On Sunday...

On Sunday Klint and I took the kids here:

It was simple, beautiful, and foreign all at the same time. Take this city girl out of the city and you have an interesting time! The girls loved seeing all the lavender plants blooming, real dragonflies, and a quaint little cabin where they dry the flowers.

I love summer, not for the hot weather (ick!!) but for the fairs and pick your own fruit farms. The smells of fresh fruit makes me smile and dream of pies baking on windowsills and salads topped with lush berries! Even though I wouldn't know what to do with myself in the country, there is something about it that is just calling my name. We will see....

On Saturday...

This past weekend I had the joy of having a wonderful little picnic with some wonderful sorority sisters of mine. We met up on a not so sunny, kinda chilly summer day at the beach, ate some great food, took photos, saw some weirdo teenagers taking photos that borderlined on creepy, let our kids play with each other, and laughed like we haven't laughed in about 9 years! It was fabulous, to say the least.

Heather and her little boy, Sam

I love that I can pick up right where we left off, no matter how many months or years it has been in between chats.  These ladies are friends and sisters in the truest sense of the word. There is nothing that I can't tell them and nothing I wouldn't do for any of them.

Carena and Miss Moira

Carena and her daughter, Hailey

Sam decided to take Leslie for a walk, so cute

The girls and all of our babies! Leslie and Heather are expecting little girls this fall!!

It was so nice seeing everyone and I know now that we are all having our families and growing up, we will see each other more often. I especially love that my girls will grow up with aunts who will look out for them and care about them as much as any family would. Thank you ladies for a lovely afternoon!!

Plank Pulling: Self-Hatred with a Side of Cream Cheese

"The one day a week that we strongly resolve to ignore the multitude of specks and sawdust around us and pull one bona fide plank from our own eye." 

Today's plank isn't one thing but a whole bunch- body image, beauty... 

As a dancer there is a preconceived image that you are supposed to fit: tall, skinny, chestless, long-limbs that are full of power. You are supposed to survive on only salads and water, be a size 0, be lithe and waif-like. Nothing like me. 

I will fully admit that I struggle with loving my body, fighting my genetic makeup of shortness, curves, and a chest that Victoria's Secrets cannot contain. I tried to will myself into an eating disorder, as bad as it may be, because I did not look like a dancer. My calves, instead of lengthening with barre work, bulked up like a gymnasts. My muscles get large and prominent instead of long and lean. I hated looking at my reflection in the mirrors everyday in class. Yet here I am, 20 years into dancing, and even though I may not look like a dancer- I am a dancer.

I try very hard not to let my girls hear me say negative things about myself because I don't want them to think those things about themselves. I know that my girls are beautiful, there is no question. Yet, I know that society will tell them that they are not pretty enough, thin enough, tall enough, not enough... I don't want to set a bad example. But inside my head I say those bad things about myself, and I need to stop.

So what if I am not 100lbs? I can palm the floor with ease. Who cares that I am not the smallest size on the rack? I have three beautiful girls and earned those stretch marks proudly. And I know that I can't do a darn thing about my height other than laugh when I try on "capris" and they hit the top of my foot. =)

When my girls see themselves in the mirror I do not want them to pick themselves apart like I do, I want them to stand strong and healthy. Yesterday Gabby had a wipe out on her bike and got a pretty good scrape across her face. It darkened today to include a purple-ish colored eye... but to me she looked even prettier because those marks didn't stop her one bit. She asked for a bigger bike for her birthday!

First Road Rash ever!

That is the attitude I want to have... happy with what I got and just aim for a more healthy lifestyle!


Do you have a plank to pull? Hop on over here to read Jen's and to share your own!

Housework Calories Burned

I am pretty picky of how I work out but really want to start doing something to get myself back down to my ideal weight. I have about 35lbs to go, every pound making a huge difference thanks to my shortness! I teach dance and am going to take Bollywood this summer, but for the most part getting to a traditional gym is near impossible. So I looked up how many calories I burn doing normal household chores... then I got all artsy and made a chart, lol! Enjoy!

As you know I am addicted to Pinterest. Aside from using it to keep track of hair styles I like, gift ideas, and food recipes, I also have a board for healthy living inspiration. Cool eating charts, before and after pics, etc all make their way to my board. I love seeing all the fit people in dance poses, the proper way to tell eating portions... makes me want to better myself!  Here are some of my favorite pins:

                                                                          Source: fuckyeahfitspo.tumblr.com via Connie on Pinterest

                                                                                             Source: tumblr.com via Connie on Pinterest

                                                                                         Source: thefitway.tumblr.com via Connie on Pinterest

Monday Luv

Source: my-mania.eu via Connie on Pinterest

Hello all!

How are you all?! I am doing alright here at Casa de Krebs. We had a pretty good Father's Day, relaxed, biked, made some yummy french toast for the man of the day. Here are some things that I have found on the web that you all might like:


Can't wait to make some of these... I need some more vases around here!

We love taking photos around here, but I always appreciate some tips for getting even better shots.
And once I get better shots I plan on doing this with them....------->

I haven't used the button-hole feature yet on my sewing machine yet, this may push me there!

Want a challenge? How about visiting a Park a day?

My favorite kids clothing place, Tea., is having it's annual sale!! Go here to snag some great deals!

I would love to learn how to do a waterfall braid... just like this one

Finally, I have always enjoyed classical music but this group is by far my new favorite love! How I have not heard of them before is beyond me!!!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my awesome husband Klint!

You are a father that the girls look up to,

whether you are cooking with AJ or playing Nerf guns with Gabby,

you always listen to them,

teach them to love and have fun,

and it shows how much you care.

We all thank you,

for all your sacrifices and patience.

Here's to your first of many Father's Day

as daddy to three little girls!

Love you lots!

Thank Goodness That Is Over!

Well so ends my hellish days of trying to balance a 10 hr job, a baby, a hubby who works third shift, a home daycare, and sanity! I am done for the season with dance photography, my family that I care for is moving to Chicago so their last day was yesterday, and it should be smooth sailing from now on. I was happy to have the extra money, but the stress it put on the hubs and me was just too much with Moira being so little and dependent on me. Now onto dance at a fabulous new studio (I am no longer at Rock City... long story and not worth the aggravation), Gabby has tons of t-ball games coming up, and I am ready to just relax a little. =)

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In keeping with our No Junk Eating Out theme, tonight I made an awesome dinner (if I say so myself!): Chicken Taco Salad with fresh avocado, tomato, tortilla chips, and a salsa ranch dressing! Yum! Fresh fruit salad and peach ice tea and it was a great end to our day.

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I have always been a city girl but lately I have been wishing for a bit more space and breathing room... less cranky neighbors who tell my children to not turn around in their drive, more space to garden... I imagine that I would look like this- Farm Wife Chic!

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I have been reading so many great posts lately about homeschooling, gentle parenting, and just things that leave me feeling all warm and fuzzy... here's my faves right now:

* I am 100% stubborn too- tell me I can't so something and I will set out to prove you wrong.... love this!

* In general I love reading this series from SoulaMama, but this one just made me smile for days...

* Gardening is so much fun, I want to make some of this so my hands stay nice!

* Finally, this article just made me really think about why it is so important to treat your child like a friend instead of an indentured servant... great read!

How was your day/week?

Living a More Authentic Life- Part 1

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, 

instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

 ~Judy Garland 

Lately I have been thinking about how my life is going and what I envision my life to be, if the world was perfect. Everything from where I was living to what I looked like and the kind of job I had. It didn't surprise me to see that I don't need to win the lottery to have that life, that many of the things on it were things that could not be bought and that I already had. I have happy healthy children, a loving husband, a career in the arts... I fully realize how lucky I am. But some of the things on my list are things that are fully attainable, I just had to make some changes. I am going to be writing about some of those changes, as they happen. Not only to share, but also to hold myself accountable and to hopefully keep up with them. 

The first change is sort of a biggie for us. We are cutting out all junky fast food (i.e. fries, burgers, milkshakes, Taco Bell, take out Chinese, pizza, etc). We made the decision years ago to throw out the fryer and we never regretted that decision, however we have been letting others do the frying which is just as bad. Convenience, price, and pure laziness on our part has led us to eat wayyy more fast food than I would like to admit.

Documentaries are always popular at our house and we have seen quite a few food related ones. Last week we turned on Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution and haven't stopped talking about it since. (Did you know there is HUMAN HAIR in the shiny coating on candy and chocolate?!!!!) Not only did Jamie show the actual amount of fast food a family was eating (which, sadly was very similar to our eating habits) but he filled their home with a year's worth of fast food... ick! 

I love Burger King Whoppers... let me just get that out right now. I love fast food in general. I hate the time it takes to cook, the mess, and the fact that many times the kids don't want to eat what we make. But, I also hate going to the doctors, needles, buying larger clothes, and giving all my money to companies that are using dog food grade beef to make my food. So.... I can easily adjust my attitude towards cooking to make my family healthier and to get myself and my husband to a healthier place. We have the physical activity stuff down, we are a pretty active bunch, but we are sabotaging it with all the junk.

I have armed myself with cook books that are easy to follow and have kid friendly recipes, made a shopping list that passes through just the perimeter of the grocery store and then goes to the farmers market and Trader Joes, and have gotten the kids really excited about these changes.

I am starting out with baby steps... making it all the way to the 4th of July is my first goal. In the meantime I am going to get into a routine of packing lunch when I am at dance, having meals planned out, and making sure that we are home for meals so that we don't get caught out and turn to take out for convenience. Wish me luck, this is going to be a challenge, but one in our best interest!

My Last 5 Pins

(yes, I am addicted to Pinterest) These are my last 5 pins and I am finding so much beauty and interesting things thanks to Pinterest, it is astounding!!

5.

Source: 79ideas.org via Connie on Pinterest

4.

Source: universityofcookie.com via Connie on Pinterest

3.

Source: etsy.com via Connie on Pinterest

2.

Source: s162.photobucket.com via Connie on Pinterest

1.

Source: madamecupcake.tumblr.com via Connie on Pinterest

Hola!

I have some new things in the store... =)

a one of a kind Fairy Door

and I am now making Little Nook Fairy Doors, 

perfect for staircases and tiny spaces.

I love the Happily Ever After Door. 

It makes me smile with the sunshiney yellow color!

I have another crazy week coming up, 

last of the dance photo shoots but 10 hr days,

kids to care for,

plus a teething baby...

so forgive me if I'm not around too much....

I will be thankful to get through these next 3 days with all my sanity

and my hair free of greys! 

Are you looking forward to the upcoming week?

Happy 6 Months Baby Girl

Dear Miss Moira,
 You are now 6 months old and what a difference 6 very short months make! You have not only grown physically but you are figuring out this world faster than Mama and Daddy can keep up. All in one day you figured out how to roll both ways, scoot on your belly, and transfer things from one hand to another. Amazing!
  Your personality is really shining these days. With strangers you will maybe* flash a smile and then coyly hide your face. No one can really pick you up yet aside from us. But with your family you are one VERY happy baby. Gabby and AJ get the biggest smiles from you of all, you looooove your sisters! With mama you love to cuddle, pull hair, and of course nurse. (Your appetite is wonderful!)
  I love watching you take in this world, see you reach for the cats and dog, smile when Daddy comes home from work, and explore everything you can. You are especially sweet at night, when you wrap your fingers in my tee shirt, and cuddle close to snuggle. I never thought I would enjoy co-sleeping as much as this!
 Moira Marie, or Fuzz Head (as you have no hair) as Daddy calls you, you are a wonderfully perfect addition to our family and we are all so lucky to have you. I can't wait to see what these next 6 months bring!!!

Happy 6 months baby girl!

Love,
 Mama

Whew!

Oh my goodness. what a week! I had some crazy hours assisting at the photography studio and then the dance recital for Rock City Dance. But now I get a week off and can catch up on my housework, blogging, and get my craft room in some semblance of order.

Gabby had her photos taken for T-Ball this past Saturday. She looked so cute and grown up with her new haircut! (Her hair was reallllly long but was constantly snarled and icky, so I chopped it off for her!)

We went to a community event called Meet the Trucks, a very popular annual family funtime where all the trucks from the community gather to let kids see them up close and even sit in them! Everything from SWAT cars to city wood chippers, along with local services and schools join in on the fun. AJ got really excited about the Roller Derby girls and Junior Roller Derby Girls. I do believe that it would be the perfect sport for my little bruiser- fun names and beating girls up!

Miss Moira has been having a great time, riding on the hip in our favorite ring sling. I can't believe that she is officially 6 months old today! (Official pictures to follow!)

Well, that's about it. Some other pretty cool things are in the works, but more about that once I get the details finalized. Talk to you all later- have a GREAT day!

101 Bits of Summer Fun

Wondering what to do with the kids this summer? 

Well check out this free printable list of fun summer activities- 

everything from dancing to washing the car!

Get your copy here and leave some love!

And if you like to take photos here are two nifty printables to get you thinking about those awesome summer photos. There is list of 10 can't miss photo ideas for each month as well as a checklist if you have traditions and events that you know you want to capture. 

Happy Day Friends!!!

:Wordless Wednesday:

We had our first photo shoot and it was lovely! 

All the photos were taken by Klint and then edited by me.... 

tons of fun and I can't wait to do it again.

(if you are in NE Ohio and want photos taken email me, 

we are building up our portfolio so sessions are FREE!)