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Yup, I’m an 80’s Kid


Remember when we were younger and our grandparents used to talk about how they had to climb up hill BOTH ways in the snow to go to school. And how we had it soooo easy? I think every generation feels that the generations that follow them have it easier than they did. The thing is,  I wouldn’t trade my generation in for the newer ones.

One day I will remind my nieces and nephews that I was around before the internet. That sounds like crazy talk, doesn’t it? When I was younger, cell phones didn’t exist, we watched VHS tapes and we played outside. In fact, my mom used to lock my sister and I outside for awhile to play. These days you wouldn’t dare leave your child outside alone, or at least from out of your view. 
Some how we managed to live without air bags in our cars. We managed to stay in touch with our friends without the text message and Facebook. We rode our bikes without helmets. And you would be lying if you said you have never eaten a mud pie.
It used to be that you could leave your doors to your home unlocked, as well as your car. Now? I have my doors locked when I am in my home with my husband. You just never know anymore. My car is locked in my driveway and anywhere else I go. No one can be trusted.
I remember going to the mall with my mom in middle school and being allowed to walk around with my friends alone. I would be so scared to do that these days. You never know what sicko is lurking around.

There is a lot more to monitor these days too than just worrying about your kids watching rated R movies. They all have cell phones and computers with internet now too! You don’t want your kid to be so exposed and vulnerable to the entire world wide web! You never know what 45 year old child molester is hiding behind some cute little screen name or avatar saying that he is someone else.
I also feel as if we have lost site of what is really important. Is it necessary to punish a five year old for saying pow pow and playing cowboy? 
What about all the ridiculous wussification that is called sports these days? I see nothing but a bunch of pansy babies. Back in my day we played to win. If you didn’t do your best and the other team was better, then you lost. You had to suck it up and try harder next time. There was none of this “participation every one is a winner” trophy bullshit. How are these kids going to turn out as adults? They are going to have no imagination and no drive to be extraordinary.
Yup, give me the good old days.

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Got a Secret, Can You Keep It?

If an intro song to a show just popped in your head, then you know what I am about to say!
(And no gosh darn I am not pregnant. My blog feed is full of prego peeps and I don’t want none of that water you all are drinking!)

So I have a confession to make today. Chris and I were looking for some shows to watch over the summer months while our regular shows are on break. There are a ton of new shows that have started up in the last year, some maybe longer than that…that we have never seen. We decided to start watching Pretty Little Liars because, well honestly…there are a lot of bloggers that watch that show and I always used to just not read the posts because it didn’t apply to me…however…secretly I was thinking I needed to pick it up! There had to be a reason that so many people tune in week after week and write blog posts about it.

The show comes on ABC family and I believe is in the 4th season now. We just completed season 1. It has some cheese because it is on ABC family, however…the show is amazing! We are totally hooked! I love all the characters and the plot of the show. I enjoy most of the music they play as well.
It is one of those shows that you have to get past the first few episodes before it really gets good, so if you want to start watching it…just hang in there.
It is weird to me that these girls are in high school. They seem so independent, and are always staying the night at other peoples houses and have time to sneak away from dinner with their older creepy boyfriends and have money to get all these cute things but don’t have jobs. It is very interesting. I don’t remember high school that way. My parents always knew where I was going, I usually only had “sleep overs” with friends during the weekends when school wasn’t the next day. And when I was driving my senior year, I had to have a job to pay for gas and car insurance. Oh, and their outfits are so cute and way too put together for high school. Maybe that is my jealousy coming out a little haha.
At any rate. It’s a great show and I am glad we decided to give it a try! I am sure I will be caught up in no time and enjoying every ones reviews of each new episode! 
Pretty Little Liars is what I am loving this Wednesday

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The Silent Killer

The silent killer. Last fall I went to the doctor, something I rarely ever do. I have to be pretty sick and missing work to go to the doctor for anything. I have the mentality that most things you can fight off on your own without medicine. I rarely take medication for things unless I HAVE to or some type of pain is unbearable. I have always been like that. I digress…

Anyways, I went to the doctor because I just didn’t feel good. I had a wide range of things that I just didn’t like. I was tired, sluggish, my eyes would randomly twitch throughout the day, my leg muscles would randomly spasm, my weight was constantly fluctuating no matter how healthy I was trying to be, I had moments of confusion, dizzy spells…the list goes on.
My doctor took his time with me. Discussed everything that I had a concern with, and was determined to come to some sort of reason and solution. He took blood, lots and lots of blood to send off to have tested for various things. I left feeling like I was going to be taken care of.
A week later I received a call from the nurse. She stated that my tests results came back and they know exactly why I feel like crap. In fact, she said she was surprised that I was even functioning at all. I had a thyroid issue, my vitamin D count was low and my vitaminB….VERY low for someone my age. I was to start taking all sorts of new medications immediately. 
At my 3 month check up, my thyroid had risen to a normal level, and they didn’t have anything to say about my vitamin D deficiency so those supplements must have been working as well. My vitamin B? Not so much. Still very low. I was to continue to take everything as prescribed, and check back in 3 months. I had been feeling better, so I was pleased.
Fast forward to last month. I have been having issues with focusing, remembering things, a little tiredness coming back, my gums were sore, I was having headaches, and an array of other issues that I was trying to ignore and learn to live with. Back to the doctor to get my blood checked.
Thyroid is looking OK, Vitamin D OK, Vitamin B? NO. Dangerously low. It was time for a more aggressive treatment. I now have to have injections. They are tiered, starting with daily injections for awhile, then weekly injections, and then if I get my levels up to a safe/normal number I will go to monthly injections. 
I started researching the deficiency heavily since finding this out. The first site I looked at had the title “the silent killer.” Scary to think about really. There are so many issues that can occur because of the lack of vitamin B in your body. Did you know that your body doesn’t make vitamin B and that the only place that it can be absorbed is a small part of your small intestine. If you go with the deficiency for too long, you could have permanent nerve damage. 
The reason for my long post is not for sympathy or attention, but rather awareness. If you aren’t feeling right, go to the doctor. Don’t be stubborn like me. Don’t chalk it up to getting old or something else you have going on in your life. While it could very well be one of those things…it could be so much more. Or something that is easily treatable and having you feel amazing in no time. 
Giving myself shots on the daily is not exactly my finest moment in life. I am just glad I decided to find out what was wrong with me and do something about it.

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Weekend Shenanigans

Hey hey everybody. Another weekend has come and gone and it is back to the grind today! Woke up this morning to cloudy overcast skies and more rain…gross. I am SO SICK of rain!!

Let.s do the weekend in review, shall we?

Friday evening Chris and I had our sushi date. I love sushi! Chris had to work this weekend, so we came back home afterwards and watched a little TV.

Saturday morning I woke up with Chris, packed his lunch, did most of the cleaning and had my work out in by 9am. Then my mom came over and we went out for lunch and shopping! I love spending time with my mom, she is my best friend and the best shopping buddy anyone could ever ask for. She surprised me when she came over with a birthday present! She wanted to make sure I got it before my birthday just in case we weren’t able to plan another weekend out together between now and then. How cute is the wrapping paper?

It was a Coach purse! How exciting. I didn’t get a chance to snap a picture of the actual purse, but it is hot pink 🙂 I have so many neutral color and metallic purses, my mom knew that my next purse was going to be a fun color. She got it for me while she was visiting our family in Pittsburgh, so it means even more to me that she thought of me while up there. 
We went shopping at The Summit. Our first stop was The Loft, duh! We spend well over an hour in there. I think I tried on 25 things. I had a hard time narrowing down what I was going to purchase, I decided to only get things on sale. My mom was so sweet and bought me a pair of shorts and a tank top that I had liked for the rest of my birthday present. They are the first pair of shorts that I own in my adult life, well besides gym shorts. I NEVER wear shorts. I hate the way shorts look on me, but I really wanted a pair on super hot days that I didn’t feel like wearing a dress or skirt. 
She got me a black sun-washed tank to go with it. So cute. I also got a $5 tank to match a shrug sweater that I found on final sale. The sweater was marked $9.88 but it rang up $4.88!!! I was so excited! I found a pair of coral ankle pants as well for $14.88. So for $27 (including tax) I got a tank, sweater and pants! I thought I did VERY good! 
The pants look like this, only a little shorter. 
Tall Curvy Straight Leg Jeans
This is the shrug. You can’t really tell, but it is specks of mint green, white and beige. 
The tank I got to go under the shrug is a beige/tan color. I thought I could pair it with my chocolate brown pants for work, or jeans on the weekend. A great transitional piece for the late summer/early fall.
We decided to eat at Urban Cookhouse for lunch. My mom had never been, she loved it. I got the turkey crunch sandwich with marinated slaw on wheat, and a side of fresh fruit and a water. Gotta make the healthy choices while dining out as well!

Saturday evening when Chris got off work I made talapia and veggies (squash, zucchini, broccoli and carrots.)
Sunday morning I got up with Chris again, finished cleaning and worked out. For lunch I made a black bean burger and had edamame to go with it. Don’t worry I didn’t eat all the edamame on that plate, just a serving size haha. The black bean burger is by Morning Star, they are super yummy and you can throw them in the microwave or in a pan on the stove.

After lunch I went grocery shopping. I didn’t really have any meals in mind when I went the store. We are trying to keep dinner at 400 calories or under. We are going to have pork loin and green beans, kung pai chicken and stir fry veggies, roasted chicken over salad, and lemon pepper chicken with homemade baked sweet potato fries this week. Sunday evening Chris and I had a rotisserie chicken for dinner with steamed baby red potatoes and watched TV. 
I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! Happy Monday!
Sami's Shenanigans 
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Friday Five

This week has gone by pretty quickly, and I’m not going to complain about that one bit! Chris has to work this weekend, so my goal is to get caught back up with blogging. I have been so busy that I was struggling to get posts out, and I haven’t stalked anyone’s blog in so long! I have lots of catching up to do! I apologize if I haven’t been leaving comments on your blogs or engaging much. I hate that I have gotten behind, but I think it happens to everyone now and then. Feel free to leave me a link to a post that you think is a MUST read and I will check it out.

It’s that time again! Time to link up for the Friday Five with my girl Joy!
1. Julian Michaels 30 Day Shred
I need to get back to a regular exercise routine. No more excuses. I dusted off an oldie but goodie and Julian has been kicking my butt this week. My goodness I am out of shape! My legs are so sore that it hurts when I bend to sit down or stand up. My arms have surrendered, I can barely get changed. It is a good hurt though, it means those muscles are getting some work!
2. Fresh veggies
We are back to strict eating every day, and with that comes challenges to make healthy fun. I don’t want to get in a rut of eating chicken or salad every night, so I have had to get creative with recipes. I posted one of my favorite chicken recipes a while back that I pair with fried rice. I dropped the rice and made up my own version of stir fry veggies. I used squash, zucchini, carrots, broccoli, and snap peas with a splash of teryaki sauce and soy sauce. It was pretty yummy if you ask me. 
3. Coral

It sounds weird, but I have had such different colors on my toes the last several months, well really…since last summer…that coral is just fun and refreshing to me again! I had gray all winter, then a tiffany blue, then teal, then a dark green, a purple…I missed pink. I needed some in my life. What color are you loving right now?
4. UN-sweet Tea

Say whaaaa? Yeah, you read that right. I am pretty sure all you southern ladies just dropped me as a friend. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good sweet tea. However, it is not good on my waste line. I cut out regular sodas a long time ago, I have recently cut out diet sodas (for like the 10th time) and I am cutting out all other calorie/sugar drinks as well. That basically leaves water. Sometimes I want something other than water or lemon water. If you haven’t had a soda or sweet tea in awhile, un-sweet tea really isn’t that bad. In fact, I enjoy it. I find it refreshing, and it doesn’t leave that gritty slimy feeling in your mouth that sweet tea does. 
5. Limes

I have been eating hot air popcorn with limes for years. One of my dear friends turned me on to it a long time ago. Some snacks come and go in phases for me, but I never tire of plain popcorn with fresh lime juice squeezed over and just a hint of salt. I am telling you, you will not miss the butter one bit. Give it a try and invest in a lime squeezer if you don’t have one already!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

the Sowell life