Shopping Spree!

Today Dave and I went on a shopping spree! Not your typical shopping spree though, this one was all about food! We haven't gone food shopping in SO LONG - at least, not the good ol' fashion food shopping we used to - instead, we've just been stopping at the store on our way home from work and grabbing just what we needed for that night or so. Anyways, today we went to Produce Junction (where they sell just about every fruit and vegetable under the sun for pennies! ...essentially...) and then we went to Whole Foods which is another wonderful experience in itself. Honestly, my heaven may look something like a Whole Foods store... If you haven't been to one, go. It may change your life. Although, it is quite expensive, so save up for it like we did =)

Besides the fact that we bought so many delicious things today, it was also just really nice to spend some time with Dave. We really enjoy food shopping together, for some strange reason, so it was really nice to get a chance to go with him again, since we haven't in a while. And to top it all off, we got an adorable little Jade plant for $2! I just couldn't resist it when I saw it sitting in the store, and now it's looking all cute on our table.

Well, that's all for tonight because we're about to go enjoy some roasted chicken with potatoes, onions & gravy. Have a good evening!
-niquelle ❤

Mind Games

For about a month now, my husband and I have been going to the gym almost every other day because I really want to accomplish my kind-of-life-goal of having a flat stomach. I've been lucky enough throughout life to not have to worry that much about my weight because my metabolism has always kept me, well, average (as I mentioned in a previous post). However, I finally feel like I need to take that extra step and start maintaining a more active lifestyle.

The reason I titled this post "mind games" is because it's quite amazing what I can make myself do, when I set my mind to it. Up until today, I only ran 3.1miles (5k) twice before -in my entire life- and my best time was 33 minutes. Today, I told myself I was going to beat it, even though I usually only run 2 miles when I go to the gym, and guess what? I did! I ran 3.1 miles in 31 minutes and 40 seconds! I felt so amazing after that, and honestly proud of myself for doing it.

It just reminds me that anyone can do something they set their mind to and even though it sounds cliche, it's true. Plus, if you're not into cliche motivational quotes, then there's always this =)

I'll leave you on this note: stay positive, keep moving and go do what you always wanted to do! Who knows, maybe there may even be a marathon in my future?? (even if it takes me 5+ hours haha)

-niquelle ❤

I have a wonderful husband

Today while I was at work, (I'm a nanny for two boys; ages 9 and 6), the 6 yr old had a HUGE temper tantrum. He has autism - but he is very high functioning - so I have expected and experienced some trouble with him before, but nothing to this caliber. Basically, he and his brother and I decided to go for a walk, and we got down to the bottom of a very large hill which is at the base of their apartment complex. It was there that he decided he didn't want to do anything but sit at the bottom of the hill, which is where cars drive to get in and out of the complex, and scream and cry. I tried all my usual strategies, and his brother, who is always a great help, made suggestions about what usually works, but nothing was helping. I couldn't carry him up the hill because he was kicking and wiggling so much I was afraid he may fall, and it was quite a steep hill. So, after 30 minutes of sitting in the middle of the road, looking like a crazy person trying to convince this 6yr old boy to come back home with me, I called in reinforcements. My husband.

Mind you, we only have one car, and I had it in order to get to work. So, my wonderful husband ran 2+ miles in about 15 minutes in order to come help me carry this poor boy up the hill and calm him down. Of course, by the time he got there I managed to get the boy home and a bit more settled, but still my husband was so quick and willing to run out of the house, after working all day, and just help me. I felt so bad for having to call him, but he didn't mind at all and I realized how much I appreciate him and his presence in my life. Sometimes I get upset because he isn't the tidiest man and he enjoys video games quite a bit, but instead of looking at the negatives, I really need to focus on the amazing things he does do.

For example, he was so sweet and caring last night when I was being grumpy, (for no reason of course), and he was just holding me and comforting me while we were watching the fireworks. He is always trying his best to make me happy and cheer me up whenever I need it, and as you can see, he'll literally run to my call. He also took a bunch of goofy pictures with me last night, while we were playing with sparklers, and this one makes me extremely happy

I truly have an amazing husband ❤

A Godly Woman

My whole live I’ve felt average. I never really excelled in sports, or academics, or anything, instead, I just did what I was supposed to do while growing up, and I got by just fine, but I was average.

Now that I have the creator of everything as my Savior, I don’t think there’s any way that I could feel average anymore. Of course, I still do feel like that at times, we all do because we’re human, but when I stop and really think about it, I want to be as awesome as God sees me, and I want to show the world, myself, and mainly God (even though He already knows it), that I’m far more than average. 

The bible talks about the perfect woman. Not the (slightly unrealistic) “36-24-36” type-woman, but the woman who not only takes care of her home, but also matters of business, her families land, her husband, her children, herself, and most of all, she loves God in the process. Proverbs 31:10-30 describes this woman, and throughout all of the verses it never once mentions a woman who complains, or is selfish, or lazy, but instead a woman who “gets up while it is still night; [and] provides food for her family” and is considered to be, “worth far more than rubies.”

This is the woman, and the wife I aspire to be. Being married almost a year now, I have definitely changed (for the better), but I still have a ton of growth to do. This passage really inspires me to want to be a better woman, one that my husband can always be proud of and one that God can always clearly call His own.