tv, tv, tv {the return of top 10 Tuesday}

Oh boy.  I think I've come to a realization.  And its a bit scary.  {well, at least for me}

I think I have to give up watching t.v.

What?  What was that you just said Jenny?

I need to give up watching t.v.

It wastes my time.  I could be writing, reading, exercising.  All things that will "add" to my life {so to speak}, instead of just wasting time.

So, what better thing to do as I consider this change than to talk about my top 10 favorite television shows of all time.  Maybe that will help me decide?

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10. Awards shows. {or maybe its just the red carpet} But they seem to have been boring lately...and I haven't been able to watch them for the last two years either.  This being the reason this is #10.

9.  Gilmore Girls. Never watched this when it was on the air, but got caught up later.  Love Lauren Graham.  Probably part of the reason for #1 on the list too.

8. Rules of Engagement, Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother.  Best comedies right now...they are all still on the air, right? I KNOW HIMYM is since we haven't met the mother, and pretty sure about Big Bang Theory too...but Rules of Engagement?  Oh, and The New Girl should probably be added to this list.

7. Guiliana & Bill.  Has become the only reality t.v. show I seek out. They seem down to earth (please don't shatter that image if you've met them and they aren't), and they have an uplifting, inspiring story. 

6.  The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice.  Just good stuff.  Drama, at its best.

5.  Ed.   Before Julie Bowen made us laugh me on Modern Family, she was on Ed (and in Happy Gilmore...but this post is about t.v.).  And Tom Cavanaugh.  Cutie.

4.  Las Vegas.  I own just about every season {if not every season}.  And I'm still bitter about the ending. 

3.  Ugly Betty.  I rarely watched this when it ran on the air the first time, but I've fallen in love via reruns.  Talk about a strong female role model for young girls. 

2.  Friends.  Can always make me laugh.  Seriously, the show is like an old friend. 

1.  Parenthood.  For real.  May be the one reason I can't 100% give up t.v.  Have you watched it?  If you haven't...you must.  That's it.  And have tissues nearby.  Because your bound to cry.  I just found this on t.v. here; reruns at about noon.  I'm crossing my fingers that they continue through to this season. And, of course I am watching the previous seasons again.  Gotta get my Braverman fix.

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So...hmmm.  All three of these photos were in my instagram feed (jenlives) from the last three weeks or so.  Perhaps that's a sign that t.v. has just a little too much presence in my time.  Oh, and the fact that its on my 34 in 34 list to give up t.v. for a month.

Maybe November will be the month???

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I'm linking up with Lena B, Actually  for Tuesday Ten and Many Little Blessings for Top Ten Tuesday.  Because, obviously {look at the name of my blog}, I like lists.

Top 10 Tuesday: Why my Mom is better than your Mom

Kidding on that title by the way, I am sure that your Mom is just as fabulous as mine.  Well, maybe.  Unless she isn't.

So the reason for a post about my Mom today?

Today is my Mom's Birthday.  Yup, Valentine's day.  Guess what her name would have been had she been a boy...

So, in honor of her birthday, the top 10 reasons I'm glad she's my Mom (in no particular order):

1.  She traveled to New Jersey AND the Netherlands and spent several weeks caring for me {c-sections both times} and my littles when they were born.

Mar 6 2009, New Jersey


Feb 1 2011, Netherlands

2.  She can enjoy a good episode of The Bachelor just as much as me. {Although it's usually because of me that she's watching.}

Feb 13 2010

3.   I can completely be myself around her, cranky moods and all.

4.  She's a great lunch or dinner date.  Food, drinks and conversation with someone who knows everything about you? Yes, please, and thank you.

5.  She is an inspiration health and diet wise.  She lost the weight and kept it off.

6.  She is one of the best grandma's in the land.

7.  In an effort to stay connected with her kids and grandkids she is willing to still learn new technologies {with the help of her "help desks"...my sister-in-law and me}

8.  Through all of the things that have happened in both of our lives, including many moves {on my part}and marriages {on both of our parts}, our relationship has stayed as strong and unchanged as it has ever been.  Having that constant in my life is awesome.

9.  She is always a good shopping buddy.

10.  She was smart enough to give birth to me.   {haha.  ha.}

So, Mom...my most faithful blog reader {# reason 11}...Happy Birthday!!!

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Tuesday Top 10: Home Sweet Home

No worries.  This is NOT another post about the many homes we have lived in.

When I say "home" in this post...it is a bit more general, as in "Minnesota".  Where I have lived 30 of my 33 years of life {Funny, I almost typed 32 of my 35 years.  How can I age myself so easily, when I keep thinking that I am still 32?}

We {meaning J#2-J#4} are here in Minnesota for an extended visit.  Even though we have only missed one winter here, I may have forgotten how cold it gets.  And I may have said to J#1 that we could just head back to Scotland with him when he left...but I was totally kidding.

I do that sometimes. And how could I even say that?  We are so unbelievably blessed and lucky to have this opportunity.  I need to be thanking God {oh, and J#1 too, I guess} every day for the chance to get all of this quality time with family and friends.

I need to count our blessings.  Which are unlimited.  But, since this is just a blog post..and it is Tuesday...

Here are the top 10 things about being home in Minnesota {in no particular order}.

#1.  Snow?

Yup.  Snow.  Just went out and got some snow pants and boots for J#3 yesterday.  And can I just say...$24.99 for boots? For a 2 year old?  Geez.

#2. Favorite restaurants...with friends, of course.

I wish I could get to the point where I was gusty enough to take photos inside of places.  You should see the inside of this place.  When I am there, I feel like I have been picked up and placed in New York City. Dreamy.  And the big, fluffy snowflakes falling? Definitely added to the beauty of the evening.

#3.  Movies...also with friends.

Source: breakingdawn-themovie.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Breaking Dawn, Part 1.  Sigh.  I know they had to end it somewhere, so there could be a part 2, but...well.  I don't know.  Don't know where else I would have wanted them to end it.  But, I guess maybe I just didn't want it to end.  {wink}

#4.  Christmas cookies with who? Friends.

Ooops.  I might have started eating one.  Pretty sure it was broken.  {wink}.  Oh!  And do you see my mustard, ketchup & relish cookie?

#5. Having a baking assistant.

...And a nice BIG kitchen to bake in for a change.  But having the baking assistant (a.k.a.  my mom) was awesome.  Good company, she washed dishes and measured out the ingredients.  I almost felt like I could be on a cooking show.

#6.  Fun cousin moments.

J#3 went on to try and put his cousin B "to bed" several times.  Complete with a good night kiss.  Unfortunately, I was either too slow...or too quick, to get the money shot of the actual good night kiss.  And we may have tried to stage it quite a few times.  Guess I better get a quicker trigger finger!

#7.  Caribou Coffee.

Nuff said.

#8.  Living in a hotel.
Sort of seems like an oxymoron, right?  Being "home" but in a hotel?  But, it works pretty well for us, and provides routine for the kids.  Plus: no cleaning, full breakfast provided and a pool.  Need I say more?

#9.  Getting to see my niece E show off her mad gymnastic skills.

#10.  J#3 helping Grandma decorate her Christmas tree.  Priceless.

Linking up this week with:

Nicole @ Miss Mommy {who, when I win the lottery, I will by flying to Canada}

and

Amanda @ Oh Amanda

Top 10 Tuesdays #4: Reasons to get back on track

Note to start:  If there are any friends and family {that visit from Facebook posts} and are bored with my mom & personal stuff {like this post} please drop me a note on Facebook or Email.  Because if you are wanting to see more pics of J#3 and J#4 I have created a family blog.  Where you will find more of them.  And, really, who wouldn't want that? ;-) 

So I wrote a numbers post on Sunday, and I talked about how the # on the scale has been creeping up.  After having J#4 and nursing her for almost five months, I lost quite a bit of weight.  Nothing like automatically burning 500 calories a day just by feeding your daughter, right?

Well, I'm not nursing anymore, and I am not that slender anymore.  I was struck last week during the Top 10 Tuesday's by this lovely lady's post about why she keeps going back to Weight Watchers.  I actually commented, saying I was thinking about doing a post similar and that so many of my reasons were the same as hers.

I think they are probably the same for all of us, most of the time, right?

I have purposely NOT gone back to read her post again, and it was a week ago {peeps, my memory isn't THAT good}, so it may be interesting to see how many of our reasons DO end up being the same.  But here goes...

Top 10 reasons to "get back on track" {a.k.a. lose that darn weight that crept back on}
1.  This girl.  I hope I can get this under control so that I am at a healthy weight and living a healthy lifestyle before she realizes I wasn't at one point.  Perhaps that will prevent her from having some of the same struggles?

2.  All three of 'em. I want to be around a REALLY long time to see where our lives take us.  I need to be healthy.  I have briefly mentioned some heart issues I was born with (since repaired) in the past...it is likely going to have to be repaired again...  Come on.  I shouldn't be "play with fire".

3.  I want to shop in ANY store.  Not just the ones with plus size sections.  {On a total aside, just discovered the "plus" size store in Eindhoven, Holland, where we are living now.  Too bad we are moving in 2 weeks...or maybe NOT so bad.}

4.  I want to be in photos with my children.  And not be afraid to post them, print them out or just plain share them with anyone.

5.  I have started running.  I like it.  I want to continue it.  Its gotta be easier when you lose more weight, right?

6.  Can I tell you how great it is too not be just about at the max size for some airplane seats?  Because I was just about there awhile ago.  I haven't gained ALL of my weight back, so I am not there again.  And people, I NEVER want to be again.

7.  I know I mentioned the stores.  But clothes.  Such cute ensembles shared on pinterest.  I want to be able to not feel like an impostor pinning them.  'Cause most of them?  Not exactly for the bigger girls.

Source: tarahlowry.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

8.  Energy & motivation.  I just absolutely know that both of those would increase if I took the bull by the horns and made the changes that I need to in order to succeed at losing weight.

9.  $s.  Yeah, you read right.  Money.  I am sure we would save some money if I didn't eat as much, right?  And if I could get to that goal weight, I wouldn't have to keep buying clothes for the in-between stages.

10.  Self-confidence.  Sort of a combination of all of the above.  But with lower weight {at least for me} comes more self-confidence.  So there.

Source: None via Ashley on Pinterest

Eek, this is one of the more personal posts I think I have written.  But I need to be held accountable, and when I write things here, I seem to hold myself more accountable...so here we go!

Linking up, once again, with these lovely ladies:

Nicole of Miss Mommy

Amanda of Oh Amanda!

Top 10 Tuesdays #3: Bathrooms. Really?!

How do I start a post about bathrooms?  Delay it a bit.  Yup, thats it.

No, but really.  First thing first--last week I didn't get a chance to link up because we were in Scotland checking out possible homes.  And the hotel we were staying at had an issue with internet connectivity.  Like, it was pretty limited.  And slow.  But it gave me a good Top 10 topic {that never got linked up}, so please feel free to check it out if you have a few spare minutes.

We DID find a home in Scotland.  Little by little I will share with with you.  I took a bunch of photos.  But you know how it is when it is half vacant, with a bunch of furniture that isn't  yours?

I'd rather show it to you once we are moved in and I get a chance to spruce it up a bit.

But back to bathrooms.  Trust me, we aren't living in any kind of mansion.  But the house has four (four!) bathrooms.  A guest bathroom on the first floor (with a pull string light?!), an "en suite" bathroom in the master bedroom, a family bathroom on the 2nd floor and last, a bathroom on the 3rd floor (think guest suite).

Here is what we are working with when it comes to a few of the bathrooms:

family bathroom on 2nd floor 

guest bathroom on 3rd floor

master bathroom

Are you wondering what this bathroom talk has to do with a top 10 list?  

Well, my top 10 bathroom inspiration photos, of course.  Colors, decorating, and the like.  And I have to get a little creative to spruce 'em up, since there aren't any opportunities for shower curtains.  Or painting.   And notice the complete lack of storage?  Eek. 

1.  If you follow me on pinterest {see that button up on the right?  try it out!} you can see that I have a category called "when i love expedit usage".  You know...the expedit Ikea shelves?  LOVE this usage, never thought of them in a bathroom... 

Source: inspirationfordecoration.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

2. This idea could really add some "style" to our master bathroom.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Jenny on Pinterest

3. Simple, inexpensive idea to keep things close at hand

Source: bhg.com via Jenny on Pinterest

4.  Pure genius. 

Source: suziebeezie.tumblr.com via Jenny on Pinterest

5.  Hehe.  This could be useful for J#3 very soon. 

Source: japan.widgetfolder.com via Jenny on Pinterest

6.  I think yellow might be a cheery, welcoming color for the guest bathroom.  With some pinapple accessories  perhaps? 

Source: marthastewart.com via Jenny on Pinterest

7.  Perfect for the family {a.k.a. kid's} bathroom

Source: etsy.com via Jenny on Pinterest

8. Never would have thought of prints for the bathroom.  But, why not?  Especially if there won't be showers.  I think photos of the kids in the bath would be fun.  

Source: laurawinslowphotography.com via Jenny on Pinterest

9. I saw an idea about a vintage pail to use for storage in the bathroom.  I have wanted these pails from Ikea for a while.  Bingo!

Source: ikea.com via Jenny on Pinterest

10. Another creative storage idea...where do people come up with this stuff? 

Source: womansday.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Do YOU have any ideas for me?  Let me know in the comments below!  

Oh, and I know.  This blog is about living in the moment, right?  Well, right now all of my moments are pretty occupied with moving.  And the littles, of course.  

Linking up again this week with these lovely ladies... 

Nicole of Miss Mommy

& Amanda of Oh Amanda!