I’m generally able to get a pretty decent photo of Max every Thursday… like this one, which I snapped with my phone while we were having dinner at Panera on Thursday night:
What I haven’t shown as often is how many shots I take to get my one cute Thursday picture!
I deleted all of the out of focus ones and still had these outtakes.
Enjoy. 
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Dear Max,
You have been making us laugh, cry and laugh until we cry for five whole years now.
You absolutely have gotten your daddy’s class clown genes, and aren’t afraid to show them!
You revel in the attention that acting silly gets you; and when it’s appropriate, I am your biggest fan.
We went to T
arget the other night, after your birthday party… our amazing friends spoiled you for sure, and we had to exchange a couple of things.
You knew your dollar limit, and had some ideas of what you wanted. (It basically went like this: ANGRY BIRDS! STAR WARS! THOMAS! LEGO! HOT WHEELS! ANGRY BIRDS! STAR WARS! ANGRY BIRDS STAR WARS!) and when you turned the corner on that aisle and saw your dream toy?
Your reaction alone was worth the price of admission (In this case, the $6 more than your budget really allowed) Because honestly, I’d pay WAY more than $6 to get this sort of performance!
You are such a joy, kiddo.
You tackle everything with an energy level that I can’t even comprehend, whether it’s speed-brushing your teeth WHILE singing your ABCs, or waiting so impatiently for the asparagus you had at dinner make your pee stinky.
Everything matters 100%.
So happy 5th birthday, my beautiful boy. Now will you please just enjoy being five and STOP talking about how you can’t wait to be six?
Let’s just enjoy it, OK?
I love you the most,
To continue on to the next post in my Letters to Our Sons circle, please visit: Cara Kov Photography
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There are certain things I love in life.
Cracking the spine on a new paperback, the first stroke of a lovely new nail color, a new recipe that turns out even better than expected, and fresh, new cleaning products for spring cleaning!
I was offered to opportunity to review the Shaklee Get Clean starter kit, and couldn’t be more excited about it! Lovely new products, that are environmentally friendly, packaging conscious, delivered right to my front door, all in a handy dandy little carrier? Yes please! (Decorative grass and daisies not included)
I’ll admit, when I first opened the box, I was a little confused… I’d read about what I’d be getting in the kit, but didn’t understand how having me pour the (for example) laundry detergent from a bag into a provided plastic container. They were both labeled the same, so what’s with 2 packages for 1 thing?
Duh.
When I order refills of the products, I already have the container, so they just send the bag of stuff! Ah ha! Less waste! I get it now!
I excitedly opened the box and pulled everything out, sniffing and smelling all of the products, because that’s totally how I choose cleaning products. (True story.) They have a fragrance-free version, but I really like how light and lovely everything smells. Just nice and clean smelling… some people say they associate the “smell of clean” with some pretty harsh chemical smells. (Elementary school cafeteria, anyone?) I much prefer everything to just smell… well, clean!
There is a TON of stuff in the kit! Here’s the rundown of everything you get: (Ready?) The organizer caddy, Basic H2® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate, Germ Off Disinfecting Wipes, Nature Bright® Laundry Booster and Stain Remover, Dish Wash Concentrate, Dish Washer Automatic Concentrate, Fresh Laundry Concentrate HE Compatible, Dryer Sheets, Dish Washer Automatic Concentrate Dispenser, Nature Bright® Dispenser, 3 pre-labeled Spray Bottles (Windows and Mirrors | All-Purpose | Degreasing), Dropper, 1/4 oz. Dispenser Pump, Laundry Measuring cup, Dual Measuring Spoon, PLUS A Super Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, Window Cloth, Dish Sponge and a Miracle Scrubber Pad! Whew!
How it works is this: You get a bottle of Basic H2® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate, which is the magic potion of the whole deal. There are labeled spray bottles in the kit that give you instructions for use and proportions. Just 1 1/2 teaspoons, plus water, makes the Degreaser, 1 or 2 drops makes window cleaner. Super easy and I love that all the spray bottles are already labeled, because Sharpie always seems to rub off spray bottles.
The degreaser is my new favorite thing EVER! We keep our KitchenAid mixer on the counter next to the stove… super convenient spot, but it’s convenient for both me and all that invisible grease that builds up… it’s the pretty black mixer, and just a couple of minutes’ work and it’s as shiny as new! <—– I can see myself in it! I’m actually half expecting my mom to make a comment next time she comes over; “See? I knew you’d never use that thing!” (I’m kidding, Mom. Kinda. XOXO) It wiped the crud off my stove vent, and cleaned the inside of the microwave like a dream.
So are you jealous of how clean and fresh-smelling my house is yet? Want me to tell you about what a great job the laundry booster does, or how effective the dish soap is? Or do you want me to stop talking and give you the chance to win your own awesome Shaklee Get Clean starter kit? What?!?! It’s true! Shaklee is going to give one of my lucky readers their own Starter Kit with all the goodies I listed above! I wish they’d throw in a housekeeper to use all the stuff for you, but alas… all I can offer is a cleaning kit with a retail value of over $100!
How do you win? It’s easy! First though, please go read these official rules. Done? Great.
Now just follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below, and you’re all set!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: The Shaklee Corporation provided me with one free Get Clean® Kit to review; my opinions and experiences are my own.
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This is an annual birthday tradition… we’ve done it three years in a row now, so that counts, right?
I just started with video last year, since when he was 3, I mostly had to chase him around for a week and weave each question into conversation to get him to answer. I love looking back his his 4th birthday interview video, and reading his 3rd birthday answers. I can only imagine how much I’ll love these when he’s MUCH older!
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The newly five year old, in love with his new Angry Birds Star Wars Death Star
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As I write this, I’m about 6 weeks in to my 6-month commitment to the Shaklee Blogger program; I’d totally planned to do my written post early in the month and my vlog at mid-month, but then April got away from me (hello, Bloggy Boot Camp and Max’s birthday party prep!) and now here I am!
The quick and dirty: I’m currently, as of Wednesday morning, down 18.5 lbs. I’m up 1.5 from my very lowest, but blog conferences and airplane rides (ugh, altitude) are bound to throw me off. [Thursay-morning-10-minutes-before-posting-update: I've ditched the retained weight from my trip, PLUS some! I'm now exactly 20 lbs down from my starting weight!]
I’m still, generally, very happy with the Shaklee part of the program… I’ve been struggling to get back on track after my weekend away, but overall, I’m still happy with it. Thanks to the Facebook group of the other Shaklee Bloggers, we’ve all developed some really delicious smoothee recipes, to help change it up and keep us from getting bored by the 3 flavors of Shaklee powder, and the 2 flavors of meal bars.
I’m not going to post official photos, even though I’m taking them, because I want to save the “big reveal” for the end of the program! But I *will* share this little sneak peek:
And last, I will leave you with some of my most favorite recipes for my smoothees:
BUTTERFINGER – 255 calories
2 scoops Shaklee180 Chocolate
1/4 pkg. sugar-free Butterscotch Pudding mix
2 T. PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter
1 C. Almond Milk
Ice
PSEUDO-DOLE WHIP – 285 calories
2 scoops Shaklee180 Vanilla
3/4 C. Frozen Pineapple Chunks
1/2 C. Pineapple Juice
1/2 C. Almond Milk
Ice
BERRY EXPLOSION – 260 calories
2 scoops Shaklee180 Strawberry
Handful Frozen Mixed Berries
Splash no-sugar added Cranberry Juice
1 c. Almond Milk
Ice
CHOCOLATE COVERED BANANA – 310 calories
2 scoops Shaklee180 Chocolate
1 Banana (Sliced, Frozen)
1 c. Almond Milk
Ice
This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating in the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. People following the weight-loss portion of the Shaklee 180™ Program can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week. My opinions are my own.
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I’ve never “gotten” running.
I have friends who talk about how they hate the first mile, but then the endorphins kick in and… that’s usually where I tune out.
I’ve never wanted to be a runner.
Now, don’t get me wrong… I’ve tried it. I did some Couch to 5k last year when I was preparing for my duathlon, but I never did click over from the mantra of “I hate this. I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.”
I can ride my bike for MILES. The first time I took my bike out last year, I did 16 miles without even thinking about it.
I got on my bike in my driveway, and when I looked up, I was approaching a footbridge that I know is more than 8 miles from my house.
But running? I struggled to round the loop around our block, I was so miserable.
I’m a cute flats kind of girl; I don’t even wear sneakers when I’m out running errands.
And then the 2013 Boston Marathon happened, and someone set off bombs at the finish line.
The killed and maimed people, including 8-year old Martin Richard, who was waiting for his Daddy to cross the finish line.
I don’t “get” running, but the people in that marathon did, and someone took their lives, limbs, and sense of safety from them.
And now I’m pissed.
And I want to run a marathon.
I want to run to prove we’re better than that.
I want to run for the people who won’t be able to after yesterday.
I want to run as a big EFF YOU to the people who did that.
I want to run a marathon.
Am I crazy?
Maybe.
I’ve never wanted to be a runner.
But I do now.
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Today’s photos are brought to you by my in-laws, Grandpa and Bubba.
Max spent this whole last week with them, at “Camp Bubba” in Grass Valley!
Camp Bubba was full of adventures, and on Thursday they took the Amtrak train for a 2.5 hour ride from Colfax to Truckee… it’s actually the same train line, the California Zephyr, that we’ll be riding all the way from Chicago in July!
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I came home from work today to find that Max and Jamie had built this catapult from an old Red Toolbox project kit. I’m pretty sure Jamie picked it up when Max was still an infant.
Of course, because it’s Max and because it’s a toy that launches things, it instantly became an Angry Birds launcher.
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Heh. The short version. Thing number one, I'm tall. I've been told I should have a warning on my blog, so here it is! I am taller in real life than I appear on the internet.
