Is the 4th of July and I cannot wait. We're going to have a blast up at my parents house and may even get to ride on their new boat. Now that I can't wait for and neither can the kids. It's going to be a weekend of family, fun, lots of food and great times! Speaking of food, my mom called me yesterday to get some recipes: a dip, a desert and a main meal. I won't be surprised if I come home 5 pounds heavier after this weekend. She also said she's put some of her finest California wines in the frig to chill and bought some beer for the guys. I'm just looking forward to spending time with them since we haven't been up to their house in months and really haven't spent any time with them since before they left on their boat trip. They were here last week but they were going back and forth between my house and my brothers and it was only for 3 days so we didn't see them too much.

I'm sure more great memories are going to be made this weekend!

is the main reason I started walking in Breast Cancer Walks. About 4 years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is now proudly a breast cancer survivor and has been cancer free for 3 years! I just talked to her yesterday and she went last week for her yearly mammogram and will find out the results this Thursday. She says she knows it will come back fine and isn't worried. But if everyone could just please say a little prayer we'd appreciate it! I'm sure it will come back fine too, but saying a little prayer never hurt anyone!

Last week while the kids were playing at soccer camp, some of the other moms and myself sat around talking about everything and anything. And, because most of us are in our 30's, the topic of "which is the top wrinkle cream out there in the market today" came up. I've bought some but have yet to use it. And not because I don't think I don't have wrinkles because I know I do. Just because I keep forgetting to use it. So I more or less listened when this topic came up then talked. I learned about which ones are the best and worth their amount of money and which ones don't work at all. I was told to give it some time before you see any results - don't use it one night and expect a miracle over night in other words. I guess maybe if I actually take it out of the closet, take it out of it's box and leave it by the sink then maybe I'll remember to actually use it! You think?

The kids had soccer camp this week and while they were out on the fields learning new techniques, I was chatting with friends and having a blast. Alot of the time was soccer talk, but about half wasn't. We talked about everything from vacations this summer, to committee members for soccer, to the price of gas (and how it sucks) to the meanings of names. You name it we probably talked about it. I had a really great week - like I do every year at soccer camp.

One thing I noticed though was the amount of parents that didn't stay. Kind of sad if you ask me. I can see when your kids are older, but there were ALOT of kids Kieran's age (6) that had parents just drop them off, leave and not come back until 3 hours later when camp was over. I don't get that - I seriously don't. It's really sad if you ask me. There were probably about 50 kids in all and I think 5-8 of us stayed the entire time all week. What is up with that???????

and learned just how out of shape I am! The kids had soccer camp every morning this week up at the local park, so on Tuesday I thought I'd walk with my two friends. There were of course 2 things I didn't think of beforehand: #1 that they both walk FAST (like power/speed walkers) and #2 I'm out of shape. Not to mention that it's been 90 something degrees all week. So I walked a total of a mile and a half Tuesday morning. About halfway through I told my friends to just walk on and I'd meet back up with them at camp to chat. I just couldn't keep up. And you know what I noticed yesterday? That the bump on my left foot that I think could be the pin popping out, (where I had bunion surgery many years ago) has gotten bigger. I know - I need to get to the foot doctor and soon!

This week not only have we all been eating healthier, but are trying to live healthier all around. A friend of mine told me about this EcoQuest website where you can discover some awesome deals on healthy products for your home. There's such things as fry pans, tooth brushes and tooth paste. Or, if you're looking for things under food and nutrition there's EVOO as Rachel Ray would call it (extra virgin olive oil of course). They also sell dust mite free matress protectors or dust mite free pillow covers - something my allergy ridden kids could use. Some of their electronics include fans, steamers and even a coffee maker. And if you're a coffee lover like I am they sell some great Rainforest coffee. Then of course they also have a line of beauty products such as hand wash, bath salts and facial cleanser. And that's just naming a few.

If you're looking to live healthier, EcoQuest Marketplace is to the place to go.

This week, every morning while my kids were playing soccer, I was sitting up there watching them, talking to other moms and finding out about some great stuff. And, in return, I gave them a few pointers as well. For instance, at one point we were talking about how we're stay at home moms and how we refuse to put our kids in child care to go to work. It's important to us that we're home in the morning to see them off at the bus and then at home when they get off the bus. Plus, to be honest, for me to put all 3 in some kind of child care while I was working wouldn't be worth it - think about it - I'd be working for the chld care alone. Kind of dumb don't you think? Plus, that's just not me. So, I told them how I blog and get paid for it and I told them all about the other Marketing moms that are out there and they were all so interested. So this weekend I have to get all the information together I have such as all the different companies that give me opportunities to blog about and get paid for and then also, for some, how to start a blog. When I first told them how much I've made they all got silent and I don't think they all believed me. But as I kept talking they all became interested and kept asking question after question. It felt good to pass this information along, especially since I know some of them are in the same boat as I am with one or two kids on a competitive soccer team. I'm off to gather all that info right now and send it along.

I heard a story the other day that was kind of sad but ended in a good way. I can't remember if it was on the news, if I read it in the newspaper or a friend told me about it. It was about an elderly person who has alzheimers and walked out of their house and was lost for about 12 hours. His daughter had come by his house to visit with him and he was gone. The car was still in the garage and the house/car keys were on the kitchen table. But he was nowhere to be found in the house or around the yard. So she figured he'd just gone for a walk - something he did daily. But after 3 hours went by and he hadn't come home yet she started getting worried. She called the local police station hoping they could help. She also called the local hospital to see if he was there and no luck. Luckily, he had been wearing his medical id which had his name, her phone number and that he had Alzheimers written on it. Just as she was about to go out and start driving around her husband called. Apparently he had walked 5 miles to a grocery store and when a clerk saw him wandering around the store looking lost, he pulled him aside and saw the medical ID and called the number. When he called he got the huband who then called his wife. She was so relieved to hear he was okay.

I wish they had something like that back when my Nana was alive. She had alzheimer's in her early 60's and it got really bad right before she died. She left their apartment a few times and would be gone for hours. I remember how nerve wracking it was wondering if she was okay. I think these medical ID's are an awesome idea!!!! Every alzheimers patient should wear one!

Now that I've taken about 10 pounds off of me after chopping all of my hair off, I could still lose some more weight. I've always felt if I have short hair, I have to not be fat. And I feel fat and look fat so I need to start eating healthier and working out. I've thought of using one of my brothers stair lifts or maybe just walking on my treadmill to start off. I do have a ton of workout DVD's I should start using too. I actually have enough so that I don't have to do the same workout routine day in and day out. It's just finding the time to do them. I know, I know, that's an excuse. A really good one though. ;) I guess I could get up earlier in the day and workout before the kids wake up. But then I'm always worried I'll wake them up by doing that and then the day will just drag on and on because everyone's been awake so early. I know, another excuse! I will get started though - even if it's eating healthier first.

What you've all been waiting for!

Drumroll please!!!!!

First, I have to say, I was THE HIT of the salon this morning. I walked in and in front of about 8 women told them what I was doing (as far as chopping it all off and donating it) so from then on I had everyone in the salon's attention. They all watched as she chopped off my ponytail. Then as I walked through the salon for them to wet it so she could style it they all oohed and aahed. They even watched as she styled it and when I was done, they all loved it and congratulated me on a job well done.

And now, without further adieu, the pictures! Now remember, I'd never been to this salon before! And those highlights you see in my hair as she's cutting it, are my REAL natural highlights! I haven't died my hair in over 4 years, maybe more.  I can't wait to rewash it and style it myself!

I decided to put it in a slideshow for easier viewing and to take up less space on here. For those of you that I sent a picture to via cell phone - disregard that picture, it came out horrible! It looks so much better in person!

.