time moves on…

 

I can’t believe its been 7 months since my last post.  I guess you could say I just needed some time for me and all that I say yes to on a regular basis.   My Fall started excitedly with my endeavor into the Arbonne world.  That has been an amazing journey in and of itself.  Christmas came with a great trip to Georgia to see the Deacon and Pops.  In came 2014 with a “flurry” of fun and before we knew it  Spring Break was here.  I can’t believe that our school year ended Friday.  I am now the proud Mama of a Kindergartener and a 5th Grader.  Wow when did that happen? 

Cameron and Junior Mint are growing up so fast.  Cameron has embraced the game of golf and Henry is following in suit.  Mr. Miller is very excited.  I don’t play golf but am enjoying watching the 3 men in my life share in this pursuit.  We will be taking Private Lessons this summer, if you live in KC click on the private lessons link and give them a call.  Great people!  Cameron will be attending a weeklong Golf Camp in June.  We will have our last Webelos Camp at Camp Naish in July for Cam and Mr. Miller.  I can’t believe he will cross over into Boy Scouts this Fall.

As for Junior Mint, well…. he still follows big brother everywhere.  He loves to swing and garden.  He helped me harvest our first items out of the the Green Acres Garden.  I tripled the size of the garden this year.  I will be sharing more as the time moves on.  He LOVES to be read to and going to the library. I am trying to contain my excitement over this prospect right now.

Mr. Miller still works for the Big Green Tractor Company and will be celebrating 13 years this summer.  Wow!

As for Green Acres in the City….I am wanting to change things up a bit.  Would love suggestions from you, my readers.  I am looking for help in a new blog design as well.  I love the barter system.  BTW I am holding a contest over at my FB Page for Arbonne.  If you like my page you will be entered into to winning a free gift!

Can’t wait to see where time will take us, Green Acres in the City and how we will grow.  For now blessings and we will talk more this week! 

 

Day 28

 

We survived the Arbonne 28 Day Detox and couldn’t be better.  Mr. Miller and I have a new lease on life and are not stopping.  Here are the amazing totals for the 28 days:

I lost 20 pounds and 27.5 inches!

Mr. Miller lost 13 pounds and 22.5 inches!

Who would have thought that 28 days ago I would have been able to do this?  Not me for sure but I  was willing to give it a try.  I just had to begin.  Simply begin, make that change for you first.  That’s what I did.  I am grateful to my husband, Anna, Karolyn, Elizabeth, Kristen, Mandy and Melinda for supporting me through this journey and taking their own steps toward a healthier lifestyle.  I can’t wait for my friends, Rachel and Kelly, to continue their journey.  I am pulling for you girls!

Mr. Miller and I plan on keeping this lifestyle.  We truly have never felt better.  Plus I can’t say how good it feels to have jeans that you couldn’t get up over your hips be too big now.  That pretty much rocks my world.  I have a long way to go but know I am not alone on this journey.  If you want to make a change all you have to do is begin.  I am here for you.  Together we can move mountains, lose pounds, lose inches and just plain feel better.  WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  Simply visit here and I will help you begin.

 

14 years

 

14 years ago in Topeka, a little Church called Grace Cathedral I said “I Do!”.  I haven’t looked back since.

I have the honor of being married to my best friend, lover, father of my children and amazing partner on this journey of life.   We have had some ups and downs, twists and turns but it has been one heck of a ride so far. 

I feel so blessed to be married to you Mr. Miller.  I love you more today than ever before.  You have given me unconditional love, respect, honesty, passion and two amazing little boys.  What more could a girl ask for.  Thank you for asking “Where I had been all your life?”.  Look where one little question that ended in a kiss that night took us.

LOVE YOU and Happy Anniversary.

the birth of fluff…

I talked last week about some exciting new things happening in my world.  Well here it is:


My business partner and good friend, Kristen, and I opened a Cloth Diaper Boutique in the heart of Old Shawnee Kansas.  We are operating inside of Heart to Heart Creations at 11004 Johnson Drive.  You can find out updates and information right now here.  Our website is still under construction but will be live soon for our online business at Fluff Diaper Boutique  Here is a brief bio about us.

“Fluff is a Mom owned, and operated Cloth Diaper and Natural Parenting boutique located in Heart to Heart in Shawnee, KS. We offer popular commercial brands in addition to products produced by local talented Moms and Dads. We also offer an online store with baby registry at www.fluffdiaperboutique.com.

We offer many different styles and ways to cloth diaper that little bottom in your life. Together Kristen and Maeghan they have over 20 years in retail experience and they have over 5 years of cloth diaper experience.

Kristen Marquis the Mother of 4, 3 girls and 1 son, has enjoyed using cloth diapers for her youngest child. She is an eco-friendly and natural parent who believes in the importance of taking care of the earth and our children as respectfully as possible. Kristen is the Head Merchandiser and brains on the behind the scenes business.

Maeghan Miller is the mother of 2 boys, when she had her 2^nd over 3 years ago she knew she was going to use cloth and hasn’t looked back. She is also the WAHM behind Green Acres Closet Woolies. Maeghan will also use her experience in Marketing Fluff inside the store.

Based on own experience of getting started in Cloth, Kristen and Maeghan share a vision of teaching parents and others that cloth diapering doesn’t have to be a chore. It is fun and fashionable, earth friendly and in this economy cost effective. We don’t claim to know everything there is to know about cloth diapering but we will share what we do know and offer you an exciting journey into the world of Cloth Diapers. “

Kristen and I have prayed and worked very hard for this dream to come into reality.  It hasn’t been an easy road but we took our “post it notes” from God and knew that he would help us achieve our goals.  Thank you doesn’t seem enough to say to our parents, friends and neighbors who have supported us on this journey.  Here are a few pics of this journey.
Getting fixtures ready.  We really wanted to concentrate on up cycling if we could, garage sales for some and with the exception of the washboard, washtub and 2 cans of spray paint we were able to keep our costs down.



The door has been in my basement forever and I found the changing table at a Garage Sale for $7.  Kristen’s Mom gave us the paint and well the labor was provided by Mr. Miller and his sidekick Mr. Dutcher.  As for the little hands they were kept busy with wipes cleaning off the dust.





Before:

After:

1st Communion

In April the 2nd graders at St. Thomas More celebrated their First Holy Communion.  It was a very beautiful day filled with many emotions.  Being that we are Episcopalian, Cameron received a special blessing from Father Don.  We were joined in this event by the Deacon and Pops, Gigi, Mimi and Poppa, Aunt Erika and Uncle Randy (his Godparents) and his cousins – Nate and Makennah. 

 

 

 

Cameron and C were very sharp dressed men.  They are not afraid to sport the bow ties.

Cameron and our sweet little friend, Miss H of the MG’s.

Cameron had a special honor of presenting the gifts.  We didn’t let Gigi in on the surprise.  We knew that she would love this honor.  She is a very proud Catholic of 92 years.  She traveled from Newton to share in this special day for Cameron and his classmates.

These kids did an amazing job and worked very hard to get to this special day.  My heart was definitely full that day.  Father Don kept referring to them as “little lambs” and on that day they definitely were, all 64 of them.

 

oops I did it again…

Almost 2 years ago I cut my hair for the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program.  Well yesterday I did it again for Locks of Love program.  It felt so right and good the first time I had to do it again.  Cancer is something that can strike anyone at anytime.  I am the daughter and daughter –in-law of 2 said survivors.  My Daddy is a Prostate Cancer survivor and The Deacon fought the battle with Colon Cancer and won.  I feel that this is a very minor thing that I can do to help those that need it.  We all love our hair and I can’t imagine having mine fall out.  Dad and The Deacon were both very lucky to not lose theirs, although my Dad is a little bare on top already.  Sorry Daddy I couldn’t resist.

If you have long hair won’t you at least think about it?  It is simple and it does grow back.  I also look at it as a way to get a new boost of confidence about how I look.    Are you ready for the transformation?

Before:

 

After:  Please excuse the no makeup in the after shot. 

 

 

My new friend, Kristi, did the honors.  She is a fellow Mama from St. Thomas More.  She is amazing.  If you live in the KC area and are looking for a new Hair Goddess, let me know!  Thank you again Miss Kristi for making me feel pretty again!

 

I was able to send 8.5 inches 2 years ago.  This time I had over 12 with the braid stretched out.  It takes several braids just like mine to make one wig.  Think of how many people we could all help.

3!

3 years ago this was the face of an anxious Mama waiting to me her new little baby.  Would it be a Henry or a Lucy?


Well we all know the answer to that… 

Henry Patrick Miller blessed our world at 1:47 pm on Monday, January 26, 2009.  He weighed 7lbs 8oz and was 19 inches long

Big brother wanted you so.  He asked and asked for a little brother, well you know how I hate to disappoint.
Henry Patrick Miller you took your own sweet time getting here but we are oh so ever happy to have you!  Each year you have changed so much.  Always curious, independent and so full of joy.

When you turned 1 you decided to try things out. 

You turned 2 and the world became so exciting.

Today my sweet Junior Mint you are 3!  We love you so much, Mama and Daddy can’t wait to see what adventure you take us on this year!  Happy Birthday Monkey!

we had a celebration this weekend!

This little man is turning 3 tomorrow!
We had lots of family, great friends, good food and sock monkeys!  Let’s not forget anything that I could find in Red, Brown and White.  Thank you to Mimi, Nana and Pops for helping this Mama who was under the weather give her little Monkey a great party!

better late than never…

We adventured to Valdosta over Christmas to see Nana and Pops…
The boys got a very special Christmas present this year.



We had a great time.  At first they were very reserved so we decided that the adults might be more excited than them over the whole trip.  We developed our own battle cry.  “Where are we going?  We are going to LEGOLAND”!
Finally the boys gave in and joined us in the cause.






The day was full of fun and adventure.


We learned where Legos came from and how they were made.



Henry rode his first amusement park ride with Nana.


Mr. Miller and Pops kept watch over us all.



Cameron got to see a few friends from his favorite Movie.


Mama and Mr. Miller got to enjoy watching the boys and their Grandparents have a ton of fun making lifetime memories.


We saw a beautiful sunset and some great fireworks at the days end.




Legoland was a Blast and Thank you Nana and Pops for a great Christmas!