Oprah's Lifeclass #1 - The False Power Of Ego

This post isn't sponsored by anyone. I just like Oprah & the whole Lifeclass concept. :)

About a year ago, Oprah started giving lessons that she has learned throughout her life in a series called "Oprah's Lifeclass." It was a series I really wanted to watch & participate in... but never did. We don't get cable, so there was really no way for me to watch the show. That's why I am so excited to have discovered the webcast portions of her classes are still available! And... with 2012 on the horizon, I felt like this was a perfect time to start. I'll be posting new videos here, for everyone who wants to participate as well.

Oct 10 Webcast: Oprah and Eckhart Tolle - The False Power of Ego

During the premiere episode of Oprah's Lifeclass, Oprah opened up about one of her biggest regrets: wheeling out a wagon filled with fat after losing weight. During the live webcast that followed the show, Oprah was joined by author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle to discuss the false power of ego with viewers and members of the studio audience. Watch the complete conversation now.

The False Power Of My Ego

When I decided to blog about Oprah's Lifeclasses, and realized that the first one was about ego... I was pretty sure I would have nothing to write about. Within the first 12 minutes, I knew I was wrong. Truth be told, I think a false ego creeps up into many aspects of my life. 

For example, today we decided to go out for dinner, but I warned the hubby... if we go out, let me know, because I need to get ready. I'd been at home all day, and would never leave the house without at least spending 20 minutes fixing my hair & doing my makeup. Is that my false ego? You bet. The hubby insisted that I looked fine, and that there was nobody I needed to impress, but that little voice in my head was telling me other wise. 

"What if we run into one of your co-workers & they see how awful I look?" I said.
"Who cares what they think?" he replied.

"Well, I do," I said.

"Why?" he asked.

"I don't know," I replied.

That's just how it is for me. I don't want people to see me as ugly. I want to look nice. And, to be honest, I'm pretty sure it's from feeling ugly as a child. But, as much as I think that was just from a long time ago, it's obviously still affecting me today. I try to act like I don't care what people think. And, I've almost convinced myself on occasion that I'm not out to impress anybody... but it's not true.  

Where does your ego get in your way?

Leave a comment. 

I'm hoping to post about Oprah's Lifecasses on a weekly basis.

Sign up to receive an email when the next one is posted.

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The Christmas Post

This Christmas was amazing... and there were tons of pictures to prove it! But, rather than posting a zillion pictures of my children... I've decided to post just one pic of each... enjoy! :)

Phoenix with one his favorite presents - some toy trains.

Ariana exploring her new ladybug bank.

I hope those of you that celebrate had a great Christmas!

What was the highlight of your holiday so far? Leave a comment.

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What I Love Wednesday: Gingerbread Cookies

It's really the simple things in life that really make life worth living. The more time that I spend with my children, the more I realize that it's not always the things in life that matter... it's the experiences, and the people you share them with.

So, this week, I'm participating in something new called "What I Love Wednesdays". It's just a simple little post about something I love. So, this week, I love...

Making gingerbread cookies with the family.

The husband's creative cookies!

When I asked 3-year-old Phoenix what shapes he wanted on his cookie,
he simply replied, "A circle. Oh, and a hexagon."

What do you love this Wednesday? Leave a comment. :)

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Easy Christmas Angel Ornament - Craft for Kids

Christmas is officially in full swing here at the Brown household. Pandora is playing the best Christmas songs. Our elf Fred has been doing a great job of reporting the naughty and nice to Santa.  And, our old Christmas angel has even been replaced by one hand-made by Phoenix himself. 

It was actually a super-easy craft that I did back when I was just 5. In fact, my Christmas angel had been topping the tree for years, and every year, I secretly dreamed of the day an ornament made by my own child one day... and it finally happened!

Items Needed:

3 1/2“ triangle for dress

2” circle for head

4” wide piece for wings

1/2 pipecleaner for halo

1/2 cotton ball for hair

1 clothespin

crayons/markers/paint/glitter glue for decorating

1. Cut out the head, wings & halo pieces from a piece of cardboard and decorate. 

2. Glue the wings to the back of the clothespin. 

3. Glue the dress to the front of the clothespin. 

4. Glue the head on top of the dress, so it's slightly overlapping it.

5. Twist the pipecleaner so it forms a halo, and glue it to the back of the clothes pin. 

6. Let dry, and that's it!

If you give it a try, let me know how it goes! :)

What are your favorite Christmas crafts? Leave a comment.   

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"A" Is Everywhere: My Predictions For Pretty Little Liars

So, in case you haven't heard, the best show on television is going to be back in a little over a week. Yup, the new season of Pretty Little Liars has its Winter Premiere Jan 2, Mondays at 8/7c on ABC Family. I've been having a blast watching the show, and guessing what will happen next.

Can we expect the girls to be up to all of their same old tricks in the New Year?
Oh, definitely! I have a feeling that the Jenna & Garrett situation is finally going to be exposed... and I'm pretty sure that it will have nothing to do with the disappearance of Alison. Oh, yeah, I said disappearance... I'm pretty sure she's not really dead.

Will we ever see Dr. Sullivan again, and what was in the envelope that “A” handed to her?
I think we're going to see Dr. Sullivan again. She knows so much, I think that a major part of next season will revolve around Dr. Sullivan. What was in the envelope "A" handed her? I'm guessing that it was a picture that incriminates the girls... you know, cause that's how "A" rolls.

Do you watch Pretty Little Liars? What do you think is in store for next season? Leave a comment.   

 

Missed some of the nail-biting suspense from last season? Make sure to get all caught up here: http://bit.ly/tupDF8

I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for 'Pretty Little Liars.'

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Heaping Doses Of Love

In the past six months Ariana has grown from a newborn baby into this tiny little person, unique and perfect in every way.

She's been working on perfecting her sitting skills, so she can see the world from a whole new angle.

And I'm right there behind her to catch her when she falls.

And while we don't keep her in a cute red bucket at home... it does make for an interesting photograph!

Oh, and little sister can rock those cloth diapers too!

I love her inquisitive eyes and her ever-so-slight grin.

I also want to cover her room in that chic vintage wallpaper!

A girl like Ariana just begs to be put in pink!

Check out those arms... she gets those long things from her mama!

Her body is 6-month-sized... but with those arms she easily fits into 9 month clothes.

Seriously... where can I get this wallpaper?! I'm so in love!

Her smile... that the reason I still hold her in my arms for what seems to be 24/7. 

Any glimpse of that smile, and I'm in heaven.

The one that says she's happy, and knows that she is loved.

And, that's the one thing she's spoiled with... love. 

She's no mechanical swing baby... she doesn't cry it out. 

She gets heaping doses of love, and hugs, and kisses, and tickles.

And... judging from her smile, that's ok with her.

And, as I look down at her in my arms,

I think that I might be getting the hang of this mothering thing after all.

I love you Ariana! - Mom

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A Fresh New Bloggy Feel

Phoenix - 1½ years old

When I started this blog two years ago, I was a busy mother of one working full time as a graphic designer. My commutes were long, days were busy, and nights & weekends were divided between catching up on housework and spending time with my son Phoenix. I was desperately trying to do it all, but at the end of each day, I was only left feeling empty.

Two years later, I'm a completely different person. I have completely re-prioritized my life, and am now a stay-at-home mom. The commutes that used to be spent listening to audiobooks are thing of the past. My dreams of having a huge house, expensive cars, and going on exotic vacations has been replaced with an overwhelming desire to simplify my life.

So, I've finally re-organized my blog to match with my new outlook on life, and what is important to me now. My family will continue to be my source of inspiration, but now you will also be greeted by tabs at the top of the page about "natural living" and "simplifying". I hope this change will be a welcome addition for all of my readers.

And speaking of readers, thank you so much for reading my blog! I appreciate it more than you'll ever know. Since links are the currency of the internet, if you have a blog you'd like to promote, feel free to leave a link to it in the comments section below. :)

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Cake, Ice Cream, And More

I never imagined I would ever be the mom who would cry at the thought of my children getting older. But, there I laid, the night before my son's third birthday... and a few tears just started making their way down my cheeks. My little boy was getting bigger. And, it made me... well... realize how quickly life happens.

When you're living your life without kids, days seem to blend into each other. Days go by... months turn into years. You get older, but you never really have that reminder of how fast life is going by. With kids, it's a whole other story.

In just three short years, he has gone from that tiny new baby I was just figuring out how to hold... into a little boy.

He has went from being the baby to being the one eager to help out with the new baby. And, if there's one person in his life he loves more than anyone, it's his little sister, Ariana.

Not a day goes by without Phoenix saying:

• "I want my AR-EE-now-uh."
• "She's so cute!"
• "She's my baby SIS-ter"
• "Aww... she's my best friend"

As days go by, life happens.
So, we stop to celebrate birthdays... to acknowledge the passing of time and amazing thing called life.

Oh, and we celebrate for the cake too! Oh, the cake!
Phoenix just couldn't stop looking at his Thomas the Train cake!

And a delicious cake it was!

And while birthdays are never about the gifts... Phoenix did get some amazing and thoughtful presents.

But sometimes the cake & gifts are trumped by something better - spending time with family.

Happy Birthday, Phoenix! 

You're the sunshine in my life!
- Mom

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Who Is "A" On Pretty Little Liars?

It's the question that leaves us wanting more... and coming back to every episode to find out. Nothing is what it seems on Pretty Little Liars... and that's what makes it to hard to figure out who "A" really is.

Who planted the shovel? My best guess is Mike. I think he's in communication with "A" online. And, that's why he was so upset when his mom took his laptop. He's also been doing a fair share of mischief... breaking into houses, etc. I think "A" is far away, but has blackmailed Mike into doing her work.

Is the Jenna/Garrett alliance something worth keeping an eye out for, etc? While I think that this certainly seems like a possibility, it's almost too obvious. I think they're going to be completely innocent when it comes down to it, and there will be a perfect reason to why they've been acting weird.

Who is "A"? It just keeps coming back to me that "A" is Alison. I'm guessing that she is very far away... and that she has bribed Mike into doing her dirty work. She's probably alive and well, living somewhere happily with her family. They may have faked her death to get out of town. Remember that Alison saw Emily in a dream-state? Emily asked Alison if she knew who "A" was, and Alison replied that two can keep a secret if one of them is dead? Well... that's  even more proof that Alison isn't dead.

The season premiere is January 2, where do you think the plot will pick up and how are the girls going to get out of the mess they’re in? I think that Jenna & Garrett are going to step in and defend the girls... and will have some sort of proof that it was Mike who planted the shovel.

It's also worth mentioning how evil & manipulative of a person Alison truly is. I think she has a lot of pain inside, and has taken it our on manipulating her group of friends. I think she faked her death just as another way for her to have fun with her friends by torturing them. After all, Alison was the one who lured her friends to an abandoned house and pretending she was being killed. Maybe that wasn't enough for her, so she took it one step further.

 

Tune-in to the Pretty Little Liars Winter Premiere on Jan 2, Mondays at 8/7c on ABC Family. 

Missed some of the nail-biting suspense from last season? Make sure to get all caught up here: http://bit.ly/tupDF8.

Do you watch Pretty Little Liars? Who do you think "A" is? Leave a comment. 


I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for 'Pretty Little Liars.'

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The ABCs of Me - An Ohio Mommy Blogger - :)

I'm borrowing this lovely post idea from Mrs. Cox at Slice O Heaven, who borrowed it from the lovely Daenel at Living Outside The Stacks. I'd trace it back further, but I'm pretty sure Daenel invented it, because she's absolutely brilliant.

Age ~ 32

Bed Size ~ Queen

Chore that you hate ~ Dishes! Ugh, dishes!

Dogs ~ Snoopy was the dog I first had growing up - she was a beagle & collie mix. Lotte was next - she was a boxer/lab mix. But, no dogs for me now... two children are enough to take care of! 

Essential start to the day ~ Hmm... nothng really. I just get up & go. 

Favorite color ~ blue

Gold or silver ~ I LOVE silver.

Height ~ 5’8”

Instrument you play ~ None

Job ~ CEO for a small family organization & blogger :)

Kids ~ Phoenix - 3 years old & Ariana - 6 months old

Live ~ Ohio

Movie ~ One that always sticks out in my head as being brilliant is Fight Club. 

Nickname ~ Mom. Mommy. Mum. Muma. 

Overnight hospital stay ~ The last time was when I had Ariana. Her birth story is... crazy.

Pet Peeve ~ People who are just crabs to be around. 

Quote ~ "I reject your reality and substitute my own!" Adam Savage, MythBusters

Right or left handed ~ Right

Siblings ~ 2 sisters

Time it takes you to get ready ~ By myself, 30 minutes... with the kids, 2 hours.

Underwear ~ Yes!

Vegetable you hate ~ Squash

What makes you run late ~ Getting the kids fed, clothed, diapers changed, shoes on, in the car, etc.

Xrays you’ve had ~ My leg for an acl tear & cancer scare, chest for pneumonia & cancer scare.

Yummy food that you make ~ Vegan brownies

Zoo animal ~ Any mommies with their babies

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Pictures With Santa

I really do understand why Christmas is called "the most wonderful time of the year" - it's truly an extraordinary time. It's the time for passing down traditions, and starting a few of your own. I always remember going to see Santa when I was younger. I even remember our mom toting us to the mall to capture a few holiday pictures of her own in front of the holiday decorations. I'll never forget those wonderful Christmas memories.

Now, as a mother myself, always look forward to taking Phoenix, and now Ariana to see Santa as well. It's times like these that it truly brings makes me so happy to be part of such an amazing family. We were lucky to visit Santa the other day, and were able to capture some amazing photos too. It was also the day Ariana turned 5 months old :) Both of the kids were very well behaved... and Ariana was extra-smiley. I'm pretty sure it's because she was feeling pretty in her pink dress. :)

Yup... she's a doll!

Phoenix smiles at the camera... as a dinosaur sniffs his shoulder. 

Phoenix & Ariana with Santa

Santa: What do you want for Christmas?

Phoenix: Presents.

Yup, he's starting to figure this whole Santa Claus thing out! :)

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How To Get Free Stuff For Blogging!

I recently became a member of Influenster - a community of trendsetters invited to share their lifestyles and show their influence to qualify for personalized product shipments, special rewards and exclusive deals from the brands they love. Members test the latest products, give insightful feedback, and spread the word on their favorite finds! So today, I received my very first VoxBox, am excited to share with you the products I'll be testing this season. :)




imPRESS PRESS-ON MANICURE BY BROADWAY NAILS
Introducing imPress, the revolutionary way to apply nail polish!  Featuring advanced technology, this product delivers a salon-perfect manicure in seconds - simply peel off, press on, and you’re done (no drying time!).  imPress comes in 36 colors and patterns, including trendy brights, fun prints, classic darks and animal prints.

SOFTSOAP COCONUT SCRUB BAR SOAP
Renew the skin with NEW Softsoap® Coconut Scrub bar soap. Enriched with crushed coconut extract, this bar soap gently exfoliates to renew your skin’s surface, while helping retain natural moisture for soft, supple skin.  Also comes in two other exotic fragrances: Juice Pomegranate & Mango Infusions and Sweet Honeysuckle & Orange Peel.

MONTAGNE JEUNESSE FACE MASK
Montagnue Jeunesse’s face masks are jam packed with the most delicious natural ingredients and are bursting with luscious juicy fragrances. Influensters will receive one of the following flavors: Strawberry Souffle, Cucumber Peel Off, Passion Peel Off, Dead Sea Mud, Fruit Smoothie.

NEW YORK COLOR LIQUID LIP SHINE
Straight from the city that never sleeps, New York Color’s Liquid Lipshine is uptown style at a down-to-earth price.  With pure pigments that create a 3-D gloss effect and vitamin E that provides shine and moisture, this product is perfect to keep lips looking and feeling fabulous this season.  Comes in 10 shades from neutral nude, to berries & fuchsias.

MENTOS PURE FRESH GUM
Whether it’s before a holiday party, date or meeting, pop Mentos Pure Fresh Gum for a quick refresh!  The crunchy outer shell conceals a green tea extract core that provides an immediate burst of coolness for long-lasting fresh breath.  Its unique container keeps gum protected in your purse!

LARABAR SNACK BAR
Made from only 2-9 ingredients, each LÄRABAR is a delicious blend of just fruits, nuts and spices. Pure and simple, just as nature intended.  Larabar comes in 19 delicious flavors!

GARDEN BOTANIKA LASH PRIMER
Take lashes from fine to fabulous. Simply brush on bare lashes, let dry, then apply mascara. Lengthens and thickens lashes; conditions them so they're healthier, too. Small brush simplifies application.

I'm excited to let you know which products I love! If you're a blogger or active in social media, sign up to receive your own products to sample. :)

Thanks to Influenster for providing me these complimentary products to review. 

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Monday Mingle Time!

It's been SO long since I've done a Monday Mingle... and I'm swamped uploading birthday pics and videos at the moment, but I just wanted to do a quick write-in version this week. 

This week’s (12/12/11) questions:

1. What is on your wish list this holiday season?

Hmm... nothing, really! The hubby & I don't do gifts for each other. If we want something, we just buy it during the year. So, we don't really feel the need to spend just to spend for Christmas. 

2. Have you done your holiday decorating? Show us!

We have our tree up, lights, and Christmas figurines up as well. I like to decorate the day after Christmas, so we have longer to enjoy the holiday fun. :) 

3. Are you going to any blog conferences in 2012?

I would absolutely love to go to BlogHer in NYC. Since I've officially become a SAHM this year, it's been a lot of fun to blog on the side, but I really want to take my blog to the next level. I think that going to a conference could really help with my long-term blogging goals. But... I kinda want the hubs & kids to go too. I think it could be a fun trip for everyone, but at the same time, I'd be doing my own thing the whole time, so it wouldn't really be a family vacation. I also want the whole family to go because I'm still planning on breastfeeding Ariana, who will be around 1 year old at the time. I know it creeps people out, but I'd ideally like to nurse her for 18-24 months... but we'll see how that goes. I'm interested to see if anyone else I "know" will be there! 

So, what are your answers? Leave a comment. :)

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How I Lost My Pregnancy Weight... Most of It At Least!

This post brought to you by Slim-Fast. All opinions are 100% mine.
When I was pregnant with Ariana... I gained a bit too much weight. I started my pregnancy at 140lbs, and ended it at around 186-ish. That's right, I gained right around 46 lbs. And, though I never felt huge, the scale... and my doctors... told me otherwise.

As any new mom can attest to, it's hard to get back into the working out groove after you've had a baby. You're lucky to have time to sleep, to take a quick shower, to eat... let alone work out! I haven't worked out at all since Ariana was born, but I am still managing to slowly shed that baby weight. Right now, 5 months after she was born, I have about 6 lbs left to lose. It's not a lot, and I'm not really worried about it. I'm just happy to fit into my regular clothes again!

So, what has worked for me? Well,  I exclusively breastfeed Ariana, which burns quite a few calories. I am also a vegetarian, so I think that helps as well. I'm actually in the process of incorporating more vegan meals into my diet by eliminating dairy & eggs as well. Plus, when I can, I try to cook from scratch... though it doesn't happen nearly as often as I would like it to! I don't claim to look perfect, but I'm comfortable with my body.

My first piece of advice to any new moms, is that if you are able to breastfeed, do it! It's the easiest way to burn calories! On top of that, incorporate more vegetarian meals into your diet as well.

I had never tried diet pills, weight loss shakes, etc. a try until yesterday. I gave Slim-Fast's Creamy Milk Chocolate Shake a try, and it was honestly delicious! It was also a bit more filling that what I expected. I can totally see how these could help with weight loss. The Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Plan is ridiculously simple - you just have 3 Nourishing Snacks, 2 Shakes or Meal Bars, and 1 Balanced Meal a day.

The new Slim-Fast shakes, snack bars, and meal bars are available in the pharmacy sections of grocers and retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway and Kroger. You can also get them online at Amazon.com and the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Store on Facebook - so be sure to "Like" them there.

So, if you're looking for a way to loose weight, you might want to give Slim-Fast a try. From what I've seen, it's a great way to lose those pounds we pack on during the holidays. Heck, it'd even be a great way to curb your hunger at holiday gatherings. Just have a shake before you go, and you won't be starving & eating everything in sight when you get to your destination.

 Are you on a diet, or planing to be on one soon? Do you have any tips on how to lose weight? Leave a comment.

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Pretty Little Addiction

When I got a phone call from my sister a year and a half ago, telling me about a new show on tv that she promised me would be amazing, I didn't know what to think. But, because I was desperate for some good stuff to watch, I gave it a try. Well, that pilot episode was the one that got me hooked.

To those of you in need of a great show to watch, I have three words for you... Pretty Little Liars. It's basically like Desperate Housewives, except it's about teenagers. And, the acting is better. And, the plot is more realistic. And, the clothes are cuter. Come to think about it, it's not too much like Desperate Housewives after all.

In the pilot episode, we first we meet Aria, who has just returned to town after spending a year overseas. She's trying to deal with the fact that her dad had recently cheated on her mom with one of his ex-students at the college, while keeping her mom from finding out. And, at the same time she can't ignore the intense chemistry with Ezra Fitz - Aria's English teacher, who she sort of accidentally made out with once.

Then there is Hanna, who recently transformed herself from a chubby awkward girl into the current "It girl." She gets caught shoplifting, but the charges are dropped when her mother steps in - eager to keep her own reputation and the image of her daughter untarnished.

Spencer is a perfectionist and straight-A student whose pressure to stand out in her overachieving family leaves her feeling alone... until she finds understanding in the unlikeliest of places...

Emily is an athlete who finds herself drawn to her new neighbor, Maya, a free spirit who recently moved into her friend's old house across the street.

When each girl receives an anonymous text message, their lives picturesque suburban community suddenly seems far from perfect as secrets, lies and betrayals threaten everything they hold dear.

Missed some of the nail-biting suspense from last season? Make sure to get all caught up here: http://bit.ly/tupDF8. Then, be sure to check out the show's Winter Premiere Jan 2, Mondays at 8/7c on ABC Family. :) And, don't forget to let your friends know on Facebook.




I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for 'Pretty Little Liars.'

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Playdate Time - A Movie Reviewing Party!

I've taken Phoenix to quite a few playdates... but have always been intimidated to host my own... until today. That's right, today a few of Phoenix's friends from our playgroup came over for a movie viewing party of Disney's Winnie the Pooh, and it went great!

The popcorn & movie were both a huge hit with the kids!

And, while some kids were engrossed in the movie, others just played...

I was a little bit crazy, but a whole lot of fun!

And... the mailman even drove by during our party!
Life as a toddler doesn't get much better than this!

The children couldn't wait to pick out their own goodie bags, complete with toothbrushes, toothpaste, and bath wash! They were absolutely ecstatic! 

A big thanks to MomSelect/MommyParties, Oral B, and Crest for giving me the opportunity to host such a great playdate!

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