Bid on our Tee Off eBay Auction!!

The Eastside Women of Purpose 2009 Tee Off Against Trafficking online auction is now LIVE on eBay!

If you aren't a golfer but have been looking for a practical way to get involved with the cause of STOPPING Human Trafficking, check it out and place a bid!

We have a TON of amazing items this year, and you don't want to miss out!

100% of the proceeds go towards the fight to STOP Human TRAFFICKING throughout SE Asia. By slowing trafficking in SE Asia, we drastically reduce the number of children and women trafficked into the US.

Now how is that for smart shopping!?!

Just click HERE to start bidding and change lives.

For more information and about our cause, click HERE.

If you win an eBay auction item, please considered all money bid over the value of the item, tax deductible.

Finn's Guest Appearance on SNL

My friend Amy is an AMAZING photographer and caught this shot of Finn the other day.
I LOVE it.
For those of you that are trusting of others, Finn is NOT appearing on SNL.
Amy just put that because it looked super cute.
Isn't my baby a cutie pie?!?! Look at those lips! Those eyes... That button nose!
(Note the scratch on his chin. Never has a scratch been so cute.)

My 10% Goal

I made my 10% Goal at Weight Watchers today! I've lost 19 lbs.!! It is the 2nd major goal that to achieve and I have REALLY wanted to get there. I honestly can't believe that I've made it this far. Plus, I got my awesome 10% Key Chain. ha ha. (I am really totally excited about it.)

WW Update.

I am still going on Weight Watchers! It's a minor miracle. Seriously. Haven't you been dying to know?!? ha ha.

I actually just started week 12 and have lost 17.6 lbs... this will mean that I have been doing it for three months. Three months means something to me. I have really wanted to give up a total of one time (and kind of wanted to take a break for a day a few times) but I didn't. I've been asking myself why I haven't stopped yet. There ISN'T any instant gratification and while I've lost a considerable amount, I haven't even hit a half way point. I am down one size but I kind of thought that I would be close to being down two sizes by now. But something in me wants to keep going. Here's what I've got at this point...

1) Accountability. My husband is doing WW and I try to attend meetings with a friend. We can talk each other through ups and downs and encourage each other to keep going. (It also helps that she threatens to un-friend me if I stop. How's that for motivation.) Read my friend Jodie's blog entry on "The Case for Accountability."

2) Energy. I'm starting to have more energy. This is coming from eating foods that are great for me, taking my vitamins and EXERCISE. I have realized from past attempts and regular exercise that I get BORED really easily. So this time I am mixing it up. I am taking new classes. I don't go to the same class every time. I am trying to challenge myself. This is leading to a few more Advil but more energy!

3) Fit. My clothes are starting to fit a little bit better. I am down a size. I am starting to look like I'm only a few months pregnant verses 7-8 months prego with twins. I have a long way to go but things are looking up. (To clarify... some parts aren't looking up but that is thanks to nursing and I am trying to get past it.)

I've really been enjoying a couple of new found foods lately.

I LOVE Oroweat's Double Fiber English Muffins. They are packed with fiber and only ONE point for the whole thing. I have also been getting Laughing Cow's Light Creamy Swiss Cheese Wedges (1 pt. per wedge) on top. Soooo creamy and delish. The Laughing Cow cheese can be pretty spendy at certain stores ($5.99) but I found a four pack at Costco for around $8. GREAT deal!

100 Calorie Packs as a treat. ANYTHING with chocolate. (Mint Milano's and Chocolate Covered Pretzels are my faves.)

Homemade Smoothies... 1 c. of fat free, plain yogurt; 1 c. of frozen berries; 1/2 banana; 1/4 c. or light vanilla soy; sweetener of your choice (been using two packs of Truvia). Blend until smooth. Delish! 4.5 pts. and VERY filling. Keeps me full and satisfied for a good 2-3 hours.

Eastside Women of Purpose Video

They did this video at church... I can't get past my crazy eyes and the super close shots but thought I would stick it on here! Enjoy!



Marisa Butterworth Interview from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.

WAKE UP!! Join us!

It's that time again! I would like to personally invite you to be a part of OCC's 2nd Annual Women's Event, AWAKE 2009, "Dangerous Faith!" Mark your calendars for March 6th and 7th!

Come get connected to the OCC community and learn how to begin living out a Dangerous Faith. If you have been a follower of Jesus for a long time or are just beginning the process of investigating faith, this is the event for you!

Although we are all women, we are a diverse bunch! Single, married, divorced, widowed, mother, career focused, young, old, strong, quiet, hurting. There is amazing strength in our diversity and when we come together to celebrate our uniqueness, amazing things happen!

Join me Jodie Howerton, speaker/missionary/Human Trafficking Warrior Leah Cypert, author/speaker Linda Vujnov, OCC's Lynne Ellis, and the AWAKE Worship Band (led by me - scary, I know) for a weekend of fun and challenge as we take a look at what living a life fully awake and completely tuned in to God's call looks like! We have 3 main sessions, a beautiful (non boxed) luncheon and six different workshops to choose from!

Here is a list of the workshops...

SEX in Sixty Minutes
Life Hurts, God Heals
Discovering my Purpose – Exploring and Developing Spiritual Gifts
Practical Compassion: How can I change the world?
Learning to Live Dangerously
Parenting under Pressure

Invite a friend or neighbor! There is still room left! Register online today!! www.occfamily.org/events/events.asp

Kicking Boxes

I have taken a couple of Kick Boxing classes thanks to my friend Sadie generously letting me join her as a guest at her gym. They kick my butt.

Jesse and his brother Bo came home last week to join us for dinner and relieve me of my motherly duties so that I could attend my class. After I left, Liam informed Jesse and Bo that his mama was going to kick boxes.

Could he be any cuter? I doubt it.

Down 13 lbs (and hopefully counting!)