Operation Snap Back™: Color Vibe 5K Run

A couple weeks ago I participated in the Color Vibe Run 5K that came thru San Antonio. I ran with a group of friends on a team. It was a busy full day for us all but we took the first few hours to ourselves and I'm so glad we did.

Leading up to the race I had visions of being able to train and really run my best race. About a week out from the race I realized that those visions weren't going to happen so I laced up my shoes and gave it my best shot. It was my first real run since having the baby. I figured if I was able to run half of it I'd consider that a win.

There were a couple things that I didn't know about the Color Vibe Run before running it. Here are a couple things that I wish I had known before running...

- You have to pick up your registration the day before the race.

- During registration there will be lots of opportunities to buy things. I didn't buy any of the things and I still had a great time. 

- You may have to pay to park. During the online registration they said it would be a charge for parking but when we arrived at the race parking was free. Double check with your location to confirm if you'll need cash for parking. (I had completely forgotten about the parking fee but luckily my friends had cash if we needed it.)

- If you run with a group have a meeting before the race to plan out logistics. Who are your fast runners? Who plans to walk? Is everyone staying together? Are you splitting up and meeting at the finish line?

- There is a party before the race. You can get fully covered in color before you run if you'd like.

- It's not liquid paint, it's powder and it washes out very easily.

- The colored powder is thrown on you by volunteers. I thought we'd be running thru arches of colored mist, but no. People were throwing the powder on you. I wish there had been arches.

- Wear something that you don't mind getting messy. Everything washed out fine but I'm still glad I wore my husband's tank top. 

- Bring a towel or a change of clothes. You will be messy afterwards. My friends and I had to go straight from the race to a soccer game. We sat on our towels in the car to keep the mess from spreading. 

I hope my tips help you if you ever decide to run this 5K. It was a lot of fun. I would run it again. 

Running this race also checks off one of my 32 things to do before 33!

Have you ever done the Color Vibe 5K?

Thought Bubbles 05162016

The movers will be here in 10 days...

I'm not ready...

But I might be ready in 10 days...

My mood in this week's grocery haul is lackluster...

My regular personality will make an appearance in the next one...



I ran a 5K over the weekend and my body is sore...

Soccer season is finally over...

I shopped at a Lularoe party Friday night...

I'm in love with the pieces I got...

A friend at the party gave me this natural mix that promotes breast milk supply...

Which is great because I don't have time to bake cookies right now...

My husband asked me to go to Walmart this morning...

Doesn't he know Walmart and the rain don't mix?...

Yesterday's dinner was so good...

It should've been a blog post all by itself...

Apple keeps telling me my Cloud is full...

They can't get anymore money from my family this year...

I'll be doing some deleting from the Cloud...

Moving is so bittersweet...

I'll miss all of my friends here...

But I won't miss the brutal heat...

I have already planned our Summer and early Fall in Washington...

We still don't have a place to live yet...

I still haven't found a hairstylist there...

So I need to find a protective style quick...

Everyone is crying now...

If you need me I'll be in a pile of laundry or at Walmart...

Moses 6 Month Update

Moses is six months old now. Six months. I can not believe it. He's a funny little guy. His smile lights up a room. Moses has recently been introduced to baby cereal, veggie, fruit and meat purees. His love for anything on a spoon is too real. I can only imagine what my grocery bill will look like in a few years.

These days Moses enjoys wiggling and watching his toes. He babbles and laughs. Within the past couple weeks he's been doing better and better with learning to sit up. When he's propped up he does fine but without a prop he's a rollie pollie.

It's so hard for me to believe that this is the same baby that was in the NICU. Sometimes I forget that he was there. It's not until he goes in for his monthly blood draw that I am reminded of his NICU stay and premature birth.

Moses has neutropenia. You can read more about what that is here. He sees a hematologist every month and he is monitored closely. We are praying that his neutropenia resolves itself like the other issues he had at birth.

Other than that, he's doing great! Today he weighed in at 14 pounds. His birth weight was three pounds. He's growing up so fast. Time please so down.

Army Wife Life: Prepping and Packing...

Our movers will come to do an inspection of our place next week. My husband casually mentioned that last night at dinner. I thought they were coming close to the actual pack date, but nope.

I have been doing my best to prepare for the move. I've been throwing stuff away left and right. There are so many donation piles upstairs that I'm starting to lose track of what goes where. I am determined to get rid of a lot of toys before we go.

Normally the movers handle the heavy lifting. Literally and figuratively. If I didn't want to do anything before they arrive it would be okay but the OCD in me just won't let them be great at their job. I want things organized the way I'd like to see them arrive in Washington. All kitchen items together. All DVDs together. All linens together... you see where I'm going with this.

Most of the time movers are okay with a little pre-packing if they can check out what's in your box/container. To make it easy I use transparent containers with lids. They're cheap, easy to carry and reusable. 

So between now and our inspection my goal is to box up and organize toys, declutter, donate items and stay on top of laundry. We'll need about two weeks worth of clothes to make it while we're between houses. Not to mention that I want all the laundry to be clean before it is packed.

I have already done the boy's room. Savannah's room is up next. It's a disaster. 

I asked her to go through her toys and find toys that she wants to give to another little girl and this was the aftermath of her giving heart...

The movers come and we move into our hotel in 16 days. I'll continue to document our experience. If you've done a big move with kids before please share some tips with me. What made it a smooth experience for you?

Mother's Day 2016

Today is one of the only days of the year that I take full advantage of it being a day for me. I normally rest on Mother's Day. My husband takes over and plans everything and takes care of everyone. That's really the only gift I ever ask for.

If you follow me on snapchat then you know that earlier this week the kids spilled lemonade on my computer. Totally destroying it. My heart was a little broken. None of the pics or videos on the computer could be saved and the repair cost was so high that I decided to pass on getting it fixed.

When my family presented me with a new computer - complete with song, flowers and cards - I felt so extremely thankful. I would have never asked for it but they said they knew how much I enjoyed "doing my computer stuff" and wanted me to have another computer. All the feels....

New computers are nice but what I always love more than anything (besides the rest) is receiving handmade gifts from the kids. Savannah's gift this year had the most perfect poem on it...

When I think about Mother's Day and celebrating the day I think about my Mom. She is such a great example of the type of woman and mother I want to be. If I can be half as good of a Mom as she's been to me I just might do alright. I talk to my Mom just about everyday. Sometimes we talk several times a day. I keep pictures of my Mom and me in Savannah's room. I hope Savannah and I will be as close as my Mom and I are...

I'm looking forward to spending the day in bed watching tv, resting and eating at one of my favorite places here in San Antonio. Being a Mom is a full time job. I hope you all spend the day doing exactly what you want. Remember that you are enough just the way you are. No one is doing it all and we have to give ourselves a little grace and time to recharge every now and then. 

Motherhood can be tough. Don't beat yourself up about the little things. Remember that the things that get on your nerves will soon be a distant memory as these little people grow up. Cherish this time because it will surely pass way too soon.

Happy Mother's Day, Mamas!

You deserve all the love and appreciation - take it!

May 1-9 Family Meal Plan & Grocery Haul VIDEO

My grocery shopping this month will be very different. We begin our move this month so I'm trying really hard to only buy what we absolutely need. With that said, I feel like I spent more money during this haul than what I normally do.

Between trying some new items, restocking spices and grabbing some things for the kitchen I wasn't able to stick to my goal budget. Not worried about it though. Everything will balance out towards the end of the month.

So here we are. I never made the white chicken chili from the last menu so that carried over to May. I love it when that happens. Less to buy, less to plan. Because we are moving my goal is to make sure we are completely emptying the fridge and freezer. 

What did you think of the haul? I can't believe we are in the final days of our time in Texas!

Oven Beef Brisket

Our grill is out of gas. Even if we had gas my grill master was playing in a basketball tournament this weekend so grilling anything was out of the question. I still wanted to try my hand at making brisket so I did a little studying online and found this recipe that seemed promising.

I wanted the smoky taste of the grill. My tastebuds craved that sticky smoky saucy flavor that Texas brisket is known for. The images on Pinterest convinced me to give brisket in the oven a try.

The only thing I did different was substitute the salt and garlic powder with a teaspoon and a half of garlic salt. 

I didn't get a picture of it but I also followed the steps of adding the bacon. I didn't use a whole pound like she suggested. Instead I did five strips across the top. That seemed like plenty.

I cooked the brisket on 225 for eight hours before following her instructions for the sauce and broiler. The sauce in this recipe is delicious. Do not be tempted to buy sauce instead of making it. You may regret it.

That crust from the broiler was perfect. I also want to share that I did not strain the bacon and onion out of our sauce like she recommends. I wanted to try a chunky BBQ sauce. Those little bacon bits in the sauce were like little morsels of heaven.

This hunk of love was served with mac-n-cheese and skillet fried cabbage. So southern, Texas and tasty. My husband took brisket sandwiches for lunch today. I picked up some hoagie rolls and he'll use that for his bun.

Have you ever tried making brisket in the oven? If not, give this recipe a try.