PicMonkey

I'm a fan of using Picnik for photo editing.

I've used it for the past year or so to edit photos,

add text, and make collages.

However, Picnik will be going out of business in April!

What???

So, I've been scouring the internet and other blogs

trying to find an alternative...

And it's been HARD.

Nothing seems to have the same options and features

as my beloved Picnik.

Until...

I found PicMonkey!

Hallelujah!

I love what I've seen of it so far!

I actually think it might be even better then Picnik!!

So, I suggest you check it out for yourself...

Here's a pre-edited photo...

It's a pretty good photo on it's own, 

but I did some touch ups and got this...

My sweet Gavin when he was a little guy!!

LOVE IT!

Have a great Saturday!!!

Kony 2012

I'm sure you've caught wind of Kony 2012 online this past week...
Maybe seen it on Facebook or Twitter.

I'm not only stirred to be a part, but I'm so impressed with Invisible Children.
Never before have I seen a mission so simply described and implemented.

This campaign makes it possible for everyone to play a part...
And that sort of grassroots warfare stirs me more then anything ever will,
it awakens the call of Jesus to follow Him to the hurting and oppressed in our world.

Watch the video...take 28 minutes and watch the video.

Then, talk to me about how we can take part together.

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

Getting my body back...

I'm a mom of 3 kids (6, 5, and 2).

If you have had children, you can relate to the fact that your body um...CHANGES after having kids.

It's a bit "softer" in places that had once been firm (or at least flat).

UGH.

I used to think..."well, I guess this is just how my body is going to be from now on"...

"I'm never going to look that that again."

But, I'm starting to think that it's NOT IMPOSSIBLE!

In fact, I don't even want my pre-kids body back...I want something even better!

I want to be strong and fit and in the best shape of my life!

(granted no amount of exercise can erase stretch marks, but they're my battle scars, right?! HA!)

A little inspiration...

Pinterest

Isn't this amazing??? She is my hero.

Or maybe this...

Um...yeah...this lady is holding her 10 MONTH OLD...wha????

Are you inspired?

Good, because it's time to get to work.

3 months.

That's the time period we're going for here...March, April, May.

I find that setting a time period for extreme work makes the process a little easier.

I have all intentions of continuing, but having a time frame helps this Mama out, you hear me?!

So here's the plan...

I'll be at the gym getting my booty kicked 4-5 days a week.

And I am committing to using the My Fitness Pal app for the next 3 months as well.

No crash dieting or fads...just hard work, sweat, and watching my calorie intake...old school folks!

Have you seen My Fitness Pal?

It's a free app for smart phones that lets you set weight loss goals for yourself and then track your food and exercise.

I used it for a while earlier in 2011 and it was a huge help and I saw great results with it!

So, it's time to re-up and do it again and the hubs is going to do it with me! YES!

Are you in?? Want to do a 3 month challenge with me?

Get the workouts in...get the app. 

I'll let you know how it goes along the way.

The days that are great and the days I want to stuff my face with Ben and Jerry's.

I've got 18 pounds to lose. There, I said it. Phew. HA!

I'll share with you guys about the types of exercising I'm doing and some meal ideas along the way too!

Let's do this!

Our life via Instagram...

So, it feels like it's been a while since I've linked up 

some Instagram pics from our week!

Have you been following your friends on Instagram yet?

It's so addicting...

I love seeing snippets of people's days.

So, here's what our week looked like...

I've been wearing these a lot lately...like at least 4 days a week at the gym.

Lord, please let it pay off very soon...like before swimsuits must be worn! HA!

Need a little inspiration?

Meg from Whatever is doing a Rock Your Body challenge

this month...check out her first post on it here!

At dinner one night, Sawyer was eating huge spoonfuls of 

sour cream...

Chris was gagging and had to leave the room! HA!

It was awesome!

We threw a little engagement party for some sweet friends this past Sunday!

It was lots of fun! 

I love a rowdy and full house!

A little photo booth action!

Printed out the props from here. 

They were a big hit!

I tried the cupcake liner and coffee filter garland for the party.

I know...sounds weird, but it's so so cute!

I have left them up this week!!

Some little flowers that my friend made...too cute to throw away!

So they have found a home on my chalkboard. 

We've been practicing "Jesus + Nothing" as a church body.

No "fluff"...simply hearing Jesus today and 

following Him together.

Verge 2012 is a conference about missional community that's 

been going on this week in Austin, TX. I signed up for the live

simulcast so I could catch this lady, Jen Hatmaker.

She's a fire ball! Loved it!

Made these lovelies...

Joy the Baker's cappuccino cookies...

I substitute semi sweet chocolate for the white chocolate.

So yummy!!

recipe

And finally...tea...sometimes it's just all I want.

Tazo Refresh tea is my favorite!!!

And of course in my Bodum tea diffuser....

YUMMY!

Hope you have a blessed weekend!

We're actually looking forward to a pretty quite weekend!

Praying for some warmer and sunnier weather so we 

can play outside!

Linking up...

Things I love right now...

I find that reading people's blogs is a great way

to hear about amazing books to read,

or a new album that's great!!

So, I thought I'd share with you a few things I've 

been loving lately...k??

And if you have any favorite things I'd love to hear about them!

I just read:

Find it here

I just finished this book last week and I was sad when it was over!

Katie is an amazing young woman and her pure devotion to the calling 

of God to care for the broken and hurting is so challenging!

I highly recommend this book...

and be prepared to finish it and want to move to the inner city

or a war town nation to serve "the least of these."

I wanted to pack my bags and sell everything and GO!!

I'm listening to:

More here

I'm kind of picky when it comes to music...my husband can attest to this.

I want music that has soul and doesn't sound like the "typical" worship album.

Something that mainstream music would give it up to...make sense?! HA!

Anyways, this album is ah-mazing! I listened to it for like 

a week straight! Buy it!

I also just got these which are amazing too...

info

Dreamy...love it!

info

So thankful for Pandora who led me to this album!!

I'm watching:

watch it!

We don't have cable tv, so when I first heard about this show,
I was so thankful that I could watch online!
I'm hooked! Although, I am a sucker for period British anything!
Watch it! You'll be hooked to...I promise!


I'm addicted to:

one of my recent faves!!

I've used Instagram for a while, but did you know that you can
"follow" people and comment or like their photos?
It's sort of like Facebook but only in photos.
L-O-V-E!
Follow me on Instagram @christieotts!


I'm eating:

We've been working out (since we were gifted a gym membership, yay!)
and I'm determined to lose the last 15 pounds and become
a "buff mama."
So, along with working out comes eating better!
I'm a sucker for sweets, but these new yogurts are sooooo yummy!

140 calories. DONE.
(although I do add dark chocolate chips sometimes...)
And the blood orange is so good!




Ok, so that's some things I've been loving lately!!
How about you????

Have a great day!

Our Sweet Bear...

Sawyer Bear Otts

(That's right, his middle name is Bear!)

This boy is such a JOY to our family...he is awesome!

He is active, fun, funny, curious, smart, cuddly, sensitive...

I could go on forever!

Today is his BIRTHDAY! YAY!

Our baby is turning 2 today...

and I'm a little confused as to where the time went.

Just yesterday he was doing this...

Making his little "old man" face!

And he was making this little smirk face...

And crawling so fast I couldn't keep up for a picture! HA!

And learning how to walk!

Stealing everyone's hearts everywhere we go...

especially with this puppy hat he wore!! HA!

Of course, it's hard to forget that this time last year...

we were in the hospital praying that our joyful baby would return to us!

He had a seizure a week before his birthday last year while we were 

driving in the car. We rushed him to the hospital where he spent

the next three days hooked up to machines and having tons of 

tests run. It is the most frightened I've ever been as a parent!

I still wrestle with fear over him...

But, God comforted us and has healed our hearts a lot since then.

He was so unlike himself and so sad in the hospital...

I worried that he was somehow altered and wouldn't be the

same joyful boy...but then I got this picture from Chris

while I was at home with our other two boys to get some sleep.

He was back!! Swollen, but back! HA!

I cried for the hundredth time and thanked God!

I could post pictures of him all day..

Sawyer Bear,

We love you more then words can say!

You bring so much joy and laughter to our family.

You are a strong, giggly, adventurer and 

today we celebrate YOU

and the amazing GIFT YOU ARE

to us!

Thank You, Jesus, for our Sweet Bear!

All My Love...

I'm richly blessed. And not because today I received roses and candy and breakfast in bed, but because I get to walk with the man of my dreams every. single. day. I'm a part of a "kingdom dream team." I'm "about my Father's business" alongside the best partner anyone could ask for. It's an honor and I'm humbled every day that I'm worthy of being yoked to such a man as this. We are trying to run hard each day after Jesus and the things He has called us to. I've seen this man, my husband, come alive more this past year then any other time. Through the hard times, the struggles, the victories and humbling provisions...he has come alive.

I celebrate love today. Love from a man that leads me to greater depths of the love of my Father. A man who knows that the only way my heart will ever be truly satisfied is at the feet of my Jesus. Love that "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things"(1 Cor. 13:7).

So, today, as I thank God for the love of this man and for the greatest love ever known through Jesus...I'm heavy hearted for those who know neither of these. For the girl who has never received a kind word from her father or known the gentle touch of a husband, or heard soft words of encouragement from any man in her life. I hurt for those who don't know the love of an eternally kind Father. The overwhelming flood of the tangible presence of a holy God. I want all to know the love I know...the love of the Father and the love of the Body of Christ.

Jesus, teach us to love others as you love them. Let us give fully of ourselves with every person who comes into our lives. To love our husbands, children, friends, family, and our neighbor selflessly and fully. Bring new revelation of Your love for us, so that our love for others would flow clean and pure. 
Amen!