7QT: A leprechaun museum, good books, & being a competitive bear...

1. Sunday was a crazy, fun, loud day.  The morning started with my very first 5K, eek!  My Mom, sister, and I did this 5K together for ovarian cancer in support of a very special lady in our lives, my aunt.  Honestly, I was totally surprised how much fun it was!  We all had matching headbands "4AC" and met some amazing survivors who were hopeful and encouraging to talk too.  There was a lot of joy present, which was great for the three of us gals...cannot wait to have Aunt Carolyn there with us next year.  At one point the race officials asked if any survivors were present, and one woman kept her hand raised proudly for being in remission for almost 14 years, with her toddler son bouncing on her hip...what a miracle!  It was a gorgeous day, and have even decided to start training to run a 5K with the program "Couch to 5K."  I know I can totally do it and who knows maybe next year I'll do the 10K!? :)

Later that evening we went to my folks for dinner and the most insane.loud.crazy. game of Taboo I have ever seen.  I can get a wee bit competitive at times, and was lectured by mi madre for the unkind.mean. things I said to Jim...sorry for the sass dear.

Guess who's going to Ireland!?

After dinner, we unleashed a bomb of a Mother's Day present.  All us siblings and spouses decided to open up a savings account which over the next year's we will put money into for birthdays, holidays, etc. so in 2-3 years Ma and Pa Breen will have airfare covered to visit Ireland.  The three of us kids have spent a lot time gallivanting across Europe, and we all decided it was time for these two to go.  They were both shocked, we got em' good.  Mom cried, and Dad said he wouldn't let us...okay you don't wanna go to Ireland, I'm very happy to step in ;-)
In the end they agreed, and Mom is happily planning activities to do like visiting the Irish famine and Leprechaun museums.  Maybe we should start investing in a good tour guide now? I think so.



2.  With May brings the winding down of another year in youth ministry.  This year the youth leaders have been wanting give the youth room a makeover.  So after a few trips to Home Depot and a couple containers of chalkboard paint we were set to go.  We painted large area's around the TV with the chalkboard paint and each teen chose a brick on the brick wall to paint/design.  Then some teens wanted to put their hand print on the wall.  And then another one decided to put her foot print on the wall.  A ruined manicure and three hours later, things looked great!  It was a fun way to spend an afternoon together, especially with the seniors who are graduating in a few weeks.


3.  Along with the year winding down for the summer months, I am starting to interview teens for the leadership team next year.  I was reading the application of one young lady before she cam to her interview yesterday.  It made my heart smile when I read her answer to a particular question: "I want to be a part of the leadership team because at youth group I feel accepted, loved, and a part of something bigger than me.  I want other teens my age to have that same experience too."  There are certainly times where my job makes me want to pull my hair out, but moments like this make me feel honored for getting to work with and for the young church.


4.  I am not Polish.  I am Irish and Greek...though you would never guess that as I am lovely shade of pasty white.  One thing I like about the Polish culture is the food.  I am eagerly looking forward to enjoying a Polish festival tonight with Jim and a friend of ours.  Looking forward to enjoying some tasty Polish goodness.


5.  On Monday I'm getting together with a crew of Michigan bloggers to get together and chat about Jen's new book, Something Other Than God.  Its kind of cool to think these gals you follow in the blog-o-sphere, and now I'll be spending an afternoon with them.


6.

I.cannot.stop.reading.  I have always loved a good book, but once you stop watching TV I'm amazed how much time I find for other, more important things.  In the last month or so, I have finished 4-6 good books.  Right now I'm reading Jennifer Hudson's memoir; she was on American Idol and is a spokesperson for Weight Watchers.  It comes at a good time for me to motivate and encourage me to stick with food plan that has helped me keep a good amount off weight off...know I just need to really follow the plan.
If you're looking for some good books to read this summer, check some of these out!
                       


7.  Thursday I grabbed lunch with 2 of the young women who went with me on our World Youth Day pilgrimage to Brazil last July.  It was the first time us ladies were together since coming home; it was great to catch up, share memories, and laugh at some of the crazy things we encountered while in Rio de Janeiro.  Every time I see this picture I cannot help laugh...I just look so crazed here. #funtimesinrio

American posers on Copacabana beach. typical.

10 things I forgot to thank Mom for

Its easy to thank my Mom for the noticeable things in life like teaching me my faith, giving me siblings, and oh yeah that whole "giving birth to me thing" too...but I have been thinking about the other little, random things in between too recently.
Maybe some of you can relate? Grand:)

So Mama Cita thank you for....

1.  Putting up with my sassy girl ways over the years and frequent rolling of my eyes to you and/or Pops

2. Reading me with me every night before going to bed when I was growing up: my favorites were the Nancy Drew mysteries and Little House on the Prairie series

3.  Always telling me there is nothing I can't come to you with, than I can tell you anything

4.  Teaching me how the trick to finding the perfect shade of lipstick and how to pluck my eyebrows...oh and not totally freaking the freak out the time I royally screwed up my eyebrows in high school

5.  Teaching me how to clean well, especially the bathroom...your tricks of the the trade have done me well

6.  all.the.driving. School, going to the mall, games, rehearsals, concerts...all the years of shuttling us kids around

7.  Getting up in the middle of the night to help me change my sheets when I had an accident during my bed-wetting phase

8.  All those times on Sunday getting ready for church you reminded me to wear a slip and/or asked me if I was wearing one...its become second nature for me by now ;)

9.  Buying me that nasty-horrible nail polish to put on my nails to help me stop biting them...I attribute my healthy strong nails to you She She

10. Helping me love and talk nice to myself...when girls were mean/teased me in elementary school you had me go in front of the bathroom mirror and say positive things to myself


For these and much much more Momsy, muchas gracias! 

Problems with pork loin and M&M obstacles...

1.  Last Saturday, we had a friend over a dinner and I was thrilled to try a new recipe, a pork loin roast. The recipe sounded pretty easy: slice up pork loin roast, put apple slices between each slice, throw in dashes of honey/cinnamon, and let it cook in the crock pot for a few hours.  Well the meat was nice and tender, but apparently honey and cinnamon are not the most flavor packed spices.  It tasted decent, but at the same time was kinda bland.  Live and learn. At least it was better than the time I ruined the waffle maker or made cookies that Jim said looked like "donkey turds".



2.  Since saying farewell to Netflix, I'm fascinated how much time I don't waste watching TV and actually really don't miss it that much.  Less TV time, has helped me really get back into reading.  Since December I've finished about 7 or 8 different books.

I went to the library on Monday to pick up a copy of this book I have been wanting to read for awhile now.  Its the story of a woman who at a young age got into a successful modeling career which eventually took her to win the Victoria's Secret Fashion show in 2009 at age 19.  Along her journey, she became a Christian.  I was intrigued by this story line because I know sometimes I look at models/compare myself to them and think they have it all together, look perfect, and happy/successful women.  Kylie opens up and talks about the dark side of all the glamour: emptiness, loneliness, feeling you're never good enough--even when a size 2, and being objectified by an entire industry.  It was a great read; so much so, I finished it all on Monday night...late Monday night.


3.  Feeling angry?  Here are some ideas on how NOT to handle it...I've learned the hard way.  If you ain't kicking a hole in a door, you're one step ahead of me folks.


4.  Last night was special night out with my Mom, sister, and MIL.  Every spring a local church has a lady's night out at a local banquet hall: there's good food, drinks, shopping, and different women speakers speaking on a faith based theme.  This year the theme was 'Cloud of Witnesses' and women who spoke shared their stories of faith and perseverance.  One of the women who spoke was Amy O'Rourke, the wife of police officer Patrick O'Rourke from the metro Detroit community.  Almost 2 years ago, Amy's husband was shot and killed by man who eventually took his own life.  Amy's talk was SO inspiring: she speaks her their strong shared faith and how she forgives, and knows in the deepest part of her heart, her husband forgave the man who killed him.
Her faith, hope, sorrow, and message of forgiveness were incredible...and there wasn't a dry eye in that banquet hall.


5.  So Jen's book is officially out...mine came in the mail yesterday & I'm tearing into it like a monkey on a cupcake.  I'm REALLY excited to hopefully get together sometime this month with these lovelies: Jenna, Dwija, and Iris for an epic selfie picture with Jen's book & have a book release party together!!!


6.  I was pretty disappointed when I heard Verily magazine would no longer be in print...but another magazine I signed up for, arrived for the first time this week.
Relevant is a Christian magazine for young adults.  It covers culture, music, faith, international issues, and intentional living.  I was so excited when I saw my first issue in the mail box this week.  Its a great read, and has some thought provoking articles to make you think.
If you're looking for something to challenge you & open your eyes of faith more, Relevant is a great option!!


7.

This picture sums me up SO.well.

Growing up, my version of trail mix consisted of picking out the raisins and M&M's...cause really we all know that's the point of the trail mix right?

Well this week Jim came home one day to find the trail mix totally naked of chocolate/salty goodness. All that was left was a bowl of picked over cashews and almonds....needless to say he wasn't thrilled.  And then I had to explain all the nut leftovers in the trash.... #longstory  #funtimes



Linking up with the official authoress herself!!