10 Random Things About Me (that you won't find in my resume)

1. I recently discovered that my alter-ego is a health nut.
I used to think eating healthy meant paying into whatever the latest craze in health food research is (think acai berry or omega-3s right now). Not so. In fact, after getting educated on what exactly is healthy food (whole grains, fresh fruits & veggies) versus what is “fake” health food (just about anything that comes in a box with the words “healthy” or “nutritious” on it), I’ve learned that healthy food tastes good. Imagine that.

2. No mountain is too high.
“It is easier to go down a mountain than up, but the view is always best from the top.” ~Unknown Author Since moving to Arizona I’ve rekindled my love for being outdoors and hiking. With the weather as great as it is, we’ve been hitting the trails at least once a week.

3. I am a bookworm.
I’ve been hopelessly lost in a book since I learned to read as a preschooler. These days I’m a member of two local book clubs and even find ways to squeeze in a couple of extra reads each month too. I don’t really have a specific genre that I like to read, but I’ve been alternating between fiction and nonfiction so I don’t get burnt out on one or the other.

4. Scrapbooking is an addiction.
There is something about arranging pictures, words and various other “embellishments” on a page that just gets me every time. I’m always up for a scrapbooking project.

5. The handwriting is on the wall.
In high school I was nominated for the “Most Likely to Write a Novel” award. I didn’t ultimately win the award but for the amount of writing I have done over the course of my professional career (not to mention personal musings) I could have probably written a half dozen novels several times over. I wonder if the girl who did win that award actually went on to write anything?

6. I can’t hide my green thumb.
I have always liked having plants and flowers in and around my house. This year I ventured out into vegetable gardening by planting a “container” garden in the backyard. I’ll let you know how it turns out, but so far, so good!

7. Finding the beat within is a passion.
As a child and teenager I learned to dance as well as play the piano, trumpet and clarinet. Yes, I was a band geek in high school (no, I never went to band camp, sadly). Today, I love listening to new music, dancing with my boys and can’t wait to try the new Zumba class at one of the local rec centers.

8. Channeling Superwoman?
As a senior in college one of the organizations I was in actually gave me the “Superwoman” award at it end-of-the-year banquet. As if I didn’t know it by then, I’d been pegged the overachiever. At graduation, I was a member of seven different clubs, a student government representative, working three part-time jobs and still managing to write a column for the student newspaper and –gasp- go to class! Sleep was a luxury. Since then I’ve learned to establish priorities and boundaries. I still find it hard to say “no” sometimes, but most times I do okay.

9. Diet Coke & chocolate can cure any bad mood.
Well, that and pint of Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream. I may be a newfound health nut, but my comfort foods have remained the same over the years.

10. My ultimate vacation is spending time with my boys.
Hopefully there’s a beach involved in that scene too. And maybe a few pina coladas?

baseball season

Andrew's first baseball game was today! He did awesome. He made the last hit for his team and it was the first time he had actually hit a ball that was pitched to him.

The rules for the 5-6 year old league were a little strange. It went two innings and all of the kids on each team got to bat when their team was at bat. It was coaches pitch, but if the child hadn't hit the ball after 3 or 4 pitches they could use the t-ball stand to hit it. All kids ran the bases regardless if the other team got them out before they hit the base or not. I get that this age is about teaching them how to play the game. I sure hope the next level actually teaches the rules though, because the "fairness" factor is going to get old soon.

Spring Break

My mom came out for a visit during Andrew's school spring break. We really enjoyed having her visit and we kept her pretty busy too! She probably went home glad for the break from us. :)

it's all downhill from the top!

I've been hitting the trails around my new house in Mesa with a few other moms that I met in the Arizona Mountain Mamas group on Meetup.com. It's been so much fun :) and rewarding not only for the bragging rights of saying I conquered a mountain this weekend, but also because it has helped to jump restart my weight loss for weight watchers. I am now less than a pound from my final goal! YAY!!! Slow and steady wins the race right? I've been working on this since January 2008 - it is so great to finally see the peak. I'm working on a scrapbook to highlight the weight loss journey. I'll post the pages when I'm done so you can all see just how far I've come.

Moonlight Inspired... in the kitchen!

To all my moonlightinspired.com supporters... I need your help! I am vying to become the official (dare I say paid) food blogger for PNN (Personal News Network). In that position I will offer fun, witty ideas for budget-friendly (we ARE in a recession) gourmet meals and other food-related information.

I've set up my page and already started blogging, but part of the deal is building and interacting with the community. I invite you to check out my "broadcast", poke around (maybe cast a vote or two, or give me a star?).

Thank you so much for your support!
~Nicole