter? Specifically, the letter W.

It’s my hubby’s middle initial.

It’s my son’s middle initial.

It’s a fancy shmancy hotel I’d LOVE to visit some day.

It’s also the letter that comes after my pant size.

Ugh.

Well it did until this week.

The scale reveals 5 pounds down in 3 weeks.

I didn’t need the scale to know that though.

My pants, the ones with a W, they’re just too big.

I need a belt.

But honestly? I’d rather go down a size- to one without a W.

But I’ll wait to lose more weight before investing more.

The investment in time. In money. In clothes that I’ll just pass off.

Because I’m losing it for good.

~Allie

Week 3 C25K Wrap-up

2010-04-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday marked the completion of Week 3 on the Couch to 5k program.

That was the toughest day of the program yet! We will be repeating Week 3 to make sure that we come out alive in Week 4! I feel defeated to complete the week over, but I’ve been struggling with the jogging stroller. Pushing 80 pounds (stroller + toddler + baby) while jogging just does. not. come. easy. Week 3 Day 3 was a complete #fail as we walked for most of the route.

The program for Week 3:

*Warm up brisk walk for 5 minutes
*Jog 90 seconds / Walk 90 seconds
*Jog 3 minutes / Walk 3 minutes
*Jog 90 seconds / Walk 90 seconds
*Jog 3 minutes / Walk 3 minutes
*Cool down brisk walk for 5 minutes

I'm getting closer to making that 5k in 30 minutes, but it is still a ways off…
Week 3 Day 1 (Weds 4/7): best pace 17’01”, 2.44 miles

Week 3 Day 2 (Fri 4/9): best pace 16’53”, 2.44 miles

Week 3 Day 3 (Sun 4/11): best pace 20’16”, 2.44 miles

Here’s the route we took: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3607922

Each day, the route is the same and the workout is the same... I burned 444 calories during each routine. Not bad! :)

I don’t think we’ll take the same route for Week 3. Unfortunately, I had to listen to my hubby complain that it was too long of a route. Bummer!

The program for Week 4 will be the same as I completed in Week 3:

~Allie

Losing It - Just Checkin' In

2010-04-09T16:28:00.001-07:00

Some days there are simply not enough hours to complete even HALF of my to do list. The past 10 days have included

*trip to ER for a dislocated elbow (2 year old SON, need I say more?)

*bandaids & lots & lots of ointment for a deep gash on a heel (again, 2 year old son...)

*bandaids & lots of TLC for a deep gash to a 2 month old's cheek (again, 2 year old son...)

*rain brought about life to weeds - 1/4 of an acre of 4 feet tall weeds!

*heat from the desert sun has brought death of weeds which brought to life SPIDER MITES - in my BEDROOM - OMGosh

Blood I can handle. Weeds I can deligate. But bugs? IN MY ROOM? No sir, I'm done for.

I was late to join in on the Losin' It party, and now I'm simply behind in my wrap up. Ridiculous. (Mary from Giving Up On Perfect, Jessie from Vanderbilt Wife, and Ashleigh from Heart and Home are hosting a challenge, a weight loss competition, a friendly healthy rally to lose the weight – once and for all!) I joined in to be involved to encourage and be encouraged.

My goals for the month of April include:

1) Completing 3 weekly training sessions for the Couch to 5K program: On track, but I'll need to repeat week 3 of the program as I'm struggling to push a jogging stroller filled to the brim with wiggly boys!

2) Getting into bed each week night by 10:30 pm: This has been working well, unless of course I'm at the ER or cleaning bugs!!!

3) Drinking water, lots of water, to the tune of 100 oz per day: Wow, this goal has been easier than I expected. My milk production had severly dropped with the start of the C25K program so kicking the water up a notch was neccessary and is working!

4) Counting calories daily and honestly to create a plan for May: I added the LoseIt! app to my phone to easily track the calories. I'm 5 for 7 days, a good start! I didn't track over the weekend. My hubby can't handle me meal planning (a HUGE pain, money waste, etc...) so I can't even remember what I ate or when I ate it on Saturday or Sunday...

5) Read my bible each day for 10 minutes: This one is the toughest for me. I have misplaced my Message bible and am NOT enjoying the NIV version. I feel like a child, unable to concentrate and last 10 minutes. 2 for 7 days. #fail

I lost another pound this week. That's motivation in itself to keep going. :)

Onward and up!

~Allie

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Workout Love

2010-04-05T10:32:00.004-07:00

For my first Top Ten Tuesday, I thought I’d share the tools that keep me on track with my workout!

1. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ This is an online pedometer that helps me create routes. The best part? You can save your map and email it to a friend or running partner. Here’s my recent route, a 2+ mile track in my neighborhood.

2. The Couch to 5k Running Plan An online beginners running schedule, geared to get me running 3 miles in only 2 months. Tomorrow I start day 1 of week 3 (Yay!!!). (You can check out my latest Couch to 5k (C25K) wrap-up here)

3. Robert Ullrey’s Podcasts for Running Music set to the C25K program! Robert created a weekly soundtrack that includes cues ("Ready, run!" & "You’re halfway there! Keep up the great work!") and wordless music that keeps me going. (This can be found through iTunes, search “Podcasts for Running” or click the link above for a general MP3 format.) And this is FREE!

4. Shoe pedometer by Nike+ This beauty fits into my Nike running shoes. I don’t even notice it’s there! I sync the pedometer to my iPhone and crank up my music. The pedometer talks to my iPhone, recording my pace, distance, and calories burned. Now if only it was GPS enabled…

5. http://my.nike.com/AllieZirkle I can upload my Nike+ pedometer data, set goals for distance, quantity or even calorie based, and compete with others online. On Sunday I received a message “10 kilometers down. Now let’s see what else you’ve got. You’re off to a fantastic start. Whether your first 10K was a breeze or hard-earned, keep it up.” Now that’s some awesome motivation!

6. Baby Jogger (Summit XC) Double Stroller I Love Love LOVE my double jogging stroller! Pushing 2 kiddos, side by side, is no easy feat. This stroller makes my workout feasible. No excuses for lack of child care. Just strap them in and GO!

7. Friends around the world! @KelleighRatz got me interested in the #C25k program. @JewliaGoulia provides inspiration (um, hello! 55 pounds lost in 16 weeks!) And then there’s the #C25k tag that keeps things interesting!

8. Upcoming events :) 10 year high school reunion, 5 year wedding anniversary, a 30th birthday in 23 months… And of course the littles under foot who are a daily reminder of health and activity! Thanks kiddos for keeping me going!

9. iPhone Um, need I say more? This holds my podcasts, Nike+ data, clock, calendar, etc. This even has a built-in speaker so no headphones are needed! Hubby and I can share this device, listening to the same music and sharing the same audio cues. I love it!

And last, but more important…

10. My running partner, HubbyZ :) I drag him out of bed, make him run slower to keep pace with me, and take him sports bra shopping. What a trooper! In all seriousness, it’s great motivation to have him out there, encouraging me along with simple nudges or encouragement.

So, what are your favorite workout tools? Once you’ve told me yours, head over to OhAmanda.com to check out the other top ten lists of the week!

~Allie

Week 2 C25K Wrap-up

2010-04-05T10:12:00.003-07:00

Sunday marked the completion of Week 2 on the Couch to 5k program. Wow! I felt such a rush… I was actually running!! I improved my mile pace by 27 seconds! Woohoo!

The program for week 2:
*Warm up brisk walk for 5 minutes
*Jog 90 seconds / Walk 90 seconds for 6 intervals
*Cool down brisk walk for 5 minutes

Week 2 Day 1 (Weds 3/31): best pace 16’06”, 2.15 miles
Week 2 Day 2 (Fri 4/2): best pace 15’56”, 2.15 miles
Week 2 Day 3 (Sun 4/4): best pace 15’39”, 2.15 miles

Here’s the route I took: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3607897 (During week 1, I took a different route)

While jogging on Sunday, Hubby accidentally skipped past the voice queue (that Fast Fwd button is gosh darn in the way when jogging!) so we missed the last “Ready, GO!” and kept on walking… Thankfully I realized it before we got home (haha) so we ran 90 seconds with my own queue. We were proud to catch it and actually run 1 more interval!

My Nike+ says I burned 430 calories during each walk. I think I gained those back eating my sons’ Easter candy… Bad mommy!

The program for week 3 looks a little tough (yikes!):
*Warm up brisk walk for 5 minutes
*Jog 90 seconds / Walk 90 seconds
*Jog 3 minutes / Walk 3 minutes
*Jog 90 seconds / Walk 90 seconds
*Jog 3 minutes / Walk 3 minutes
*Cool down brisk walk for 5 minutes

I could stress myself out thinking about it, but honestly, I’m just going to plan my route and stick with it, knowing that I’ll make it back home on the loop, dead or alive… ha ha ha Here’s what I’m thinking: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3607922 It’s not quite 2.5 miles so it’ll give a little wiggle room and a new route for the week.

I'm so proud of the completion of week 2! I simply cannot believe that 25% of this program is complete. Yippee Skippee!

Note to self, calibrate my Nike+ on Tuesday with an evening walk to ensure proper mileage. While Nike+ read that my route was 2.32 miles, the Google pedometer read 2.15. Unfortunately, I’ve got to go with the Google pedometer…

~Allie

Losing it - An Intro

2010-04-01T16:01:00.003-07:00

Mary from Giving Up On Perfect, Jessie from Vanderbilt Wife, and Ashleigh from Heart and Home are hosting a challenge, a weight loss competition, a friendly healthy rally to lose the weight – once and for all!

I will admit it: I am late to join in on this competition. I had every intention to join, but like my weight over the years, I just could not face reality. So needless to say, I am not so much joining in to win as I am joining in to be involved to encourage and be encouraged.

My goals for the month of April include:
1) Completing 3 weekly training sessions for the Couch to 5K program
2) Getting into bed each week night by 10:30 pm.
3) Drinking water, lots of water, to the tune of 100 oz per day.
4) Counting calories daily and honestly to create a plan for May
5) Read my bible each day for 10 minutes

My weight is something I have struggled with for years. I was always the chubby girl in school. I remember receiving birthday gifts from friends and being horrified that my mom had revealed to others what clothing size I actually wore. Ugh!

It was my freshman year of high school that I finally lost the weight, traded glasses for contacts, and found my self esteem. Unfortunately, it was the year that a wedge was placed between my parents and me, which drove me replace my relationship with my parents to a relationship with a boy.

It was August of my sophomore year that I found out I was expecting – a baby having a baby…

I gained 77 pounds that year. I delivered at 217 at age 16. The weight came off slowly; it took 2 years to drop the 50 pounds to get back down to a healthy weight. From food to boy to exercise. I just traded the fix. I became addicted to exercise, spending 2 hours a day working out, jogging, following exercise tapes. Two years later I traded the exercise for another boy. I was in too deep. Again, I found myself expecting and announced the news at my 21st birthday.

And so the weight returned. From exercise to boy to new baby. My role evolved from single mom of one daughter to single mom of two daughters. The pressure of completing a college degree, making ends meet financially, and finding my way spiritually continued to break me down. Slowly I found a balance of raising two daughters. I mastered the act of educating myself while working full time.

In April 19, 2003 I recommitted my life to Christ. Such a glorious day!

Fast forward to November 2004. A new season was beginning; I met my soon to be husband and fell – hard. Of course, it’s also marks the season of weight gain. I think back now and wonder how it was that put on weight so quickly after keeping it off for more than two years. Since that time, I’ve put on nearly 100 pounds. As of January 2010 I had 100 pounds to lose.

Fast forward to April 2010. A new season has begun, a new chapter, possibly a new book. I have lost the weight I gained while pregnant with my fourth child, a son born in January 2010. Ideally, I would like to lose 80 pounds to get back down to a healthy and comfortable weight. I’ll still have more to lose if I want to find comfort in the scale. Until then, I’m setting small goals that are not driven by the number on the scale. Rather, I’m more interested in recreating a healthy lifestyle to include activity, food awareness, and spiritual growth.

Here is to a new month, year, chapter in life!

~Allie

Working it out - on the open road

2010-03-31T17:07:00.004-07:00

It’s time to announce to the world that I’m training for a 5k. I’ve gone and started a training program - you know - the one that everyone is doing right. now. Didn’t get the memo? Oh that’s ok. I didn’t realize until a week after I started the program. It seems as though 5k training is taking over the blogosphere!!! Hey, the healthier the better!

My hope goal is to be able to run 3 consecutive miles. Before the end of May! Nonstop. Continuous. Running! How awesome will that be?!

Week 1 has come and gone. I covered 6 miles over those three days of training. Lame. That sounds like an afternoon stroll. Trust me people, this is tough! So hard that I brought in reinforcement - Hubby is training with me!

Week 2 started this morning. Nike+ says that I’ve improved my mile time by 39 seconds over week 1. Word. I rock the shure shot! :) Today I covered 2.32 miles. Yes, those 2 hundredths of a miles are important to mention!

My schedule? Wednesday * Friday * Sunday

Want to help keep me accountable? Check out my progress? I’ll be logging my activity at Nike+

http://my.nike.com/AllieZirkle

For now I’ll be posting a Sunday recap and working to get into the swing of things.

Need some more training info? In the next few days I’ll set you up with some direction so you too can be running a 5k in 9 weeks!

PS- My apologies for seeming to have fallen off the face of the planet. Having a new little one has certainly challenged my time management abilities!

~Allie

Once a Month Cookoff Entry!

2010-03-08T09:57:00.011-07:00

This month I decided to follow the February meal plan from Tricia's Once a Month Mom site. Wow! This process has been a blast! I had lurked the site, wondering if OAMC was for me. When I saw that prizes were inovlved, I decided to take the plunge.

I'm home on maternity leave with 2 of my 4 children; Ben is 2 and Aaron is 6 weeks. While this is a fabulous bonding time, it doesn't leave a lot of flexibility to dive in and cook. Luckily, I had FIVE days, back to back, to get cooking! I did run into a few issues...

While I was cutting chicken, Ben decided to change his clothes and run out front!

You can see what happened with the popcorn, 2 seconds after I gave Ben his snack! YouTube Video

And of course, there were the play times needed to get through the day (for my sanity too!) .

I took my time, shopping sales and finding steals. Fry's had boneless skinless chicken for $1.67/lb! I found 93% lean organic ground beef on clearance at Sprouts for $1.99/lb! That was the ultimate steal as it was regularly $6.99/lb!! I shopped Costco for the staple items and some produce. I shopped Frys and Safeway when I had a coupon to double. I took weekly ads to Walmart to price match, and that is where I got the biggest bang for my buck.

Get this... had I cooked the entire menu as Tricia had set up (12 breakfasts, 16 lunches, and 32 dinners), my total would have only been $165.17 or $2.75 per meal! Each meal is built to feed a family of four so that is less than 70 cents per person per meal! Wow!

Here is the link to the prices I paid, assuming I made the entire menu: OAMM OAMC February Price Google Doc

These recipes that Tricia provided were tried and true. My family is open to new recipes, but I figured that making FOUR of each meal (as I have no cooking partner) would not be wise so I dropped to two of each meal as follows:

Breakfasts:
2 Stuffed Pancake Cupcakes
2 Banana Pancakes

Lunches:
2 Beef & Lentil Stew
2 Sloppy Joes

Dinners:
2 Easy Taco Bakes
2 Pizza crusts & Chicken Ranch Pizza Toppings (With BACON!)
2 Curried Chicken Tidbits
2 Asian Pork Roasts
2 Black Bean Salsa Chicken

I ended up with chicken, ground beef, and steak left over. I used the oats, ground beef, and egg to make meatballs for spaghetti and sub sandwiches. I shredded the chicken to use for taco soup and chicken sandwiches for lunch time. The extra eggs from Costco went on to become hard boiled eggs for breakfasts and lunches.

I also tried Amy's Pigs in a Blanket as a breakfast option with turkey sausage rather than hotdogs. Yum! These were packed into lunches and eatten as a dinner. I was sad not to get any into the freezer, but I now know to add this to my next OAMC adventure as a breakfast and / or lunch option!

Each day ended the same, lots of dishes, a hungry mama, and wild boys. (Don't mind the pump pieces on the right... LOL)

We had a blast, and the the boys had a chance to better bond as Ben helped me feed the baby!

Whew! My freezer is full for now... With a total of 30 meals and fixings for a few more, my total came to $165/2 or $82.59!! At less than $0.70 per serving, I will definately be completing the March 2010 OAMM menu that Julie put together!

~Allie Z

URS: Chocolate Cupcakes

2009-11-12T13:46:00.003-07:00

I am thrilled to participate in my first Ultimate Recipe Swap! This week the URS is focusing on Food Allergies/Special Diets. I love to create and try to new recipes, but I have just started to document the journey.

Back in August I was tasked with my first allergen free baking assignment: come up with yummy cupcakes that were dairy free, egg free, soy free, and nut free. Thankfully, I spent the entire summer experimenting with cupcake recipes and had a solid understanding of which ingredients I could start with. Six batches later, I came up with the perfect recipe! Now keep in mind, these are cupcakes not healthy muffins...

To read more about the process, click here.

To find the recipe, click here.

For more great reads, recipes, and fun, check out FishMama's journey at http://www.lifeasmom.com/.

Allie

Standing on the line...

2009-11-12T13:25:00.003-07:00

I will admit it: I am a lurker. Not because I am shy or because what I have read isn't worthy of kind words. It's just that... I'm busy. Really busy.

I am a professional lurker
... looking to better manage my home
... looking for recipes that will solve the dinner drama
... looking for frugal ideas to live my wage

I created a blog to track my journey as a mom and wife, to track our move from across state, to track my personal growth, and all this to say that I found perfectionism kills. It kills motivation and follow through and clouds the mind of possibilities of what could rather than what is.

I decided to start over, to remove the old posts, to take it slow and create a fresh start. Here goes something, everything, a fresh start, a new path.

Allie

Party time

2009-08-11T08:11:00.003-07:00

This weekend I had the pleasure of bringing cupcakes to my little cousin’s birthday party. He turned 2 on August 8th. That makes him 5 months older than Ben. The catch about the cupcakes is extreme; see my little cousin is egg free, dairy free, soy free, and nut free. Needless to say, coming up with a good recipe was tough. Luckily, I pieced together a few recipes, and after a bit of trial and error, landed the perfect allergen free, little-cousin-approved cupcake!

Here’s a shot the chocolate cupcakes out of the oven. Yum! They smell just like brownies, a slice of Heaven if you ask me.

The party had a Cars (Disney movie) theme. The cupcakes were dusted with powdered sugar and colored sugar, alternating red and yellow to tie into the theme colors. Toothpick flags adorn every other cupcake. Atop of the tower was a trophy, complete with a mini cupcake and ‘2’ candle! Mini cupcakes were available from a tray, off to the side.

Here’s Ben (R) and little cousin (L), looking like they are up to no good! (Haileigh's in the background, checking out the gift table...)

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups flour
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

1 cup cold water
5 T canola oil
1 T white vinegar
1 t vanilla

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350°F.
2) Grease and flour a cupcake pan or use paper cupcake liners (lightly coat with nonstick spray).
3) In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, sugar,cocoa powder, baking soda & salt).
4) In a small mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients (cold water, vegetable oil, white vinegar & vanilla).
5) Slowly add wet ingredients to the dry, using a wire whisk to blend until well mixed.
6) Divide batter into the prepared cupcake pan.
7) Bake for 32-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
8) Allow to cool in the cupcake pan. Dust cooled cupcakes with powdered sugar

Morning time

2009-08-06T07:01:00.001-07:00

Getting back into the morning groove means spending time with Hannah. I love her smile. Even in the morning it can light up the room. This morning she saw a rainbow and that just made her day. It's nice to share in the memories together.

Tub Love

2009-08-05T12:24:00.004-07:00

Nothing says "I Love You" like running a bath for your little brother. (Thanks Haileigh!) Bubbles overflowed the tub! It was a great evening...

Ben couldn't see over the bubbles!

Making bubble beards for mommy

Ben hugging on Haileigh...

Haileigh hugging on Ben (or is she keeping him from draining the tub??)

I love being a mommy!

Wicked 8/2

2009-08-05T11:48:00.003-07:00

Wicked, Sunday 8/2, San Diego Civic Center

Wow! For Hannah's 11th birthday, she received a Wicked ticket and a Wicked CD from my parents. Along with it, she got to take my mom, sister, and me to see the show! We met up with two other mother/daughter combos and had a blast! The show was amazing, the music was fabulous, and the actors were simply wonderful.

(L:R) Allie, Hannah, Carol (my mom), Leslie (my sis)

Seize the day

2009-04-01T11:48:00.006-07:00

It's been awhile since I've posted. I have taken my time to enjoy life without a computer. As it turns out, much can be accomplished without its constant nagging!

This weekend was my birthday. 27 on the 27th! I was whisked away by my sweet, charming, handsome husband for a weekend of peace, comfort, and play time.

I thought I'd share our photo from Benihana's. This place is one of my favorite. I enjoy sitting around a flat top grill with people who I've never met, listening to the incessant chatter. The table chefs are goofy, making volcanoes out of cooking onions and shaping fried rice into hearts.

I just thought I'd mention... Treat your hubby well. When it's your birthday, be specific about what you want to do, where you want to go, who you want to spend the time with, what gift would float your boat, etc. Specifics make all the difference in the world. It worked for me!

Speaking of being specific, check out my birthday gift:

I let him know what I wanted, I let him know where to get it, and I didn't mention it again! This weekend I'll post what I've whipped up. I'm planning english muffins, strawberry jam (with my berries from the produce co-op), and Heather's hot cross buns.

Seeing that it's Works for me Wednesdays: Backwards Edition, I thought I would ask - does anyone have any tips for a newbie with a stand mixer? Maybe there are some hints you have that EVERYONE needs to know about stand mixers? :) I know when you make butter, you need to set the mixer in a roasting pan, but I don't know what the difference is between 8 minutes and 10 minutes of mixing a batch of bread or how to ensure the dough doesn't stick to the hook. What about great recipes for newbies too? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

~Allie

Happy 1 Year!

2009-03-10T06:55:00.003-07:00

Today marks our anniversary of moving to Glendale, AZ. This is a big day for me, one that I've been struggling with for about 12 months (insert laugh and tears here!).

I think it would be fun to reminisce for a moment about our journey to Glendale.

March 2008 God proved to me just how funny his sense of humor can be. I was feeling good about moving. I felt like "I can do anything! Bring it God!" Well He did.

Day 1 of the move: Our regular San Diego ---> Phoenix 6 hour drive was actually 12 hours. I drove the littles while Hubby and Han drove the Uhaul. 4 hours into the drive, we ran out of batteries in the walkie talkie. We stopped for gas 1/2 way, only to find that we had no money in our bank account. Nothing. We used our last few bucks cash to fill up, and I spent the next 2 hours crying while driving. At one point I stopped for a stretch and came back to the car only to see that the Uhaul was gone. I found the two stinkers 3 miles ahead- pulled off to the side of the road sleeping. PS- I was driving a 4 year old, 2 month old, and a 6 yr old boxer. Fun times!

Day 2 of the move: Our Uhaul was broken into over night. We had to have the Uhaul towed to a storage unit, unload the Uhaul (with 3 whining kiddos in tow!) onto the deck and up to our new storage unit, reload the new Uhaul to get everything else home, unload the remaining items at home, and return the Uhaul the same day. Poor hubby. Was he EVER tired by the end of the day.

Day 3 of the move: I realize I've lost my phone. It's somewhere in storage. I had to find it. We decide to wait a week and then look for it. We're just too exhausted to do much more than tend to the kiddos. I don't think we showered for days...

At some point in March we decided I should pursue a job. We both landed jobs within 45 days of moving. God is amazing. My interviews were pretty boring. The only excitement came when I was in an interview and my cell phone rang! I was horrified, but it happens to be that I landed the job so maybe it helped me? :)

In Week 2, we attemped to enroll Han into 4th grade only to find that school was on spring break. A week passed and Han started school- the week of state standardized testing. The school asked if we'd come back the following week, which we happily agreed to as Han was still settling in to our new home. Once Han was enrolled, we found out that Hai could not start kindergarten in the fall as she would not be 5 until 11/08. Well if you know me, you know that I can solve anything- and only through God's grace! Hai was started preschool a week after Han started 4th grade and was signed up to start kinder at a charter school for Fall 08.

In August my mom came to visit to help get the kids and hubby ready for the 08/09 school year. We were invited to a neighborhood potluck through our church. My mom came with me, we brought the kiddos leaving hubby at home to some peace and quiet. Mid evening we sat down, gathered together, and my mom was *whacked* in the back of her head with a patio door! I felt so bad (as did everyone there!). I sat down in a resin chair (while holding little Ben) only to have the chair buckle under me! The legs snapped off and went flying, I landed on the floor- holding Ben like a football! It was so embarrassing.

We were nervous going to the bbq, but we met some great neighbors. We also learned that Han's new best friend is the daughter of the hosts. WOW! Lucky for us!!! These neighbors have become great friends to us, opening their home to our family, opening their hearts to our needs.

I am so thankful to those around us, to those who continue to pray for our well being, for our success, for our strength. This move was important for us as a family, to come together and create a complete family structure. My parents are now truely grandparents. Hubby and I are now equally yolked as spouses and parents. Our finances are still shaky, but that will come together in time with God's grace and strength. The kids are happy, healthy, and easy to get along with. They truely are happy in their new home with new friends and new memories.

We haven't forgotten our past. We are stronger now. Cheers to a crazy, growth inspiring year. Here's to looking forward to what our future may bring!

Lots of love,
Allie

Living with Discipline

2009-02-06T07:16:00.008-07:00

Ephesians 5:10 says, "Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it." How does one live intentionally? How does one live with discipline?

My friend Monica over at The Homespun Heart is facing the same issues and topics and is faced with life changing decisions.

For me, learning to put my spouse ahead of myself hasn't come naturally. This is something that has taken time, guidance, and a pure commitment to my marriage.

Recently I read the following by Dr. Randy Carlson:

...You are to make the marriage - and your spouse - more important than yourself and your perceived needs. Get behind the eyes of your husband or wife. See life like they do. Sacrifice yourself for the benefit of the marriage. Ask your spouse, "What are some things you need from me than I am currently not providing for you?"

Well then, where do I go from here? How do I keep my priorities straight at work while keeping my marriage first? How do make time for my husband's needs while ensuring a tidy home and dinner on the table? Where do the kiddos fit into all of this? There must be a healthy balance, but what needs to happen today and what do I want to happen today. Big difference between the two.

Ah ha! This week I figured it out. It involves taking the first step- action.

We judge others by their actions while we judge ourselves by our intentions.

My hubby's needs can't be met without action. Surely he doesn't feel fulfilled by me making a list of to-dos yet not doing them.

Wednesday I called my hubby at work. "Can you meet me for an early dinner, before we need to pick up the kiddos?" He must have thought I was crazy, maybe pregnant, maybe I lost my job, or maybe I was doubting our relationship. The truth is, I needed him to see action, to spend time together to rekindle our friendship, I needed to take care of his needs by sharing my time. The time I could have spent carting laundry from room to room or picking up the family room or even organizing my coupons. No, he needed my attention. I will continue to hold on to the smile he gave as I pulled up for our just because early dinner.

Finding time for everything is going to take discipline. I looked up the word discipline and found the verb definition to be the best fit: to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control; training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement; a state of order based on submission to rules and authority.

So let me get this straight... I must submit to rules and authority, train myself to get into the grove of producing a specific behavior, and discipline will bring a state of order and obedience through this training and self control. WOW! While this is a toughy, I think it's all coming together now.

I'll need to put action behind these findings. Without action, I can't even begin to judge success.

~Allie Z

Kids say the funniest things...

2009-01-19T08:05:00.003-07:00

Haileigh over heard B & I talking about "a dirty old man" I ran into the other day. Haileigh walks in the room, attempting to use the phrase...

Hai: Mom, remember that one time?

Me: Which time?

Hai: The time the guy broke into your car?

Me: I have NO idea what you're talking about Hai...

Hai: You know! The time with the old dirty man, the one who had ice cream all over him!

(And I thought being a mom meant I hear everything. Boy was I wrong! Haileigh thinks she's so grown up using grown up phrases. I never thought dirty old man would be over heard and misconstrued as old dirty man by one of our children. Too funny!)

~Allie Z

Kids say the funniest things...

2009-01-19T07:55:00.003-07:00

Hai: Dad, I'm hungry. My movie is done. When is football EVER going to be over?

B: Not for awhile kiddo. Why don't you rub my feet?

*Haileigh quickly runs to get her sweet scented Disney Princess lotion*

B: Haileigh, thanks for rubbing my feet.

Hai: Dad! I'm not doing this anymore. Your feet smell bad. Like stinky cotton candy!

~Allie Z

Quick catch up - Motivate Me Monday!

2009-01-19T07:29:00.005-07:00

It's been awhile since I posted last. There is a lot going on right now. Work is crazy hectic, B's joined a men's football league, H1 is spending A LOT of time with friends, H2 is causing me to go gray, and little B still has no teeth!

Can I just say, how cute is my nephew?!?! Born Oct 6, at 3 months old he is already a lady's man! Hello Ladies:

2009 was going to be the year that I stayed on top of everything (bills, filing, laundry, chores, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc). It's looking like it will be more of a year focused around health first, sanity second. I'm working on a triathalon training program. December was a month of walking/jogging. January is all about cycling and strength training. I'm focused on each week and individual workout rather than "what's next?". I think my body is finally starting to remember that it would rather be thin than fluffy! If you need me in the afternoons, you can find me on my bike, riding with B!

This week we have plans to haul items to the dump, clean the walls and base boards, organize the stockpile, donate clothes to GoodWill, and maybe get the girls' computer set up. We have a mean game of Disney Princess Monopoly to finish and library books to read. There are tomatoes to can too. Any suggestions on good recipe to throw the lovely tomatoes into?

I've decided to start posting regularly. I miss capturing the day to day, to be able to look back. I'm going to ask H1 to help me out by completing a guest post. Maybe she can post 3 times this week, once about her, once about H2 and once about little B? That would be fun to see what she comes up with.

(Go check out Sarah Mae at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee where she is hosting her weekly Motivate Me Monday.)

That's all for now. Thinking of you, from warm, sunny 75 degree Phoenix.

~Allie Z

Hubby MeMe

2008-12-17T07:18:00.003-07:00

Sandra over at Family Corner is hosting a Husband MeMe. I thought I'd join in!

My hubby is a good one, full of humor, love, and affection. He gives me just what I need, at the right time, well most of the time! :) Love you B...

HUSBAND MEME

1. He’s sitting in front of the TV: what is on the screen? Football or maybe the occational Prison Break or House

2. You’re out to eat. What kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Vinaigrette

3. What is one food he doesn’t like? Porcupine meatballs

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? No bar hopping for us; maybe an Iced Tea

5. Where did he go to high school? first years at Deer Valley High and finished up at Greenway High in Glendale, AZ

6. What size shoe does he wear? 13

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? shot 'em up kill 'em movies, anything Green Bay

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Chicken parmesan

9. What would the Husband eat every day if he could? Asian, Asian, and more Asian food

10. What is his favorite cereal? Lucky Charms

11. What would he never wear? A suit and tie

12. What is his favorite sports team? See # 7 :)

13. Who is his best friend? Me ~ Allie Z

14. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do? Hum when I'm frustrated

15. How many states has he lived in? 3 states (AZ, CA, NM)

16. What is his heritage? American

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind? Anything chocolate

18. Did he play sports in high school? Football, football, and more football!

19. What could he spend hours doing? Shopping at Cabela's or BassPro!

~Allie Z

You gotta love freebies...

2008-12-10T21:30:00.003-07:00

Today my trip to Walgreens was amazing. I scored big time. Here's what I walked away from, all for less than $12.00!!

(8) Arm & Hammer laundry liquid detergents

(12) Wags cough drops packages (30 qty)

(4) Sure deoderants

(3) Schick Quattro razors

(2) Colgate Total tooth paste

(1) Wags hydrogen peroxide

(1) Tic Tac

(1) Gerber squash

(1) chocolate milk

and a partridge in a pear tree!

Plus, I still have another $5 off coupon for my next purchase. Trust me, there are many more purchases to come over the next day or two!

~Allie

The reason for the season

2008-11-20T11:56:00.004-07:00

The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

Our family goal for the holiday season is simple, celebrate Christ's birth, celebrate the gift of salvation, and create new traditions to build memories upon.

Join us as we

.....Worship Fully
..........Spend Less
...............Give More
....................and Love All

Allie

Bountiful Baskets

2008-11-17T21:47:00.005-07:00

Oh how I love Bountiful Baskets. If you're in the Phoenix area, you must look into participating in the program. This post is simply to show off my basket from last week. Maybe soon I'll do a review and add some links to the program.

http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/

The basket on the left is my produce basket 50% fruit and 50% veggies. All of that was only $16.50. I added on a Mexican basket for an extra $5. You can't beat the freshness, selection, etc. Oh the excitement abounds!

Allie

First post

2008-11-17T21:29:00.006-07:00

Tonight is my first post. Hooray! Two weeks in the making. Here goes nothing...

This weekend was a whirlwind. Saturday was my first official bake day. It all started midweek though... My first attempt *ever* to make homemade cinnamon rolls.

I never knew that kneeding dough could be so messy!

Here's my dough... rising...

One L-O-N-G hour later:

Yippee! It did was good dough does. I rolled it out, expecting 15 x 20. What I got was 26 by 30... Here's the roll, all filled with the good stuff:

Here they go, into the oven (after rising another 45 minutes):

And drum roll please.... Beautiful buns! :)

Allie