Despite The Odds, Graduating The Heck Out Of College at 30!

            18 months ago I took a chance on myself (and my family) and enrolled into college. With two kids, a husband and not much spare time as it was I had more than major doubts but I also knew I would regret not trying. I also knew if I was going to go anywhere with my graphic design business I had to get competitive and gain skills that would put me at the top for any clients. Also, I had always worried that if anything happened to my husband, and I needed to go back to work, I had very few marketable skills, and that was unsettling.
              My first day was so overwhelming for me, when I got home I just cried because I didn't think that I was smart enough to do it and I felt silly and old, that I didn't belong. But I owed it to myself and my family to at least give it my best. Plus I couldn't let my six and seven year old see me quit. They thought it was so exciting that Mom was going back to school. My goal was to just take it one day at a time, one homework assignment at a time and try not to think of how daunting it all was. And soon enough I starting feeling a lot more comfortable, finding a groove and balancing between school and home. Next thing I knew I was finished with my first set of classes with all A's! Now don't get me wrong... I knew early on there were things that would have to be compromised in order for this school thing to work out. This blog for one was put on the back burner, my husband had to help out a lot more with cooking(going out to eat) and helping the kids with their homework so mom can do hers and I wasn't able to volunteer in my boys class rooms this past year.  I was feeling bad about this one day and my dentist told me it was good for the whole family to sacrifice a little for something as important as this and that we would all be better in the long run. And she was so right. And strangely enough it made us closer and we actually had more family time if you can believe it. Because I had this outside interest of school and my entire focus wasn't just on my family I didn't take them for granted as much and all of my spare time was focused on my family because I couldn't get enough of them.

         Then by the time I was at my halfway mark at school I had gotten a real taste for A's and knew there was no excuse for me to not achieve an A in all my classes. This is strange because I almost failed out of high school. I was a terrible student growing up and I even failed out of collage the first time I went right out of high school. But going back to college was unexpectantly empowering. I really came to know just how capable I am after accomplishing one task after another and somehow excelling at each one because I had the mind set to do my own personal best.

          Well I just graduated from College on Saturday Three months before my 30th birthday with a 4.0 and also picked up another degree along the way, so I graduated not only in Graphic and Web Design but also Web and Animation. I was also fortunate enough to be a Graduation Speaker which was a challenge all in itself, but by taking one step at a time (and a mental break down) I conquered that as well. I have been through a lot during my lifetime and never thought I would go to collage and I was encouraged by my teachers to share my journey to graduation. When I was writing my speech I was worried that it was a little to raw and a little to heavy for a graduation speech. I kept telling myself "I can't tell a room full of strangers that stuff, its too vulnerable, its too humiliating!" But this was my journey. I knew I had to be brave for myself. If nothing else I had to tell my story for me. This was my conquering moment. I hadn't got where I was by not giving it my all and I wasn't going to start now. So here is my crazy, scary, brave speech... that ended up being one of the most amazing moments of my life ending in a standing ovation that I never saw coming.

I am just full of so much gratitude for this amazing experience and the wonderful people who pulled me through it. I wouldn't have been able to do any of if without their support and encouragement. It took a village.

Skinny Philly Peppers (Just 310 calories)

I love putting together light healthy recipes that my whole family loves to eat, because I just don't have the time to make a separate dinner for myself. Not only does it help the rest of my family used to more portion appropriate dishes early on in their lives but it helps me be more successful in the long run with controlling my weight if I can incorporate more convenient methods to getting fit. 

This is a light take on Philly cheese steak stuffed peppers, and they are so good no one could guess they where so few in calories which is my favorite part. Plus there is cheese involved need I say more?!

Skinny Philly Peppers

(Serves 1) Just times everything to how many people you are feeding.

Need:

1 Large Green Pepper

4 slices Lunch Meat Roast Beef 

1/2 C. of weight watchers shredded cheese

1/4 of an yellow onion sliced

1/2 can of mushrooms

1 TBS of Worcestershire Sauce

Pam cooking spray

1 tsp. Garlic Salt

Pepper

Preheat oven to 375 F.

1. In a large skillet on medium high spay PAM then add your sliced onions and mushrooms. Sauté for about three to five minutes just until they are lightly cooked.

2. Slice the lunch meat into strips than add the meat to the sautéing vegetables. Pour in the Worcestershire sauce to cook in with the meat and veggies. Then sprinkle garlic salt in. Stir occasionally, until most of the moisture and juices are cooked out. Salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.

3. Cut your large green pepper in half length wise and scoop out the middle and seeds, plus the hard stem part. Lay on cookie sheet. Divide 1/4 c. up cheese between the two halves of peppers and stuff the cheese into the bottom of the pepper. Now you can scoop and stuff the meat mixture into the two peppers. Bake in oven for 25 minutes, then top with remaining 1/4 c. of cheese and bake for another 10 minutes. 

Hope you enjoy!

A Tribute Music Video To My Kids ("Kids Ruin Everything")

When it comes to making home movies my favorite is making music videos and this time Ive made a music video out of old home movies depicting our love for our children and the beautiful changes they have made in our lives that we never saw coming. 

My husband and I watched the final cut together last night and we could not help but both cry. Its not that its sad but it really depicts the evolution and the shear beauty of our parenthood and how incredibly blessed we are. Talk about perspective!