​I feel so fortunate that although I live in a small town we still have an amazing library.  The two books I recently picked up are 

A Perfect Obsession  by Heather Graham has been excruciatingly slow to get into. But,  almost halfway into it now,  I think I want to finish it.  At this point in my life I usually will just cut my losses and not finish a book I'm not into.  This one must have had at least a little something to keep me hanging on.  I have been reading this book while I'm waiting in the pick up line at the kid's school. 

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown has been really good so far.  I wish I had more time to read but I'm hoping to finish it up within the next week or so.  I recommend anything she writes and her TED talks if you haven't listened to them yet. 

​I'm always on the search for something my kids will eat (especially more than one time).  I tried this last week and it was a big hit. 

I followed the recipe as written and I was so excited about the rice!  Pierre and I are signing up for a sushi making class so I feel like I have a head start since I already know how to make the rice..lol   If you like a California Roll you will probably like this.  I found the recipe was a little time consuming so I wouldn't make it on a night when the kids have an activity after school unless I had everything prepared ahead of time. 

I love this recipe!! I think it tastes better the next day or next .  I usually have leftovers because my kids sometimes eat it and sometimes do not.  If you want a quick, tasty breakfast this is the way to go.  

I have been listening to A Father's First Spring by the Avett Brothers on repeat since I heard it the first time.  The first time I heard it I cried my eyes out and immediately replayed the song.  It sums up so many of the feelings that I have for them in a way that I couldn't.  I've probably never related more to a song lyric than the words above.  

Now I can't decide what to blog about next but it will probably be an EPIC trip we took a few weeks ago!

In case the title confused you-no I don't have 16 personalities. I don't think so anyway! A few semesters ago I  had a technology related class in which we had take different personality tests and then use that information to create a slideshow about ourselves.  I think everyone in the class thought that the 16 personalities test were the most accurate and almost creepy because they were so spot on.  I  decided randomly to take the tests again and I was surprised that mine had changed a little bit.  I think that I have changed as a person since then so my responses may have reflected that.  I think everyone should take this test because it helps you learn more about yourself and kind of explains why you do the things you do. The results of the test can help you identify which careers might be suited to you, how your relationships work, how you parent, etc.  And for no other reason than it's interesting! I'll try to get the link to work at the bottom. Happy Friday!!

These are my results:
​https://www.16personalities.com/profiles/588c06d9716b6
Personality type: “The Mediator” (INFP-A)
Individual traits: Introverted – 52%, Intuitive – 63%, Feeling – 82%, Prospecting – 77%, Assertive – 60%.
Role: Diplomat
Strategy: Confident Individualism
Link to your profile: https://www.16personalities.com/profiles/588c06d9716b6

​https://www.16personalities.com/

A couple of weekends ago  the girls had the pleasure of serving a meal at the Ronald McDonald House in Nashville with the Girl Scouts.  We had planned to spend the weekend with their Aunt Vickie the weekend before but it had snowed  so it worked out perfectly to  stay  the same weekend. 

We left when the girls got out of school on Friday. I stopped and got a couple of Redbox movies and they each got a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. Hannah had earned one at school doing the AR program.  She was very proud of herself and we were very proud of her too.  There were hardly any stars/light visible the whole drive and it felt like we got there in the middle of the night even though it was only around 7:00 p.m. The girls had brought lots of their toys from home and played with Vicki's dogs and their toys until bedtime. 

The girls got up at their regular time-waaay to early-so I went to the grocery store and got all the supplies we needed to make the desserts we were taking that night for the dinner.  The girls had fun playing with their cousin Brayden.

The girls helped me make saltine toffee, lemon bars and peach cobbler.

Makayla went with her Nana and Vicki shopping while Hannah and Bella went to RMH.  First, we donated all the items we had brought the house had requested.  Then we made spaghetti and set up the dinner for guests of the house.  I thought it was very neat that the parents of the twin girls in the picture  had stayed at RMH when they were born premature.  I know that this was special to their parents. 

Afterward, we got a tour of the house.  I feel so honored that the girls were able to participate and know that it is a first of many service projects that the girls will do this year with Girl Scouts and with our family.  
When we left RMH we drove around in the dark because I somehow had forgotten to turn my lights on! It seemed driving in the dark was a reoccurring theme that weekend.  My phone was also acting crazy so we couldn't find the restaurant the girls had wanted to eat at,  but the three of us finally agreed on an alternative. It was nice to sit and talk with the girls at the restaurant. It can be hard at times to just be able to sit and talk and eat at a restaurant with all three girls because I try to be vigilant that they are behaving and not disrupting other diners.  I think that it was different because it was only the two of them and also because they are getting older. I can't definitely tell they are maturing.  I missed Makalaya though.  I'm glad she was having fun as well.  We went back to Vicki's and all went to bed because we were going home in the morning.  
It was a great weekend spending time with family and friends and the girls are counting down the days until Vicki's pool is open!! 

I technically started writing this on Friday so I'm just going to stick with "Friday Favorites" even though I'm posting it a day late.  I've done this before a few times and it's neat to look back and see what the kids and I have had as "favorites"

First up for me:  The Happy Planner
I changed planners for the first time in a couple of years and so far I really like it. I went with the Happy Planner after doing a lot of research and have had fun playing around with all of their accessories.  It's a little pricier than what I've been using the last couple of years but still cheaper than the Erin Condren planner I used to buy.  

Second: STOK Cold Brew Coffee Shot
​I make iced coffee almost daily and recently noticed these at Wal-Mart.  I bought some to try out and I think they give my coffee just the right kick of extra caffeine.  I only use one a day but will definitely keep them on hand. 

Next: PIYO
I've been attending PIYO once a week. I'm not going because I love the class (even though the teacher is a sweetheart) as much as I NEED the class.  I'm so stiff most of the time and need the extra stretching. I also sweat more in this class than I do after my own workout sometimes.   I would much prefer lifting weights but I'm going to make it a point to try some new things this year.  There's also sled class at a newly opened gym  and I want to try that too! 

Last: Karin Slaughter books
I had never heard of Karin Slaughter until last year.  I read Pretty Girls  and although that book was a bit too much for me I liked her style of writing.  Her books are fast paced and she gives you the answer to the question you are asking in your head and puts another one in it's place. I've read some of the Grant County Series but I think my favorite are the Will Trent books.  I finished the one above and have already started a new one.  I've promised myself to read another author after this one.  

Now for the girls!

Their absolute favorite:  RUBY!
The girls are crazy about their new dog Ruby.  I'm saying their dog even though she is asleep in my lap as I type this because I told my dad  NO to the dog.  I do not want another dog but she is very sweet and the girls have been "helping".  She is a Blue Heeler and they are my favorite breed.  My parents had a Blue Heeler named Girl and she was the best dog ever..I hope Ruby follows in her footsteps!

Next up: Girl Scouts
The girls have really enjoyed Girl Scouts.  Bella and Hannah recently got to participate in a service project with GS and have fun with their troop when we have meetings.  I hope this is something that the girls continue for a long time. 

Last: BARBIE!!!
All of the girls are so crazy about Barbies.  They love Barbies, Barbie clothes, Barbie Dreamhouse, etc.  Makayla likes nothing better than playing with her Barbies all by herself.  Bella and Hannah prefer having someone else to play with them when they play Barbie.  I have learned a lot (good and bad) about how I am as a mother by eavesdropping on them playing.  There's always a mom, dad, sister, etc when they are playing. 
Barbie has come a long way since I was a little girl.  They have different body styles and there's basically a different Barbie for any interest your child can have.  I found this article interesting about Barbie

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Hope everyone has a great weekend!

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     This is the first year that I did not cook a single thing for Thanksgiving. I taught Insanity that morning and then  we went out to eat with my parents.  Although,  it was different than what we normally do there was 0% stress.  Well, except for the fact my parents showed up at my house an hour early and I had to rush and finish getting dressed and getting the girls ready.  
      ​The day before Thanksgiving the girls were out of school so we went to the gym and a few stores and stopped in and visited Pierre at work.  Hannah had been asking to get beads to put in her hair and we finally found some at the Dollar Tree!  I still haven't put them in her hair but at least now we have them. These are called Squeezy beads and they are flexible so I assume they would be more comfortable to sleep in.