I moustache you… Will you be my Valentine?

Firstmost… My Lucy said today, “I can’t wait to sell my VALENTIME’SES!”

I corrected, “You mean GIVE AWAY your VALENTIME’SES.”

I never want her to stop saying VALENTIME’SES.

Ever.

These are the Valentines my girls will be giving at school on Valentine’s Day. No, this idea was not born from mine own brain cells. But I am pretty much a rockstar copy cat… I saw the idea for this fairly simple valentine craft on Pinterest… from this site here. But who really knows the birthmother of this fun little activity.

An aside: my mustaches and lips are REALLY big. You know what I always say… GO BIG OR GO BIGGER.

Not that you can’t figure this project out on your own, but in case you like a checklist, I will give you one. Because I love you. Never say I never showed you love.

Well, you can totally say that. You can say what you want. BUT YOU’D BE WRONG.

{{{I am tossing pink puffy hearts in the air right now}}}

I digress…

You need:

• Scissors
• Pencil (for tracing)
• Lip and moustache template
• LOLLIPOPS
• A white gel or paint pen for writing on the card (or silver pen or whatever floats your creative boat…)
• Sturdy black and red paper (my red is SPARKLY!) or that foam paper stuff (I am so technical in my crafting terms)

Oh, and…

A handy-dandy hole punch. THIS is THE MOTHER OF ALL HOLE PUNCHES. I think there are 3 million holes puncher sizes on this baby. And it may or may not be used by master interrogators. Like I said, GO BIG OR GO BIGGER. Or…. have a friend who knows how to craft, so when she gives you crafty things for your birthday – she gives you THE MOTHER OF ALL CRAFTY THINGS… {{{waving to Sara}}}.

Oh, and here are the shapes of the lips and moustache I drew. I know all the fancy DIYers have ways to do this “free download” thing… I drew these on 4×6 note cards. If you print these babies out full size you’ll have lips the size of a child’s head and a moustache the length of a undernourished anaconda. So, adjust accordingly and I’ll see you on the other side…

Now that you have what you need… GET TRACING.

Then cut mustaches and lips until your hands seize up. Or your kids’ hands seize. I am a bit of a freak about quality control so I did the cutting. You know, since 1st graders care so very much about the subtle curves on a ‘stache and such.

Punch a small low hole into the center of the moustache and a small center hole into le lips.

Hand the goods over so the spawn can practice their handwriting…

Pop a lolli in the hole…

It took us about 2 hours from start to finish to complete about 50 handmade Valentines for 2 classes. Oh, AND about 75 of these Hershey’s Kiss Bling Rings… Really, when you think about the time a project COULD have taken, this was nominal. As of this writing, there are still 3 days left before the big day… hitherhencetofore YOU still have time to whip out a few of these bad boys before the big day.

And in case I haven’t told you lately… I love you.

xoxo,

JOtS

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Le Valentines DIY: Lip and Moustache Lollipop Valentines is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

I am SO pleased.

No, I didn’t lose 12 pounds. I lost 9.

And gained a wardrobe.

Because friends, I was at a crossroads… lose a few (or many) or buy a size up.

I had tried for a few months to lose, say 5… with no success. In fact, I managed to put on a couple pounds because I grew so discouraged.

The Kickstart Your Weightloss Challenge with iVillage came at the perfect time for me. I NEEDED the extra motivation, the community, and the redirection to help me head back to the path I have slowly been wandering from…

What do I do now? My journey is not over. I’d still like to get rid of, say 5 more pounds. My struggle with food and weight began in second grade. It is safe to say that I will never have the luxury of not being mindful about my diet. But I end these 6 weeks encouraged by the results of my hard work.

I don’t often toot my own horn, but I have to say… I worked hard. Those 9 pounds came off with good old-fashioned effort. And it’s going to take consistent effort to make sure they stay off. It won’t be easy, but thanks to this challenge I step into the upcoming weeks and months with momentum and edge.

I want to give a special thanks to the iVillage team for working to bring this program together, and to the coaches for their great tips and encouragement throughout the process! And last but not least, PROPS to my co-kickstarters Amanda and Stephanie. Ladies – *fist bump*… ya’ll rock. It wasn’t easy… Xoxo.

*Disclosure: iVillage is providing compensation for my involvement in this program. Views, experiences, cutting of veggies, choosing water over soda, dedication/will-power and grumbling tummy at night because I refuse to eat after 7 are all mine. Alllllllll mine.

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KickstartED! Success! is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

I have gone round and round trying to choose my most meaningful moment from the past year.

To be honest, the most meaningful THING in my life is my family.

But a MOMENT? Every time I asked myself, “What is my most meaningful moment… what is my most meaningful moment???”… the pictures that flash through my mind are moments with my family.

My little family of 5.

One might expect these moments to be extraordinary… they have to be extraordinary to be meaningful, right?

I don’t think that they do. In fact, I believe the opposite is true. When I close my eyes to consider my most meaningful moment – that one moment is a compilation of simple moments with my family. Dinner together… conversations in the car… the random moments when life catches us all off-guard and we all wind up in a fit of laughter. The moments when we step-up to serve each other, comfort each other, and even push the buttons of each other.

My most meaningful moment is this overall snapshot of a young family living life together. Together. See? Beautiful…

My oldest is 12. I am keenly aware that this time… the 5 of us living under the same roof, packed into the same car … sharing mealtime after mealtime after mealtime together… is short. We have more years behind us than ahead.

That thought? … It causes me to catch my breath.

But on a lighter note… there was ONE moment. Though it was meaningful on some level, my son would probably choose the word EPIC:

Tell me what your most meaningful moment was in the last year for a chance to win one of 10 complete skin care Anti-Age Systems from Meaningful Beauty.

Keep your skin looking great in every moment with Meaningful Beauty – Cindy Crawford’s break through secret for younger looking skin.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Meaningful Beauty. The opinions and text are all mine.

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My Most Meaningful Moment(S) is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

In a sense.

The talk around the house lately has been Lent.

More specifically, what to give up for Lent.

We (the family) don’t always give something up… in fact, I don’t think my kids ever have.

My spousal unit and I have.

Randomly.

Wax and wane.

Wax on, wax off?

Aaaaanywhoooos…

My middle daughter has been really thinking (and talking) about what to give up. She is intent.

She is such a goal-setter.

I am yet undecided (see: waxing and waning).

I gave up coffee one time.

::hands you a paper bag to breathe in::

Yeah. I am still trying to right the world back on it’s axis after that one.

I gave the kids a Lent suggestion tonight. I interrupted yet another trite argument between the three.

Good golly… THREE ARGUERS.

Kids. Kids! KIDSSSSS!!!!

I know what you can give up for Lent!

::crickets::

ARGUING!

Without skipping a beat this is what I got:

Livi (9): Can I just give up cookies?

Lucy (6): Can I just give up SMILING oooooooor PINCHING?

Joel (12): Well, I know I can’t give up my sexiness.

For reals.

This is the tide I swim against every day.

Every.

Day.

No waning.

Ever.

Full court press.

3 on 1.

Did I ever mention that I hate basketball?

Pinching. She is willing to give up pinching. Ooofda.

The Pincher

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Giving up. is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

Last month I saw all kinds of people doing a January photo challenge by fat mum slim.

And I wished I had joined in on all the fun. But then February rolled in and…

I have a new camera. I would say we are still in the “courting” period of our relationship. A daily photo challenge is a great way to help us get to know each other better.

Right?

Plus, I’m not gonna be left out this time.

Here are my pictures for the first 4 days of February:

Little sister loving her big brudder. Big brudder absolutely loving it. Photo taken with Nikon D5100.

I am enjoying this photo challenge because I don’t want to be taking pictures of all the familiar and usual things that one usually takes pictures of. I mean, I want to capture the usual… but I also love looking at life from new angles. So. Words. Captured from a different angle. Another photo courtesy the Nikon D5100.

This was a hard one. Hands do a lot of moving. But not these. And honestly, I took this picture for my husband. He has a “thing” for dorky leisure suits and I HAD to show him this waffled, white leisure suit. Then I noticed the hands. Photo taken on le iPhone.

Taking a picture of a stranger… Being a literally thinker, it is hard to think outside of the box. And taking a picture of a stranger can be a wee-bit creepy, no? I took this one on the ferry. The light was just right so I could help my stranger remain anonymous and I was far away enough he never suspected I was taking a picture of him.

But I was. With the D 5100.

Looking at the coming week, I see Feb 8 is set for SUN.

Living in the Pacific NorthWET, one never knows when we will see sun. We DO get sunshine, but this time of year offers little optimism. We shall see, and I may have to tap into my creative self if the clouds hide my subject-o-the-day.

I’m curious. Are you joining in the challenge? I’d love to see what things you are creating and capturing…

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Photo a Day Challenge – I’m a joiner! is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

Once upon a time (May 2011) there was a family that went to a land far, far away.

Well, far away to them. Seattle to FLA = far.

And sunny.

Heaven bless my fair-skinned, blue-eyed (OK, one has green eyes) Northwest vampires babes. The sunshine throws their cloud-covered eyes into a tailspin.

Speaking of tailspin… imagine our surprise when we happened upon a Despicable Me Minion flashmob while we were hangin’ out at Universal Orlando!

I have to say, my favorite character wasn’t a Minion. It was this guy:

Made. My. Day.

He had SPUNK. He had FIRE. He had ENERGY. And he had a Rascal.

AWESOME.

Speaking of awesome…

Just call me LEGIT.

Street Media creds, yo!

Which lead to this moment:

See how Lucy is hugging that Minion? The girl could NOT keep her hands off those guys. Could. Not. Give her costumed personalities or give her death.

But Lucy didn’t keep the Minions all to herself…

(See my little Lucy there in the pink skirt on the far right? She just had absolutely no fun.)

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, the coming attraction Universal revealed so many months ago – will be opening THIS summer. Like, 2012. ya’ll! It will be another fabulous Universal 3D adventure sure to draw the young and the young at heart.

Speaking of Spiderman…

(Hey, sometimes one has to get creative with transitions.)

The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman is not a new attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, but in March the ride re-opens with a shine that I undertand will give Awesome a run for it’s money. Something about putting an extra D in 3D, or something mathy and amazing like that!

Speaking of giving Awesome a run for its money…

We are smitten. And very wet.

I had the privilege to join in on a media webcast last week as Universal announced all the stuff the world has to look forward to in 2012. I am not exaggerating when I tell you I teared up a little… especially when they said Blue Man Group has a new show.

Before seeing the show, I was all, “Blue Man, Schmu Man.”

Foolish me. BLUE.MAZING.

We didn’t take our kids to that show, and I regret it. They would have lost their MINDS.

Things we did not get to experience (because that would have required time travel and it seems that is the one thing Universal has not yet created) (what’s the hold-up, Universal?!) (I kid) (kind-of) was the upcoming night show – 100 waterfall screens within the Universal Studios lagoon showing some of Universal’s most magical movie moments… Nor did we get to experience the new interactive family water play area at the Wet and Wild Waterpark… aaaaand the Hollywood Drive-In Golf at Universal CityWalk. More details on the new attractions can be found here.

Will the wonders never cease?

Signs point to NO.

*Disclosure: I was not paid nor asked to write this post. However, I (and family) did spend a week at Universal Orlando (on their dime) (last year) as part of a media tour. All experience, excitement and sincere delight are mine. I’m not sure at what point this isn’t considered sponsored… so for the sake of being fully transparent (because I care what you think) (and I want you to trust me) I add this so you can know there is history with this relationship. Thanks for reading, yo.

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The Minions are coming, the Minions are coming! is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

It happens every year.

I dread this time of year all. year. long.

Everytime I drive by one of those guys wearing a Statue of Libery costume, flippin’ a “We do your taxes so you don’t have to” sign… my stomach churns and I get chest pains.

Don’t we wish I was exaggerating.

Chest pains.

How do I cope? I prepare for the tax season throughout the year by shoving receipts and important documents

in a basket.

And then…

Please ignore the stains on the carpet.

I choose to think my floor has character when there are stains on it. Hitherhencetofore, my floor has a great deal-o-character.

I do have CPA who will make sense of all this, but first I must sort through the paperness of 2011.

You’d think I’d be all software or Excel spreadsheet savvy.

Noooooooope.

Pen. Paper. and a calculator.

Then I close my eyes, plug my nose and give my scribbles to my beloved and much adored CPA. Along with my apologies.

I might as well deliver my papers to her in a horse-drawn carriage.

To all my fellow United States of Americans… best of luck, Godspeed and may the math be on your side.

Igh. Math. *gag*

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The Confessional: This is how I prepare to pay the piper. is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

Like that one time at the county fair.

When I saw this:

A cats AND an archery barn.

I WONDER WHAT HAPPENS IN THERE.

——

I use the Bloom app to send me reminders throughout my day. I get a reminder to drink a glass of water… a reminder to pause and be grateful.

And a reminder to take a picture. It sometimes comes in the middle of me rockin’ out to Supersonic by J.J. FAD.

So I did. I took a photo.

Secret’s out.

I’d better move along or before I go all lyricist on you… We’re J.J. Fad and we’re here to rock. Rhymes by us can never be stopped…

——

You know what else makes me laugh?

THE DUCKFACE.

I don’t know what it is about self-portraits that evoke The Duckface. But they do.

And I do Duckface.

::shame::

Go ahead. Make fun of me.

I’m lame.

EXCEPT I’M NOT BECAUSE MY AWESOME NEW SHIRT CANCELS OUT THE LAME.

A big mushy thanks be to Blogging Dangerously for sending me that soft and perfectly fitting t-shirt full of SUPER!

::pretends to fly::

——

I’ve been using the LoseIt app recently.

And because I am worse than a teenage boy, you know I had to look up the calorie count for..

So now?

My hubs and/or I… when… you know…

Our words of lurring may or may not play out like this:

Hey baby.

You wanna go burn 17 calories???…

Give or take…

*wink, head tilt*

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Some things just make me laugh… is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

Well, I’ve been working hard to… well, feel better overall.

Aaaaaaand try, try, trying to reduce my warehouse-store-sized-muffin-top to more of a standard-sized-muffin-top.

Am I making sense?

I really am just a woman who sets reasonable goals. I will always have a muffin top. I’m OK with that.

Well, not really, but that’s what I tell myself.

I tell myself a lot of things.

But that’s an entirely different post.

Aaaaanywho. I’ve been taking this challenge for the last month. Which means I am counting calories and exercising more. But in the last week, specifically, I have set my mind to the kicking of my own butt.

I hear that is considered hawt in some cultures. And crazy in others. So.

I have been going for the 500 calorie burn everyday for 7 days straight.

Like I said, I am a reasonable woman doing reasonable things.

And I was doing good… I went 5 days straight!

But on the 5th day I met kickbuttingboxing.

A “friend” (see :: below) had posted on The FB a few times about this kickboxing class and all of it’s calorie burning awesome. So I decided to take her up on the challenge.

I went.

BUT SHE DIDN’T.

::looks at Shayne::

Isn’t there something about crack dealers not smoking their own stuff?

I am a little naive when it comes to The Crack. Does one smoke it, shoot it or snort it?

I actually don’t care. Useless information.

I digress…

Kickboxing. And how my friend Shayne was being like a dealer and she wasn’t there to brave the pain/shoot up with me.

Right?

Aaaanywho.

You want to know what I think? I think God would have rested on the SIXTH day instead of the SEVENTH if he had gone to a kickboxing class.

That class is why I did not burn 500 calories a day for 7 days straight.

Because on Day 5 I kickboxed with Castor and on Day 6 I passed-out rested.

Actually, I started resting THAT DAY. I was passed out COLD by 10 p.m. That is unheard of for nocturnal webmistresses such as me.

People, I could not stay upright!

Even sitting was too much of a request for my kickboxed-out body.

Then on Day 6? I NAPPED.

HARD.

I was ALL up in the face of that nap.

Slobber. Limbs immovable.

I owned that nap in the same way a toddler owns a balloon animal. Don’t mess.

Mothers? You know that tired you feel the first few weeks after giving birth?

I WAS EXHAUSTED LIKE THAT.

But I didn’t have to wear those mesh undies and do all sorts of “undercarriage” care.

So… Kickboxing 1 – Childbirth 0

???

Turns out, a different friend, Staci, was at the kickboxing class! We parallel kickboxed!

::looks at Shayne::

I neither kicked nor boxed my friend Staci.

SUCCESS!

Funny thing though… When I got/dragged myself home I had a note in my FB messages from that Staci saying,

HEY!

BOOT CAMP!

And I think the lactic acid build-up had already reached my brain because I was all, “OK!”

::wild eyes::

::no, WILDER::

So on the 6th day I rested and on the 7th day I went to this “boot camp”.

At boot camp the guy forced us to do things… “worms” or “the worm” or as I call choose to call it, “the most unattractive thing to do in public ever”…

I also did more push-ups than I think is considered legal…

(I think I may be hooked)

See??? Just say no to drugs!

Wait. I didn’t do drugs.

Well, I know one thing for certain… I may be saying NO to stairs for the next few days.

Oh so much.

::ow ow::

::ow::

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An Essay on Kickboxing, Drug Dealers and Resting On the Sixth Day is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

Lucy has had this tooth hanging on for dear life. Neither apples nor daily, solid tugs from dad has coerced this tooth to leave it’s gummy home.

Seriously.

Enter floss, a daring 6-year-old (who would have preferred to have tied her tooth to a horse) (she LOVES horses) (who was also miserable because you know how irritable those loose teeth can be), Kevin (our dog), and a Milkbone dog biscuit.

You know what? You just have to see it to believe it.

May I just add… this was NOT mother approved. I hid around the corner. Ish. I have no idea where my little girl got her spunk and nerve.

Also I almost threw up and had a belly ache for an hour.

But not Lucy… she’s tucked tight in bed awaiting the arrival of the Tooth Fairy.

And Kevin, I have it on good authority that the Tooth Fairy also brought him another dog biscuit.

Note: ALL video credit to the husband. Like I said, I was hiding. He asked me to hold the camera and I refused. Even IIIIII have my limits. Apparently.

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Caught On Video! Dog Pulls Loose Tooth! No, seriously… is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...