Category: Family

What Does Your Heart Sound Like? #HeartbeatSymphony

Our heart is our most important instrument, steadily composing the rhythm of our lives. But imagine if the rhythm of your heart could actually create music.

Dignity Health enlisted the creative genius of Composer Miles Kennedy to create a symphony of human heartbeats that could grow and evolve the more people who joined in. This is where YOU come in!

The whole coalesces to form a highly engaging, personal, ever evolving and growing composition that reflects the personal rhythms of its users.

Go to the Heartbeat Symphony website:

Click “Add Your Heartbeat”

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Allow the Dignity Health website temporary access to your webcam so it can take your photo and monitor your heart rate. The heartbeat detection component is based off of an MIT project which allows the application to monitor changes in the blood flow to the face, that are imperceptible to the naked eye, and derives an approximate heartbeat from them.

The application will ask if you want to use the photo that is taken, upload a new photo, or use the brand image of a heart in place of a photo – please choose whichever you are most comfortable with!

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Next, you will be given an “instrument” that is unique to your heartbeat. (i.e. Cello, Flute, Drum etc.)

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This is such awesome technology.  What does your heart sound like?

Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest

Valentines 2015

We had a great Valentine’s day.  Terence took off work on Friday and we spent the day together just the two of us.  He took me shopping at Anthropologie, one of my favorite stores & we had lunch together.  He and Connor got me sweet cards 🙂

Earlier that morning I went to Connor’s school and took pictures of all the kids.  It was SO much fun!  Their teachers made this adorable “kissing booth”.

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Later I came back for the Valentine’s day party and all the kids had fun and ate LOTS of sugar!

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I also went out with some friends for dinner and a movie.  Overall it was a great weekend!  I can’t believe it was like 80 degrees yesterday and now it’s in the 30’s.  It’s just craziness.

Hope everyone had a happy heart day. xo Becky

Mid-Week Update

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Connor and I have been home all day.  His school called yesterday concerned he may have a slight case of the chicken pox.  I thought they were just bug bites.  He’s been complaining of itching.  We took him to the Doctor and they could neither confirm or really deny that’s what it was.  So who knows???  He’s been vaccinated, but apparently you can still get it.  Most of the bumps are gone now, so I’m hoping to take this kiddo back to school tomorrow 🙂

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Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies are going to be the end of whatever waistline I have remaining. They are soooo good. My Mom made an ice cream cake with these cookies growing up. To this day it’s still one of my favorite desserts. It’s just chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, and crumbled thin mints on top. You freeze it in a casserole dish and it’s SO delish!

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Connor’s Valentine’s turned out so cute for his Pre-K class. They are from Cardstore and cost me less than $8 bucks. His party is on Friday and I’m excited to share it with him and his friends.

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I know I’ve talked about Evy’s Tree hoodies before. Y’all they are seriously the softest, most comfortable hoodies. I have washed this green one a ton and it still looks great! I’m loving the blush hoodie.

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This stuff is legit.  You can get it at Whole Foods and its raw sugar and cinnamon.  I add some to my coffee in the mornings and it adds great sweetness and flavor.

What are you loving right now???  Anyone discovered anything new and fabulous?

Meal Planning: What Do You Do?

Well HELLO there!

I’ve been M.I.A for a little bit.  I started my new job and things have been going great!  I’ve had more time to do the things I never get a chance to and it’s so nice.  I went to Target last Monday to get groceries and I was just beside myself because I didn’t have to pick through the produce or fight for the last bunch of ripe bananas.  Everything was in stock.  I never normally shop on a weekday and it’s so peaceful and quiet.

It’s the little things.

I also am determined to get better at meal planning.  I have always struggled with this and the question that makes me shudder every day “What’s for dinner???”  If anyone has pointers please feel free to help a sista out.

What are some of your favorite recipe or food blogs?

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I’ll be back….

The FedEx Man

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Saturday Morning…..Ding Dong.

It’s the FedEx man delivering some packages to our house.  I just woke up so I’m not fully dressed.  I hover behind the corner while Terence goes to answer the door.

When Terence answers the door to accept the package Connor runs up and goes “Yay!!!  There’s our mail!” 

The FedEx man said “Wow…look at that.  A family; man you are living the dream.  You are blessed.”

Connor chuckled a little and the FedEx man laughed and said thank you.  Terence said thank you back.

I overheard everything while I was behind the corner and I just thought “WOW…that was so nice!”  I wonder what made him say those things that day.  Why he thought WE were as special as we apparently looked in his eyes.  His personality just beamed.  I know you don’t have to say nice things to people.  But what a difference it makes.  Whether you are delivering packages or working in an office….it doesn’t matter.  People notice.  People notice when your light shines a little brighter.  I noticed that light in the FedEx man that day and it made my heart happy.

You never know someone’s circumstances.  It never hurts to say something kind.

No matter where you are and what you do.  Remember that.

THANK YOU FedEx man for the kind reminder of how blessed I am, because sometimes we just unintentionally forget.

MetLife TRICARE Dental Matters @MetLifeTDP #IC

“I participated in an Ambassador program on behalf of Influence Central for the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

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I’ve written about MetLife TRICARE Dental over the past few weeks and our military experience.  I’ve really enjoyed sharing our story and encouraging other military families out there.  It’s a subject that is near and dear to my heart.

I’m so proud to say we were in the military and my husband served his country proudly!  I’m also proud of companies like TRICARE Dental that support our military and offer great care.  If you are military and eligible to apply, please take a moment and check out the MetLife TDP Monthly Premiums chart to get a better idea of coverage.

The MetLife TRICARE Dental Program is making changes to their monthly premium effective February 1, 2015. Premium amounts change annually each year on February 1st.  MetLife TRICARE Dental Program premiums vary based upon a family member(s) military status (Active Duty, Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve and type of enrollment).  With the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program Family members are covered regardless of a sponsor’s change in status to and from active duty.

The TRICARE Dental Program is ideal for military families because it is a convenient and cost-effective way for families to have continuous dental coverage despite changes in life events, geographical locations, or military status.  We are already a month into 2015 and having coverage for your chompers is a big deal y’all.  Especially if you have kids and they start to lose their teeth, get cavities, braces, or have molars removed.  The costs can rack up quickly.  Taking advantage of TRICARE Dental through MetLife will give you peace of mind.  No matter what life events occur this year you and your family will be prepared and taken care of.

The flexible coverage that TRICARE Dental provides is a major plus in my book.  Everyone has changes in life and through this program you aren’t tied down.  After completing the 12-month minimum-enrollment period, enrollment may be continued on a month-to-month basis until an enrollment termination request is made by the sponsor.

Connecting with TRICARE’s Facebook page and signing up for Dental HealthMatters Newsletter are two great ways to stay in the know with TRICARE.

What are you Reading? #Kindle

I got a Kindle for Christmas and I’m LOVING it.  I’ve been reading like a mad woman lately.  I love it.  I forgot how much joy I get from reading.  It’s relaxing and an escape for my mind.  I can float away for a few hours and be in another story.

So, question of the day is….WHAT HAVE YOU READ LATELY AND TELL ME ‘BOUT IT!!!

Give it to me straight girlfriends….GO!

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