The Maddis @ The Lake House-Hilarious!

Bags draped across our shoulders while the dog raced past our feet, bypassing the house to drink from cool lake water; we headed straight for the bedrooms, unloaded our bags and then shucked off clothes replaced by attire more fitting for the day: swimsuits.  The psychedelic wallpaper and green shag carpet catapult visitors through a time warp back into the easygoing sixties, where moms were still housewives, dads took two consecutive weeks vacation, and life generally moved at a slower pace.  Last weekend our crew had a wonderful time at the lake, Possum Kingdom.  The best part of a weekender on the water is that we were able to completely clear our minds and focus simply on spending time together.  No work, no stress.  Our dear friends Harold and Cheryl T., who are like a bonus set of parents to Matt and I, invited us over for our annual lake trip.  We cruised on the pontoon, zipped atop waves on the sea-doos, tubed, skied, and then floated.  At night we played board games and ate ice cream.  Ah, why can't summer last forever? 

Out of all the fun we had, my most memorable moment was a conversation I had with the girls, the Maddis.  Matt and I laugh at their zany antics ALL the time!  They are smart girls, but WOW, they have some blond moments!  Don't believe me? (Well, if you know them you believe me!) Check out this video in which they answer questions over history, geography, and current events.  Get ready to laugh!

                                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_7daw5lZ2U


~Mother Hubbard [AKA Cinderella (the middle-class, thirty-something, working-mom Cindey)]

Loving You From Olney

For the first two years of our relationship, Matt and I lived apart.  We commuted back and forth from Dallas to Lubbock (345 miles) every weekend and believe me, it was brutal!  On our journey to see one another we'd pass through an itty-bitty town named Loving, TX.  One day I had the thought to send him a text that said, "Loving you from Loving."  It became our thing--when one of us traveled through town we'd send the other a text.  Eventually, we texted "Loving you from Olney."  Matt and I discussed the reason for the change a few days ago, and I think we did it because Loving is such a blip in the road that Matt would forget to text.  So when he stopped at the light in Olney, he would text me. [I won't tell you what Matt said....he thought we changed it for a different reason...a loving reason ;)]

This past weekend I drove to Lubbock to pick up Madilyn and sent my love to Matt.  On the way back home to Dallas, I sent it again.

Although, my favorite part of this message is that Matt asked about a Pitbull concert!  My husband adores Pitbull. (Weird, right?  My forty-two year old, born and bred, small-town Texan thinks that Pitbull is da man!) Matt had traveled to California for work Monday morning and his first message to me once he arrived was about a Pitbull concert!  I guess we're going to see "Mr. Worldwide" in October!  Ah, I love you honey. 

Back to School Steals!

Some of you saw my picture on FB titled EPIC buy of the day: 3 pairs of shoes under $35!  Let me tell you how.

Kohls is having a clearance sale on shoes plus I had a 15% off coupon.  First, I lucked out and found an adorable pair of Lauren Conrad ankle boots that were marked down to $7.99.  They were in a box labeled size 6 when the boots were actually larger in size, explaining why they hadn't sold.  I also jumped on a pair of comfortable Naturalizer wedges marked down to 13.99 and Madilyn scored a super cute pair of gladiator sandals for 14.97!  Always shop the clearance aisle, even when you don't spot anything at first glance.  Spending a little time scavenging can save you big bucks, and it's fun, too! 

When Madilyn and I ventured out on our back to school shopping, aka treasure hunt, I told her how much she had to spend.  Deciding on a budget before you ever leave home is so important, and I believe that teenagers should partake in the process. Therefore, Madilyn kept her number in mind and in turn, this made her a smarter shopper.  She actually decided against a blouse she originally liked because she decided that she didn't want to use her allotted money for something so expensive.  So, she ended up spending $100 at Kohls and purchased 5 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, and 1 pair of shoes!  Not too shabby!

Next we went to American Eagle who currently have all their jeans marked down to $30!  We LOVE AE jeans at our house, so I stocked up!  Madilyn bought 2 pairs of jegging jeans that will look fab with one of the oversized shirts she bought yesterday. 


By the way, I haven't made it by JCPenney's yet, but Katie B. just told me that they have men's tees on sale for $5! 


~Truly, Cinderella (the middle-class, thirty-something, working-mom Cinde, of course)

Vitamin Chart from Food Sources

We all know that we should eat a balanced diet, but knowing and doing are different, right?  I've created a chart to help us on our quest to eat smarter. 

Link for PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5sAozhsb8u-aUxaSjhwLVNqck0/edit?usp=sharing

Disclaimer: I'm no dietician, so I constructed my chart with limited knowledge and rudimentary research.  However, I found some common info at Medical News Today and Health-Alicious-Ness  that helped me choose which foods contained which vitamins; all of the foods listed above contain specific vitamins that we need to increase our well-being.  I listed common foods from which I can easily develop a weekly menu.  While researching I discovered the difference between water and fat soluble vitamins.  Water soluble vitamins are extracted frequently; thereby we need to consume these more often, and fat soluble vitamins remain in our system longer, stored in our... yep, you guessed it....our fat tissue! (Unfortunately, I don't think this means that if we carry extra fat we are healthier: bummer!)  Vitamins are best consumed through food sources, so no, you cannot simply take a multivitamin and proceed to eat chips and bean dip all day (sorry, honey).  Vegans might have a difficult time getting enough B12 so I've included a link with more information at The Vegetarian Resource Group. 

And why did I do all this?  After my latest check-up, the nurse called to tell me that my blood work indicated that I was low on vitamin D.  As I get older, I think more and more about how I need to eat better, not only to control my weight but also to increase vitality, energy, and longevity.  Psst: I didn't say I was OLD, just that I'm moving up on the number line, proof that I'm not kin to Benjamin Button.  I'm really young; I mean, if forty is the new thirty, and I'm not even forty yet, then I'm practically in my twenties! And since I act twenty-two, then I must be young because everyone says age is about how you act, feel, and think!  Thanks Taylor Swift, "I'm feeling twenty-two!" ;) Yet, I digress.

Anyway, I'm super excited about my upcoming menu for the upcoming school year.  Check back to see which combinations I use to build a plan chock-full of healthy nutrients, and follow along to see how my family improves on eating well. Hopefully you will join me. Take that, Vitamin D!

~Truly, Cinderella (the middle-class, thirty-something, working-mom Cinde, of course)

P.S. Comments are welcome.  If I missed something or I should add something to my chart, please let me know. Thanks!