Lisa:"Maybe you're getting stronger?" Homer:"Well, I have been eating more."

There isn't much to blog about when your days consist of lounging at the pool or taking naps, which is kind of what we've been doing this summer. We celebrated Canada day with steaks and croquet. The 4th of July with a parade and airbrushed tattoos. I do a lot of porch sitting and I've already read more books this summer than I did all year. I've been riding my bike a lot and yesterday had my first tipping over. My shoes clip into my peddles and when you stop, you have to un-clip one or both. My spin instructor told me I would inevitably have some falls but I've been lucky to just have some near falls. Yesterday at the end of my ride, I pulled into the driveway where Grace and Ryan were playing basketball. I clipped out of my one pedal and then just kind of tipped over on the other side. I'm grateful it was in my driveway and not at the many busy 4 way stops on my route. I wasn't hurt, except for a scraped elbow. I was kind of hoping today that I had some wicked road rash on my arm so I looked tough but no such luck. I'm not going to say this is "The Summer of Shea" because I don't want to visualize certain people rolling their eyes but this has, so far, been a great one. I'm on week 9 of my eating/exercise plan and I've lost both pounds and inches. Ryan is good at giving me compliments and encouragement. I was a little pissed when he made me go pick up his Five Guys order today. They get burgers and *sigh* fries, I get a chicken salad. Or the other day when he ate not one, but two chocolate bars in my presence. I am starting to feel the benefits from healthier eating and living and that's motivating. I'm getting wicked strong also. Today my weight lifting instructor told me, "That's some heavy weight you're lifting." I'm like Arnold.

Signs you've been together too long

Grace: I'm afraid of unicorns

Ryan and I in unison: You should be!

Where I pretend I'm a great mom (not just lazy) and give parenting advice
Two things I get sick of quickly in the summer are the mess left by my kids and them continually asking, "What are we doing today?" My answer to the first problem was to come up with a chore list they have to finish each morning. I do believe I will never unload a dishwasher again or at least until Grace leaves the house. These chores are pretty easy and usually take between 10 and 20 minutes. The other day I found Hanna commiserating with a friend on Facebook saying, "We have a chore list every morning!" Her friend replied with something like, "That's horrible!" You know what's horrible? Being born into a brothel in Bangladesh so stop you're whining.* Anyway, this chore list is fabulous and a great way to get out of doing things I dislike. Oh and I guess it teaches responsibility and junk.

Things I like and wish I got paid for endorsing
I admit I'm jealous of certain "Mommy" bloggers who seem to get free stuff all the time. Since I estimate about 10 people read my blog, it ain't going to happen for me. I'll endorse products for free because I'm super generous like that. I also like to know about new products that people are using/liking.

Tarte: Lights, Camera, Lashes! I've been using Clinique for years but I decided it was time to switch it up. This is from Sephora and it's all natural and stuff. That's good when you wear contacts because I've bought many a drugstore mascara that left my eyes feeling like they were on fire. It's also what I was wearing when I was asked, "if those were my real lashes?" so I'm assuming it makes your lashes look great.

Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polish is another Sephora (in Provo JCPenney or "Penneys" as I think it should be called) recommendation that I've really loved. It makes your lips tingly. I got it in Dolly and wear it all the time. I hardly wear anything else anymore. It's not gooey but stays put which I appreciate.

I've blogged before about my love for the Dansko mary-janes I bought last year and when I saw they came in red I knew they were going to be my 2011-12 school shoes. Ryan and I saw "Bad Teacher" this weekend and he pointed out that the crazy, neurotic teacher in the movie wore all Dansko shoes. Yes, they were making fun of the ugly shoes teachers wear. Haha! I told Ryan there was no way a real teacher could A) afford a pair of Louboutins (pretty much all CD wore in the movie and prices range from $600-5,000) or B) be able to last more than 5 minutes in a pair before your feet started to go numb. That being said, I do want all of Cameraon Diaz's shoes and clothes from that movie. Until then, I will continue to be the dorky teacher who wears the clogs.
(they are even more ruby red in real life)


*I watched a documentary about kids born into brothels in Bangladesh and now that is what I say whenever my kids whine about something being "unfair" or "boring".