Living a Little

One Mile Friday.

2011-11-19T02:40:00.000-05:00

So, do you remember when you were in 6th grade and every stinking Friday you would have to run a mile? It. was. forever. Why would they take a perfectly fantastic Friday and ruin it by torturing you with 20 pushups if you walked the whole way?

Then for the rest of your middle school career, it was like running a mile was equivalent to writing in cursive. (Don't you remember? If you learned to write cursive, then you'd get into Harvard?) You had to do it every. single. Friday...and every. single. Friday...I would dread the run. The side cramps, the dehydration, the heat...that black track was my nemesis. Then high school...how many times did we have to run around the top of that gym? To many. And always, always... on Friday!

Oh...Then there was that time when Connel and I were newlyweds and he had to beg me to go on a jog from one end of campus to the other...and back! Then... just at my point of exhaustion, Connel decided to make it a race back to our apartment. By the time we were almost finished my legs were jelly and my lungs were fire. Literal fire! To the point where I screamed at Connel in a very dramatic fashion that I thought I was having a heart attack and he might need to take me to the emergency room. I was going to die, I tell you, and it was all his fault!

That's how much I just do not like running.

When I was pregnant, my hips got a little messed up and the pain and improper alignment was just the perfect excuse (even though my chiropractor is a-mazing!) for me to make a pact with myself that I could not and would not ever have to run . I swore to myself that I would never run again. I didn't need to do it, and I didn't want to do it. There was no reason. My hips just wouldn't allow it. I even once went running on a treadmill and it hurt my hip to do it. So, perfect excuse.

Then, about a month ago...I had another miscarriage. I hoped that I would somehow, miraculously, not have to deal with that pain again, but it happened, and I was sad, but, this time...it was different. And soon after...I was ready to accomplish something. No... I was ready to DEFEAT something. I don't know where it came from within me, or how it even got past that wall of "no running" stubborness, but the unexplained and completely crazy urge to RUN rose up inside of me! I made a goal to run a 5K. I hate running mind you...and so this is ridiculous.

And really, a 5k? Not that big. For some. But for me? HUGE!

Now, I know I can't just run away from my pain. But that's not what I'm doing. I've faced the pain, and I admit that it has worn me down just a little bit, so now... it is time for a renewal of my strength.

So that is my goal. Run a 5K. Run it for those pregnancies lost. Then... keep running.

---

I was still recovering from the loss and so for several weeks, I did nothing about the urge.

Then one Sunday I had to give a lesson to the Young Women and one of the scriptures was from the Word of Wisdom and was about running and not being weary...it hit my like a train. I read the scripture again when I got home that day and followed some references. I ended up on a scripture that Elder Robert D. Hales quoted in his talk... "Waiting Upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done" in the recent General Conference. That talk had been stirring in my heart since the miscarriage...But there was one scripture in particular, that filled my heart from his talk and then again, from my study. The scripture is from Isaiah 40:31.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."

I know I have to do this, there are too many things that have pointed in that direction for me to pretend that I don't need to do this. My Heavenly Father wants me to do this...and he is going to help me.

I read this blog post and decided to click on the learn how to run link to her blog post that I had previously skipped over...I decided to go back and look it up. It is very motivating to me and I could relate to some of what she said in a real way. Plus, more confirmation...that I should pursue this.

Then in a recent Sunday School, there was more talk of running and races, and how it relates to our journey in life: overcoming, enduring and "finishing our course". I knew I had to talk to one person in particular, and she gave me great insight and advice to get started and keep going.

So, for the last couple of weeks, I have been running 1/2 a mile at least 3 times a week on the track at the YMCA gym. Last week I ran 3/4 of a mile.

Today, I got to 3/4 of a mile again. I slowed down to a walk, but then, I just didn't feel like it was good enough, I felt like I could do more. So I did 4 more laps about the track...when I got to the last lap...I couldn't help it...my eyes welled up with tears of pride and I shouted within myself that I had just RUN A MILE! ME! A MILE!!!

A MILE!!!

P.S. I didn't hate it, I disliked it at times...but no hate!

It was so flipping awesome! I AM SO FLIPPING AWESOME! I had to distract myself from bursting out in sobs of joy right then and there! (but I am sure that a few people wondered what the freaky looking smile on my face was for.) Oh dear...I don't know if I'll be able to handle the emotion at the end of a 5K! ;)

But, um, okay, ya, and seriously??? A mile? I know people who run WAY more than that, but today...

I ran my one mile Friday, and I LOVED it!

The Magic Kitchen Rug

2011-11-08T15:02:00.001-05:00

Almost every day, I stand on my kitchen rug, at the sink, and do a pile of dirty dishes. Those who know me, know that I don't normally enjoy this task. However, here and there, while scrubbing off spaghetti sauce and scraping dried cheese, I have a moment when my thoughts flow freely and I am able to reflect on life.

My husband loves the show Aladdin and for some reason yesterday morning at the sink, that is what I was thinking about. I turned on the song "A Whole New World" and as I listened to the words, I couldn't help but think of how it related a little bit to Motherhood. Cheese, soooo cheesy, I know! But this part... "A hundred thousand things to see! ...Hold your breath, it gets better." It reminds me of the advice I hear all the time... "Enjoy it because it goes by so fast!" (maybe because I need to hear it?)

Standing on that little kitchen rug, my eyes where opened to a "new fantastic point of view", and I am reminded what a magical ride a mother and wife's life can be.

Yes! I am one of those kids who grew up watching Disney Movies...and I'm proud of it!

Munchkin Fun: Glow in the Dark Bath Time!

2011-11-05T21:11:00.009-04:00

Anybody who loves ideas has, by now, probably at least heard of Pinterest. I know I love it and sometimes when I go to look at one thing I've pinned, I find that I'm sucked and two dozen and a half pins later, I'm like...wait...what am I doing again?

I've been in a weird creative slump for about a year (could it be that I have a toddler?) and suddenly I find that through Pinterest, I'm inspired, excited and more motivated to craft, try new recipes, and do fun things with my munchkin! (If your interested you can see all my pins HERE.)

Things like this glow in the dark bath idea!

I pinned the idea and one of my friends mentioned that she tried it with her kids and they loved it! So...while at the Target dollar section before Halloween I grabbed up some glow sticks for a buck. After a messy pumpkin carving night, we put her in the tub and threw the glowsticks in! She loves the tub anyway, but she had a ton of fun with this! She wouldn't put the pink one down!

Unless she gets really dirty from something, I only give Hannah a bath about once a week, so, I like making bath time a fun, memorable time that she can look forward to.

Any fun bath time activities that you and your kiddos have had fun with?

(Glow stick bath idea via FFFFOUND!)

Time Out For Women: Cincinatti 2011

2011-11-03T02:51:00.000-04:00

I have always heard that Time Out For Women is so much fun. This year I decided that I was going to go and 5 other friends were able to come with me! It was a party! We laughed hard, we cried hard, and we stayed up until 3 AM talking and then slept hard! It was a 4 hour ride to Cincinnati and back, but so worth the trip! I don't think that I have had an over-nighter away from Hannah since she was born, so...it was a nice break! I love my girl, but you know. ;)

Here are some highlights...

Michael McLean...(maybe not the best vocalist, but a great songwriter and entertainer!)

Shanna, Katie, Natalie, Lindsay, Lisa


Mariama Kellon! I can not even express how awesome she was! She has been through so much and I was just grateful to hear her story and testimony. We were all SOBBING!

Lisa was standing in this picture too, but somehow she got cut off during the snap (you can see her hair on the Left) ! Oops...sorry Lisa!

Mercy River...sang the best song ever about kids bedtime... it was so hilarious and had the crown wild! The rest of their music was amazing! The girl on the far left of this picture shared a little about her infertility journey and the girl on the far right shared a little about her sister going through a miscarriage. Then they shared the song below...and, ummmm....I was a sobbing wreck!!!

We All Need Saving
Come on, come on
You have got to move on
This is not the you I know
This isn’t real
It’s just all you can feel
And that’s the way that feelings go
And whether or not it’s right or wrong you’ll do what you will do

Chorus:
When the cloud in the sky starts to pour
And your life is just a storm you’re braving
Don’t tell yourself you can’t lean on someone else
Cause we all need saving sometimes

Say what you will but the time that we fill
While we’re on the earth
Should not be alone
We were meant to be known
You make me what I’m worth
But I can’t keep you from yourself you’ll do what you will do

Chorus

I don’t know why it has to be this way and
I don’t know the cure
But please believe someone else has felt this before

Chorus

I can't deny that hearing that was JUST what I needed. A Godsend.


Dean Hughes author of The Children of the Promise and Hearts of the Children Series. I loved him. He was just as I pictured him to be. Friendly, a little more subdued and serious, but funny too!

I just had to say meet these girls and tell them thank you for sharing their experiences!!! (and get them to autograph my CD!)

The Ladies of the Trip! LAUGHS, TEARS, HUGS and CONVERSATION that I will never forget! Thanks for coming with me this year girls! Anyone up for TOFW 2012?

I was a little dissapointed that Shawni Eyre Pothier (of 71 toes) wasn't at this one, but that's okay, maybe next time...Also, I guess every Time Out For Women has different speakers/entertainment come and they shared this video/song at one...It's my new favorite (I have a new one weekly).

She is trying to get on the Christian Billboard Charts with that one...I love it! So awesome!

Five Little Ghosts Feltboard Story

2011-11-03T02:20:00.000-04:00

This is a project that I just put together on the day of Halloween, it may be a little past "All Hallows Eve", but you can always remember this little story for next year!

You may have heard this little story before. I know that it was one that I loved as a kid and I asked my Mom if she still had a copy. She called me a few days later and told me she had found it and sent me the pattern! It has a copyright on it from 1984 by so I don't know if I can share the story that I have on paper, but I did find one online that is practically the same. I'll share it at the end of this post.

I gathered my material, I used 5 different colors of felt for the different colored ghosts in the story, then I used googly eyes, instead of trying to figure out how to get those cute faces on the felt. I pinned together the pattern and two pieces of felt (one colored, one white) for each ghost and then cut each one out.

I also cut out the food, but made it a little more dimensional. I cut out tiny little triangles with the brown felt for the chocolate chip ice-cream and ghost.

I then sewed the two sides of each ghost together and hot glued the googly eyes on. I also glued the food together and the chocolate chips on one by one. (tip: Use a low temp glue gun, mine is only high temp and I kept burning my fingers on those tiny ch. chips!) I had to trim some of the edges to make them even after sewing them... and if you would rather, you could go ahead and use some hot glue! I just like the look that sewing gave them.

White side...

Colored side...

Next, I threw a blue blanket over a large white board and told my daughter the story of the 5 Little Ghosts... (I have a felt board that I made, but it was being borrowed! Maybe I'll show you that later! I'm so proud of it! ;)

Once upon a time, there lived 5 little ghosts. As everyone knows, ghosts are white and to stay white. The only thing they can eat is vanilla ice cream and the only thing that they can drink is milk. One day when Mama ghost went to the refrigerator, there was no vanilla ice cream and no milk. So she had to go to the grocery store and before she left she said, "No matter how hungry you get, do not eat anything or something dreadful will happen." The first ghost became so thirsty and he looked in the refrigerator and saw a little glass of grape juice and thought, "just one teeny sip wouldn't hurt." So he took a one teeny sip of grape juice and what do suppose happened? He turned purple! The other ghosts looked at him and said "Mama told us that something dreadful would happen and she was right." The little ghost did not want his Mama to see him all purple so he ran upstairs and hide in the toy box. The second ghost became so hungry and he looked in the refrigerator and saw a carrot and thought, "just one teeny bite wouldn't hurt." So he took a one teeny bite of the carrot and what do suppose happened? He turned orange! The other ghosts looked at him and said "Mama told us that something dreadful would happen and she was right." The little ghost did not want his Mama to see him all orange so he ran upstairs and hide in the closet. The third ghost became so hungry and he looked in the refrigerator and saw a bowl of spinach and thought, "just one teeny bite wouldn't hurt." So he took a one teeny bite of spinach and what do suppose happened? He turned green! The other ghosts looked at him and said "Mama told us that something dreadful would happen and she was right." The little ghost did not want his Mama to see him all green so he ran upstairs and hide under the bed. The fourth ghost became so hungry and he looked in the refrigerator and saw a bowl of strawberries and thought, "just one teeny bite wouldn't hurt." So he took a one teeny bite of a strawberry and what do suppose happened? He turned red! The other ghosts looked at him and said "Mama told us that something dreadful would happen and she was right." The little ghost did not want his Mama to see him all red so he ran upstairs and behind the door. The fifth ghost said, "I'm so hungry but I will not do what my brothers did. I'll look in the freezer and see if there is just maybe a little vanilla ice cream left." When he looked in the freezer there was some ice cream and it was almost vanilla - it was white with little brown pieces of chocolate in it. So the ghost said, "This shouldn't hurt me - those pieces of chocolate are so tiny." So he ate one spoonful and became a chocolate chip ghost! He certainly didn't want his Mama to see him spotted so he ran upstairs and hid in the bathtub. When Mama ghost returned, she knew something was wrong when she didn't see her children, so she started looking for the little ghosts. She found the first (purple) one upstairs in the toy box, and an 2nd (orange) one in the closet, and the 3rd (green) one under the bed, the 4th (red) one behind the door and the 5th and last (chocolate chip) one in the bathtub. When she found all of them, she said, "Little ghosts, I told you that something dreadful would happen and it did." Whatever can we do to get you white again for Halloween? She called the ghost doctor and this is what he told her to do. Keep all the little ghosts in bed for five days and give them nothing but vanilla ice cream and milk and they should be ready for Halloween. So that is what she did. By Halloween night, the five little ghosts were all white again to go out haunting and spooking and shouting "BOO!" They never again ate something they shouldn't and always obeyed their Mother!

(Five Little Ghosts story found HERE)

And then I just let her play with the little creations! She loved them! And... she started recognizing the color purple! Yay for felt board stories!

Hope you enjoyed my little "tutorial"! It was actually really easy and fun to throw together! :) Maybe I'll do some more felt stories... ???

Forget Not Printable 5x7

2011-09-29T20:37:00.000-04:00

I really enjoyed listening to the General Relief Society Meeting last Saturday evening. (To learn more about Relief Society Organization click HERE).

I have seen a few of these floating around in the Mormon blogging/pinterest community, but I wanted to make one that was more my "style" and decided to share it. I made this and framed it for each of my Visiting Teaching sisters this month.

Just right click and save as...

click HERE to read it the entire inspired talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
or click HERE to watch the video.

I am also super impressed with the new book they just published about the history and work of Relief Society. I love it and have started reading it. You can read it online or download a free PDF copy of the book HERE.

Enjoy!

here we are.

2011-09-26T16:02:00.000-04:00

Sitting here, watching the rain, drinking herbal tea. Sounds so romantical doesn't it? I thought it would be, there are even birds flitting outside my window. It's the perfect blogging setting and I knew that I just had to take advantage.

Actually...
I have a headache and don't feel like folding laundry...and as I plopped down here and started to write, I spilled my peppermint tea all over me and (almost) my computer. Twice. I will no longer be sipping beverages while I try to type, and I will no longer try to be romantic in the rain. At least not with my laptop.

So how are ya'll out there? Are you there? I'm here.

I'm going to talk about priorities here. And my kid. You know. I find that having a child and watching her grow older right before my eyes has brought me a bit of perspective. Especially when I have to weigh what is most important and what is not. Mostly, I've just realized that more time needs to be concentrated on that little one I love so much. Not that I don't spend time with her, it's just that sometimes...I get distracted. I find myself weighing what's most important and making the wrong choice.

Sometimes I just get lost in housework (who am I kidding...get lost in housework? Who does that?) I know the housework does not take care of itself, but I am sure I could trade that couple hours that I spent on Pinterest and Google Reader during naptime and take that time to vacuum and do a dish. So then, when that time comes and she's asking me to play, I will be able to do spend time without feeling guilty that I haven't completed housework. And yes, I include her in the housework, but cleaning with an almost 2 year old actually goes slower...did you know that? I'm sorry but I like to hurry and clean so I can go do something fun.

I should do it. Just cut myself out of this virtual reality. No pinterest, no facebook, no blogging. But...I am weak. Anyways...Will all that "extra time" that I make by cutting myself off will suddenly get filled up with "more important" tasks? Who knows. I am not perfect. I have good intentions that sometimes get thwarted by my...personal interests. Maybe you know how it is?

Do you "effectively manage" your online time? how?

Some input would be nice.

Aelita Andre

2011-09-22T09:53:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking...in the backyard?

time for a vacation.

2011-08-01T00:42:00.000-04:00

Every once in a while, it comes time for me to take a little break. Mostly, because the lazy days of summer are quickly coming to an end! But there is also that constant need to re-adjust priorities. I want to take some time with Hannah and complete our summer bucket list, work on some hobbies and projects I have been putting off, spend some extra time with my husband, and just generally improve our daily/weekly routines. We will also be going on a little vacation soon (yay!) and I have some things I want to complete before we go!

I will still be updating the munchkin's blog and checking emails, but everything else will just have to be on the back burner for a little while.

I'll be back to blogging the 2nd week of September (I know it seems like a long break...but I will be back, you better believe it!) and I hope to have great things all stored up to share! Enjoy the rest of your summer and good luck to those going back to school! In the meantime, if you haven't already, check out the new layout. I've updated the "blogs I follow" (at the top of the page) and categorized my posts with links on my sidebar.

Summer will be over before we know it! :( See you soon!

friday faves.

2011-07-29T10:42:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! It's raining here and we are having a day at home doing laundry, cleaning and reorganizing a little bit. Once again, here are some fun finds from my week...

Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God, was one of my most favorite songs growing up. I remember singing it with as group of LDS Young Women in sacrament meeting. I have been searching for songs about daughters and I found it the other day sung by this little lady...Kalli Jackson, she has a beautiful voice and in this Album she is accompanied by Marvin Goldstein...

("Walk Tall" is at the bottom of the playlist)

I'd love to purchase her album. Absolutely beautiful!

Hannah has been showing interest in the potty lately and so, I have had potty training on my mind. The other day Heather @ the Coterie Blog shared her potty training advice. I know everyone's potty training experience is different, and I am sure that it's hard work...but I liked that she emphasized being extremely consistent! Anyway, I stored it away for future reference, I'm not quite sure I'm ready for the potty train quite yet!

Baby Bjorn

I usually don't wear a ton of makeup, I just don't like it all caked on my face, but I do wear a minimum amount and I love to get tips and advice for when I do. The Dating Divas (you know I love them) shared a guest post tutorial by a make-up guru friend of theirs. I loved her tips on contouring...interesting, I never knew!

The Dating Divas | Your Guide to a Flawless Face

I ran across Grace is Overrated and love her journal pages that she puts together! Cute and quirky. Love it!

Grace is Overrated | Journal Pages

My daughter LOVES to read. She loves to be read to before nap, before bedtime, throughout the day, and she likes to take a book to bed! I think it's wonderful! I've been hoping to make or buy some kind of a book display so she can easily choose a favorite or discover a new one! I loved this idea from Martha Stewart. It's pretty, simple and I can switch them out every once in a while. Plus, my husband said he could make it in about an hour! Love that man and his talents!

Martha Stewart | Children's Bookshelves

One last thing...I have gone through my husband and I's memory boxes and keepsakes and I ended up chucking some things that I have been holding onto forever. After reading this post from Small Notebook, some of it just didn't have the same nostalgic appeal as it did before! Of course, I'm extremely sentimental so I still have a large 4 large rubbermaid totes, full of stuff for Connel, Hannah and I, but it's better than the 7 or so we had before!

Small Notebook | Holding on to Sentimental Things

Have a great weekend!

dream home date night.

2011-07-27T22:55:00.000-04:00

The other night Connel and I took some down time and had a little date night. We decided to write down some plans for our dream house. I've heard some couples say that if they ever built a home together, they would need three people...him, her, and a marriage counselor. Ha ha! Everyone has their own style, and Connel and I each fit our own mold for sure, but we were surprised to see some of our tastes were quite similar!

I like the country/cottage/craftsman look quite a bit...and Connel really likes the southern colonial/Georgian look. We both really like the look of this one...

The House Designers | Highland House Plan

I like the one story look with a basement, but, we agreed on a 2 story with a basement. The master and children's bedrooms upstairs, the living areas on the main floor and the guest and "extras" in the basement.

It was interesting how the largest "issue" was the entryway and stairway. Connel would like a grand entry with a large rounded staircase. Like this:

I told him that I'd like to feel less like Daddy Warbucks (staircase-wise at least ;). I'm okay with something elegant, but just a little more simple and less formal. Something like this:

Source: google.com via Laura on Pinterest

or this:

Source: nikinikinine.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

Anyway, we spent way too long talking about just the stairs, and agreed to think about it later!

We dreamed about the yard...this is where we agreed on just about everything. We are both adamant about having a truly landscaped yard. More than a just a row of bushes in front of our house. We want water features, areas of trees and plants, a garden, deck, play area. You know like you see at the home and garden shows? Ya. Like that.

I NEED to have a front porch with a swing. This is not optional people. Must. have. porch. with. swing. Or shall we call it the veranda? And of course, the best setup would be to have a house somewhere in the country where we could look out and not have huge trees or other houses blocking the view.

House Beautiful

We talked and dreamed and planned for about 3 hours and we didn't even get to anything else. We still have to plan the interior layout and the kitchen, office, laundry room, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, etc!

Okay, okay, so this all sounds very greedy doesn't it? I feel a little silly posting all my worldly desires on my blog, but I guess if you want to get to know the real me...hee hee hee. It may or may not ever get built, but it is sure fun to dream!

Oh, c'mon! Don't tell me we're the only ones that dream! :) What are your dream house plans?

P.S. If your "pinterested" you can head over to my boards and see what other details I have in mind for our future home! :)

friday faves.

2011-07-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

Ran across this song by Cherie Call and loved it! I'm that one in the family...you know the one... that takes TONS of pictures and pretty soon everyone is trying to hide from the camera...This song just makes me feel a little justified in taking so many pictures...and makes me want to take more! "We’re only here for a moment, so we take a picture to hold our place in time, as the days go by..."

Ooooh! This is cool. Photoshop Actions from Paint the Moon Photography! I love! And you can try some out for FREE! I've already downloaded the freebies from their blog and got the freebie from their Facebook page! I'm excited to play around with them!

Paint the Moon | First Class Freebies

Found this idea by Lindsey of the Pleated Poppy via Thirty Handmade Days for homemade road trip organizers for your kids and pinned it!

Thirty Handmade Days/Pleated Poppy | Road Trip Organizer

This looks sooo yummy! So does everything else on this foodie blog...

The Girl Who Ate Everything | Orange Creamsicle Fruit Dip

I really like this necklace, it's handmade and best of all it's designed so if needed she will add Pearl(s) in the chain to represent "angel babies" (miscarriage/stillborn/infant loss).

Agape Love Boutique | Custom Made Birds Nest Necklace

If you couldn't already tell, I love road trips! My latest dream is to "get my kicks on Route 66!" I don't know if it's my daughter's sudden interest in the movie Cars (the 1st) or just my urge to do something nostalgic and memorable. But the other day I added "Drive Historic Route 66 in a vintage convertible while wearing white sunglasses and a scarf around my neck!" to my bucket list. Anyone wanna come with?

via: Smithsonian

Have you ever driven the "mother road"? Did you have fun? What cool things did you do/see?

mi-mi.

2011-07-21T01:01:00.001-04:00

Lately I have been thinking about weaning Hannah from her most beloved "mi-mi". Was your little one attached to their binky? How did you get rid of it? When did you get rid of it?

Please, do tell.

friday faves.

2011-07-15T23:22:00.002-04:00

This song is a recent discovery at our house, we think it's cute and quirky!

I'm loving everything from this blog. I especially love their Learning Language Resource Guide, it is a very informative and reliable resource! While studying Early Childhood Ed in college, we practiced these strategies with toddlers and I have seen them work! I also try do this with Hannah as often as I can.

Modern Parents, Messy Kids

Tried this play dough recipe from The Idea Room with my munchkin yesterday. It smells so delicious, I was surprised she didn't try to eat it! I mean...even I had a little taste of it!

The Idea Room | Home-made Play Dough

I know it's Pioneer Woman again, but I think everything she makes looks soooo yummy! Take this for example...(and I don't really even like tomatoes.)

Pioneer Woman Cooks | Avocado Egg Salad

I totally want to make the adult-sized version of this bag! (but it's really cool for kids too.)

Chez Beeper Bebe | Nature Explorer Bag

I want this bike, but I just can't seem to justify it as a need, especially for how much it costs! Darn.

Adeline Adeline: Pashley Britannia

I recently read this article and loved it!

Becoming Minimalist: The Danger of Neglecting Time Alone

Note to self, add this destination to my dream Hawaii vacation. If this doesn't make you want to have a tropical adventure, I don't know what else would.

found via: Natalie Norton Photography Blog
video by Devinsupertramp

...and sneak peek at our recent outing and photo op!

friday faves.

2011-07-08T01:42:00.000-04:00

Just some things that I've been in love with lately... (click the pics to go to the original source)

Listening to over and over:

Most recent blog crush:

a beautiful journey...

A fun idea for the munchkin:

Creative Summer List Idea (click on pic)

I can't wait to try this yumminess:

Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Cilantro-Jalapeno Slaw

Someone's creative idea that is on my to do list:

Saving my money to buy:

I want one with a white watch face.

I am reading this and learning lots:

click pic for book review

I would love to live in this space:

I love the dark beams and the white-washed paneling.

A recent photo that I snapped:

Cute niece and her mega-s'more!

Have a fantastic weekend! We are looking forward to exploring and taking photos at a lavender farm!

reasons.

2011-07-05T07:44:00.019-04:00

When I started blogging, I did it for several reasons. The first reason was my sister...she could not sleep at night until I had a blog! She would call me at 3 in the morning wondering why I didn't have a blog yet??? Okay... so not really, but I was under some pressure from her to write that first post! Two, it was a way to update my long-distance family members on what was going on in our life. It became an on-line journal of our family's adventures together and a connection to old friends. As I burrowed deeper into it, I found a new hobby. One of finding and sharing ideas, recording life, taking pictures, connecting with others in my same situation, and tackling new projects.

This past month I have been posting about the same subject everyday. It was a great topic and it was some inspiration that I needed to have. But, I have to be honest, doing the daily posts on the same subject every day was starting to become an obligation instead of a pleasure. I can't let my blog to turn into that. Even more, I can't let my life become a obligation to my blog.

I love to have this little space to escape to. It helps me feel like I have a way to define part of who I am. My thoughts, scattered as they may be, are written here for whoever may see, but they are here and they are mine.

I recently read this article on finding your motivation for blogging. I realized that, to me, feeling successful about my blog doesn't mean getting so many readers, or making money from my blog. I mean, it would be a nice perk, but I could care less about that. I just want to feel success with it. Does that make any sense?

I have a deep desire to inspire, to share, and to motivate. When I started my Beyond the Rain blog, I wanted to have an outlet for myself, and inspire hope. Eventually I created a small network of friends who were also struggling with infertility and miscarriage. With that blog, I was able to inspire some hope and I was able to make a small group of friends. My little infertility blog holds a part of my soul within it's posts. I treasure those writings as a part of myself.

To know that when I am inspiring others, expanding myself, sharing creative endeavors, and glorifying my Heavenly Father...that is what brings me fulfillment. I hope to let my blog reflect my true self and the things I really love. I hope it will capture the beautiful (and even the not so beautiful) moments of my family and I as we live our little life.

grateful to live in America.

2011-07-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

Last week, I was driving home with Hannah from the store and they started playing the National Anthem by Martina McBride on the radio. My windows were rolled down and I turned it up loud! I got thinking about how it may have felt to be there with Francis Scott Key watching the battle from a ship deck and seeing through the smoke and "the dawn's early light" the magnificent American flag waving like a beacon of hope and reassurance. With my thoughts and the music, I was suddenly struck with emotion and gratefulness to have the blessing of living here in this beautiful, unique, land of liberty. I'm grateful that I can have the freedom to roll down my car window and play the National Anthem as loud as I want to!

I grateful that I was born to live in the land of the free. I'm grateful that I can pursue dreams large and small. I'm grateful for those who give their lives and and daily comforts to serve our country so willingly. I am grateful that I can worship God freely and share my beliefs. I am grateful that I can make my own choices. I am grateful that I have been able to learn about the history which our country stands on. I'm grateful for those who have gone before and sacrificed so much to give this country Independence.

I am grateful and proud to be an American.

"'Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

friday five.

2011-07-01T11:00:00.010-04:00

Simple Kids | Family Stories That Bind

The R House | Understanding and Supporting Pregnancy Loss

Simply Modern Mom | Sand Play Dough

The Idea Room | "Date Your Husband? Let Me Start the Conversation For You"

Simple Marriage | 24 Keys to Remaining Friends With Your Spouse

strengthening marriage wrap up.

2011-06-30T11:00:00.003-04:00

The month has been awesome! It really has given me a lot of things to think about and many many things to be grateful for! I am so glad that I challenged myself to start habits to help strengthen my marriage. By far, the best thing for us has been to start a habit of regular date nights! I am going to try and make planning fun and memorable date nights a regular habit and perhaps I can share more of them here on my blog!

Bookstore Date Night

For now here is a little wrap up of some of the fun things we did to strengthen our marriages this month!

Challenges

Crafts | Projects

Date Nights

Writing Your Love Story

Quotes | Articles | Videos

Guest Post

Resources | Links

Hope you enjoyed this month of June and I hope you were able to be inspired somehow! Have a happy Independence Day weekend!

fondue and games date night!

2011-06-29T17:00:00.004-04:00

If you are craving chocolate and cheese, have I got the date for you! This weekend we got together with our friends Trap and Suz and had a little game night complete with chocolate and cheese fondue! It was so yummy! We love to eat, play games, and talk with friends so it was the perfect combination.

We made Chile Con Queso, Revved Up and then proceeded to engorge ourselves with sugar by dipping strawberries, fresh pineapple, grapes, Oreos, and more in yummy Chocolate Fondue. We played our two favorite games Settlers of Catan (which was won by Suzy at the last minute!) and Dominion (which I dominated twice! Woo hoo!) And the night ended with an awesome impromptu dance party starring Suzy and myself, the guys weren't about to get in on that, but they did do the dishes!

I felt a little sick the next day from all the chocolate and cheese and staying out WAY too late...having too much fun? NEVER! But it was, for sure, one of the funnest game nights I have had!

And just for fun. Here are our favorite game night picks.

a gift giving guide.

2011-06-28T15:10:00.000-04:00

Today you get to meet my sister, Emily (if you haven't already)! She and her husband have been married for 10 years. Wow! 10 years! I remember when they got engaged. To a 17 year old like me, it was seemed like such a fairy tale and so romantic!

It was Christmas Eve. It was snowing and my Dad was shoveling snow off of our back deck. As I looked out the window, I saw my sister run up the stairs to the deck, her arms full of a huge bouquet of roses, and throw her arms around my Dad. Then Aaron was there and she announced that she was engaged to him! (It reminded me of a song by a boy band I loved at the time.) I was a little emotional and I didn't know what to do, but I remember that I was in awe of them and their little romance. I guess I still am. They are a couple that I look up to in many ways. We love to be around them! I am excited that they decided share this example of how honest and clear communication between a husband and wife can be VERY beneficial! This is must read for wives and husbands!

Above left: Emily and Aaron on their wedding day, 2001 || Above right: Emily and her family, 2010

Aaron and I have had ten Christmases together, ten birthdays together, ten Valentines, ten anniversaries and four Mother’s days together. There have been some highs and lows in the gift giving department. Aaron hit his peak gift giving pretty early in the relationship – our first Christmas together he gave me an engagement ring. He followed that up pretty successfully over the next few holidays with a variety of blouses, art supplies, games, an adorable, purely decorative bird cage and other like items. True, there was a horribly funny incident with a size XXL pajamas that he accidentally bought one Christmas but over all he did fine for the first few years.

We went along blissfully until we became busy parents and weathered the recession and then things started to get a little confusing. Because I love him I’ll spare you details regarding the “Honey I’m going to be working late” birthday and the “What’s for dinner?” Mother’s Day but mention them as context for the conversation I initiated on the eve of our 10^th Anniversary. The gist of which I think you can gather by this email I got the next day.

From: Aaron U**

To: Emily U**

Sent: May 2* 1:01:15 PM

Subject: confused

Emily,

I have to admit, you have me so tied up and confused about giving you gifts. I want to get you an anniversary present and yes, I should have thought about it on Saturday, but I forgot. However, when you tell me that you plan on getting me a gift, but that I don’t need to get you anything, it leaves me confused and conflicted. Can you just tell me what you want, and not leave me guessing all the time? It gets me in a lot of trouble with you, and is quite confusing. Saying you don’t want a gift, but then making jokes about how you didn’t get anything for Mother’s day just fuels the fire.

Please, please pretend like I am a ‘dumb husband’ for the time being with subtle things like- ‘you better go shopping for our anniversary if you don’t want to spend it on the couch,’ rather than ‘I am planning to get you something. Don’t feel like you need to get me anything though.’

--Aaron

From: Emily U**

Sent: May 2* 1:32 PM

To: Aaron U**

Subject: Re: confused

To recap our phone conversation and for future reference.

I always want either a gift or a planned activity for any holiday or celebration that is about me. The event or the gift can be free. What really matters is that you thought of it, and me, ahead of time.

There are two instances when I would say "I don't need a gift"

1 - We are broke. In which case - you should think of a inexpensive activity or something that you want to do with me (NOTE - this is not code for sex)

2 - When it is 8:30 the night before the traditionally gift giving event* and you haven't bought anything yet. This is me attempting to let you off the hook and trying not to be wordly or high maintainance. NOTE - this rarely works and you should still try to do something to make me feel special.

*Gift giving events include: Birthday, Valentines, Mother's Day, Anniversary, Groundhogs Day.

A final note - A good standard to reach for is to do something substantial enough that when your parents inevitably ask "what did Aaron do for {holiday}" I can just answer and not stare blankly while trying to come up with a way to make “I cooked dinner while Aaron took a nap” sound thoughtful ;)

-Emily

From: Aaron U**

To: Emily U**

Sent: May 2* 2:12:34 PM

Subject: RE: confused

I think I should set up a dumb husband facebook page and this email will be my first post. Finally, it has been answered, thank you for clearing everything up, I will print this email and keep it on my person at all times. Thank you.

(A the second post for Aaron’s facebook page should be a link to this blog post – good job Connel!)

___

I just want to add that...

1. Connel was just enthralled with Emily's email about when and how to present gifts. I think he was taking notes.

2. I love that you emailed each other about all this. I am much better at writing my thoughts then saying them, and I can see how it could help avoid further miscommunication in some cases! :)

Thank you so much for taking time to do this Emily! (And to Aaron for helping us all see that our "dumb husbands" sometimes need a BIG honest hint.)

friday five.

2011-06-24T17:22:00.000-04:00

Book Suggestion | For All Eternity by Dr. John L. Lund also available in hardcover from HERE. (Connel and I are in the middle of reading this book and we really like it!)

The Dating Divas | Anniversary Date/Fondue Date Idea

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | Your Happily Ever After (There is a cute story about when he was trying to catch his wife-to-be's attention.)

MBC Scrapbooking | Wedding Month Link Party

Heritage Makers | Love Story and Wedding Album Storybook Templates

writing your love story: your wedding day.

2011-06-24T14:00:00.000-04:00

Last night I was talking to my Mother-in-law about when Connel and I got engaged. It was kind of funny, as I re-told her the story, how certain little things came back to me as I talked about it. Connel was there talking about it too and it was really interesting how he of course remembered different things than I did. I was also talking to my Mom yesterday and we were discussing how all of us in our family have different memories of the same events or times in life. I guess, when telling your stories, it's good to have more than just your own input. It would be good to ask what your parents or siblings or spouse or in-laws remember about the events, it could provide some good humor or insight to the story that you might have missed yourself.

Like for example, my sister posted on Facebook on our anniversary..."7 years ago all the uncles sat around and made fun of the newlyweds on their honeymoon ;)" And I was like...wait...is that true? did they really? Anyway, that's kind of a funny little detail that adds some humor to *ahem*...our side of the story.

So just remember to include your spouse and/or families and friends in the storytelling if you can.

Here are some good questions to ask yourself when you are writing your wedding story.

Planning

How did you decide the date you would be married?

Where did you get married?

Where there any special traditions planned for the wedding?

Who helped with planning/preparations?

Was there any strife caused between the bride and groom (or others) when planning?

What were the details of the wedding? Was the groom very involved in planning?

Bride

Tell about the bride finding the dress. Was it easy? Was it hard?

What did the dress look like?

Did she have any special preparations to get herself dressed and ready for the wedding?

How did the bride's day begin?

What were the feelings of the bride on her special day?

Groom

What did the groom wear?

How did the groom's day begin?

What final preparations did the groom have to make?

What were the groom's thoughts when he saw his bride?

What were the feelings of the groom?

Ceremony

Were there flower girls/ring bearer? Who were they?

Who were the bridesmaids? Maid of Honor? Best Man?

What family members attended the ceremony?

Did any special friends attend the ceremony?

What do the bride/groom remember from the ceremony?

How did they feel?

Did the ceremony conductor give any words of advice?

Were there any vows made? What were they?

After the Ceremony/The Reception

What were your first moments like as husband and wife?

Who greeted the couple after they were married?

Was there any brunch or luncheon planned?

Were there special guests present?

Where there any special words spoken by family members/friends?

What advice was offered?

What were the details of the wedding and/or reception? (flowers, colors, theme, cake, refreshments, food, location)

Tell about cutting the cake.

Where there any special toasts or traditions carried out? (garter toss, bouquet toss, religious traditions, family traditions, etc.?)

Did the couple have a dance?

Were there any special musical numbers?

Was there a greeting line? What was the setting like, casual or formal?

What was the farewell like? Was there a special vehicle? Was the car decorated?

Other

Who attended? Grandparents? Parent? Siblings? Best friends? Roommates? Other relatives and friends? Did anyone travel far?

Where family and wedding photographs taken?

Did the bride and groom get to take a Honeymoon? Where did they go?

What were their future plans at the time? Where would they live and what would they do?

What are some other memorable moments about the day?

What moments will the bride and groom cherish forever about that day?

That the end of the prompts for writing your love story! This has been really fun and brought back some cherished and funny memories about our dating and first years together...I am still working on writing mine, but I promise I will post it when it is fine-tuned and I can get more input from my husband! I hope you have been able to take some time and write down some of your cherished memories together. Again...if you post it on your blog, let me know I'd love to read it!

temple trip and sunset date night.

2011-06-21T22:57:00.001-04:00

I have a sweet husband. He hates to make me upset. The moment he realizes that I am upset, he immediately tries to make things better. It drives him crazy when I am in a bad mood or angry. Perhaps it's just because he is a genuinely happy and optimistic person. (or maybe he just doesn't like to be around a grump!)

But anyway... the reason I tell you this is because I found out my husband was going to be gone on the day of our anniversary. You all don't need to know the gory details, but ya... I was VERY upset. I was so looking forward to having an entire Saturday with my husband and no one else at all. I was very sensitive about it for a couple of days. It was making him crazy!

So...he made up for it. Um...BIG time! Our anniversary is on the 18th, but because of the scheduled obligation, we ended up celebrating on the 16th. We usually try to attend the temple on our anniversary (the LDS temple is where we got married...to know more about temples you can go HERE or HERE.) and so we attended the Columbus Ohio Temple. It ended up being the perfect day, the perfect and very experience that I needed on that EXACT DAY, and I felt very loved by my husband and my by Father in Heaven. God truly knows us individually and gives us what we need when we need it. God's timing = I am in awe.

My husband and I in front of the Columbus Ohio Temple.

Afterwards we were going to try to go to a Brazilian restaurant (a tradition) but there were none we could find in the Columbus area! (Kind of crazy as Columbus brags of being the restaurant hub.) We ended up at O'Charley's and it was really good! Then, my husband surprised me by taking me on a little drive on some back roads to an ice cream place we found a couple years ago...Ye Olde Mill in Utica, OH! I was ecstatic! I don't know what it is about driving the road less traveled, but I love it, it brings me some peace I guess! I feel a lot less claustrophobic in the country. And I LOVE ice cream!

We said that if Hannah was there she would be so excited to be so close to the "gucks".

"Making" Ice Cream

Yow!

Mine was some kind of Chocolate everything and Connel got chocolate chip cookie dough.

The Mill.

I have to give some HUGE HUGE thanks to our wonderful friends Trapper and Suzy who watched our little munchkin that day. I hope they know how much it meant to me to have that day with my husband. So much thanks to you for giving us that time! ;)

So...I thought that was the end of it. I was expecting my husband to come home on Saturday night and we would spend a bit of time together and call it good. But then he told me not to make any plans for Saturday night (the 18th) and I started getting suspicious! :) He showed up on Saturday evening and let me get ready for the "date" he had planned. I didn't know what to wear and so I kept asking him should I wear this shirt or that shirt? these pants or those shorts? what shoes? After I was dressed and ready and Hannah was sounds asleep, our babysitters (enter again Trap and Suz + 2 kiddos) came to the door.

We left the house at apprx. 8:15 PM and Connel kept saying how we had to stay on schedule as he started driving out towards the lake...

...for us to watch the sunset! It was very romantic. He had a candle + sparkling cider + little individual cakes for each of us. We spread out a blanket on the shore of Lake Erie and enjoyed EVEN MORE alone time while we watched the sun fall behind the horizon.

I think he knows that I love chocolate! ;)

But this was really good too!

The setup. So creative!

This was the view behind us. (No, I don't know why they decided to clutter the beautiful beach view with a nasty factory like this.) But they said that this is the best location to watch the sunset on this point of Lake Erie.

Us. Of course.

Again.

The view in front of us...it was a little cloudy but it made for really pretty colors!!!

Toes in the sand...

I leaned back to put my camera away...and I hit Connel in the nose...then I started laughing and leaned back and my head ended up in the dessert. Classy.

Dessert hair. Yes, I wore it the next day.

Connel knew that I would want to take some pictures...he brought along my camera, luckily I had my extra lens in my purse and I was able to get some pretty cranes in the sunset.

Toes in the water...♪

Don't know why but I really love this picture.

Another Crane.

Serenity.

A treasured moment for sure.

He went above and beyond! He is truly so thoughtful and caring and I love him with all my heart!

monday challenge: hand-written love letter.

2011-06-20T18:17:00.000-04:00

what a daddy does.

2011-06-19T22:41:00.000-04:00

What does a Daddy do?

He makes time for fun.

He leads you by the hand.

He balances priorities.

He cheers you on.

He gives you money. :)

He works alongside you.

He finds the humor in things when life stinks.

He helps you every step of the way.

He creates magical experiences.

He helps to shoulder your burdens.

He finds the teaching moments.

He loves you with all his heart!

We love you Connel, you do all these things and more...we couldn't ask for a better husband and father!

...

Of course, we can't wish a proper Father's Day without thanking our own Dads for their hard work, encouragement, sacrifice and love. We love you both! We're glad to call you both our Dad (and Grandpa)!

My Dad and I, Dec 2008

Hanna with Grandpa C, Dec 2010

Connel and his Dad, Dec 2008

Hannah and Grandpa P, June 2010

7 years today.

2011-06-18T17:54:00.001-04:00

Every road that I've been down.

The only truth that I have found.

There's only one thing I can't live without.

You...

(photo by Karen Anderson Photography, lyrics by Rascal Flatts)

friday five.

2011-06-17T17:58:00.000-04:00

The Idea Room | How to Convince Your Husband to Have Family Portraits Taken

Momtastic | Top 5 Easy Father's Day Projects

Homemade Happiness | Hamburger Fingerlings (these are my husband's favorite...I'm making them for Father's Day)

Simple Mom | How to Teach Him to Romance You

And this:

Click HERE to watch more.

writing your love story: engagment.

2011-06-17T16:54:00.000-04:00

One evening while we were dating, Connel and a few of his friends planned a date, I thought he was planning a date for his cousin Danny, so I was mad when Connel told me to go home and work on my homework. When Connel came to pick me up I was kind of in a bad mood, because I had been left out of the planning and the fun. So on the drive to Moose Lake I didn't really talk to Connel, I just sort of stared out the window and sulked. When we arrived at the lake, Connel asked me what was wrong, when I told him, he kind of smiled and said, "Well, I promise that the rest of the night will be better."

We went out in some canoes and we paddled around for about an hour and talked about our future. During this time, I did not know that the rest of the couples had gone back to shore. As Connel subtly paddled toward the opposite shore, we bumped into it. I took my paddle and began to push off. Connel suddenly exclaimed, "Uh...I have to pee!" So we left the canoe and walked to the top of the hill.

Funny...I was totally oblivious in this picture! Does Connel look nervous? :)

As we reached the top Connel stopped me and looked me straight in the eyes. He said some...well...LOTS of romantic and sweet things. The only thing I remember is that he said he knew from the moment that he met me that I would be a good mother and that he wanted to sweep me off my feet every day. I didn't write anything else down at the time...lesson learned. He then got down on one knee. I then realized that the whole night was really planned for us! Connel pulled the ring box from his jacket pocket and opened it to show...nothing?!?! For a minute we panicked, but then found the ring in the back corner of the ring box. Whew! (He told me later that he was super nervous about losing it in the lake!) He then asked me to be his wife forever. I said yes, of course, and surprise...I didn't cry! He placed the ring on my finger and then I shouted, "I'm getting married!"

We paddled back to the other side of the lake to find ...a band playing country music and a candlelit Dutch oven dinner for two, right next to the campfire. His roommates were the ones playing the country music and Cheri, Danny, Kara and Kevin had set up a lot of the dinner. He had really put so much time and effort into planning it, getting people to help and making it very memorable!

Now to write about your proposal and engagement...

Proposal

How did he/you propose?
What was said?
Where did he/you propose?
How did each of you feel?
What happened after the proposal?
Was anyone else there? What was their reaction?
Did he/you talk to your parents before proposing? How did he "ask permission" to ask for your hand? What was your parents reaction?
Did you tell everyone right away or later? How did your friends/family react to the news?

Engagement/Wedding Preparation

For how long were you engaged?
Who helped plan the wedding? Who was involved? (friends, family, etc.)
What were the details of the wedding plans?
How involved was the groom/bride?
Where their any silly arguments over wedding plans with fiance, mothers, fathers? (I included this because Connel and I had several! Haha!)
What are some fun things you and your fiance did while you were engaged? Dates, outings, trips, etc.
Did either of you ever get "cold feet"? If you did? For what reasons?

flawed.

2011-06-15T21:57:00.001-04:00

Today I will refer you over to The Pioneer Woman. Please read her post on butter, but more importantly...read the part about the missing diamond.

"I don’t need to stinkin’ diamond to know that my marriage is strong. What is in a diamond, anyway? I’d rather embrace real life. And when you think about it, this is really the perfect analogy for marriage: it may be flawed, it make lose some of its sparkle from time to time, but the foundation–the ring, the structure, the core–remains intact." (Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman)

nintendo 64 date night.

2011-06-14T21:25:00.000-04:00

This weekend we did an at home date night. We've done this in the past, but usually it's just a movie or a game. Game nights are always fun, but this time we switched it up and played some video games. We busted out the rarely used N64. (don't be jealous of our cutting edge electronics ;). The graphics were totally retro but this was our era people...and we still had a lot of fun, it's amazing how these things come back to you! We played NFL Blitz and Mario Kart. Connel won both times, but think you can tell who was more into the game by looking at these pictures.

Okay so look at that smile...I think he was having fun too! :)

We also picked up this second hand old school dance game (similar to Dance Dance Revolution) at a kiddie closet sale. I was super excited to see my husband show me his dance skills, but alas, the thing was having a hard time working...

I was the only one who got the chance to look like a fool before the game pooped out.

The bend and snap! Works every time! (name that movie)

We had a Barbie dance game that we got at the kid's sale as well but he wouldn't even try it. :)

If you are trying to save money and can't afford a babysitter every weekend...try a date night at home, after the kid(s) go to bed. Try to branch out of the basic movie night thing...maybe try one of the at home date ideas at Simply Modern Mom. It's fun to do something interactive and laugh together (and at each other)!

monday challenge: 60 seconds.

2011-06-13T17:48:00.002-04:00

Negativity...it creeps in through many forms. I'm sure we all have seen this problem, whether we have been hurtful to someone else, or been hurt ourselves. What can we do to take negativity out of our relationships? It can break hearts. It can destroy relationships. What can we do to turn the negative into the positive? Here are some areas I thought of and ideas of what can be done to improve them.

(I probably need this more than anyone else!)

Discontentment: If you feel less than content with your life, our spouse and/or our situation. Perhaps it would be wise to sit down and count your blessings...write down all the things you are grateful for. In fact, do this beforehand and look at the list when you are feeling this way.

Back-biting: Don't talk spitefully about your spouse behind their back. It can be easy to tell someone else what is bothering you about your spouse. Maybe take time to talk to your spouse about the things that are bothering you. If you need to run through it once or twice before discussing it with them... it might help to write it out in a journal or go somewhere by yourself and run through your thoughts before sharing them. (this could also prevent you from saying anything hurtful while discussing things.) Don't share upset, hurtful, or sarcastic feelings on the internet (facebook, blog, twitter, etc.)

Whining: Just be quiet. Usually the thing that I am whining about still needs to be done whether I whine about it or not. Just do it without whining and think how it will benefit your spouse or your household.

Criticism: If something the other person it doing is driving you crazy, just leave the room or kindly ask them to stop with out blowing up in their face. If you feel like your spouse it doing something wrong. Stop and ask yourself if it is hurting anything? If it is, then kindly ask them to stop or do it another way. If not, just let go and if you need to, address the situation later.

The challenge today is to take 60 seconds and write down as many things as you can that you love about your spouse. When you feel angry or discontent, or critical, etc. look at the list and realize how many good things outweigh the bad.

And remember...

I think that sums it up nicely.

friday five. (on saturday)

2011-06-11T09:23:00.000-04:00

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | Twenty Ways to Make a Good Marriage Great

Nifty Date Ideas | Cheap Date Ideas

Keeper of the Home | 15 Fun and Frugal Memories to Make With Your Kids This Summer

Simple Mom | The Value of Being Heard

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | Questions and Answers (a small smattering of some great marriage advice)

Have a great weekend!

writing your love story: dating.

2011-06-09T23:48:00.001-04:00

When Connel and I were dating I decided that would make him something for Christmas, instead of buying it. I took on the project of making him a homemade quilt. What I didn't know was that Connel was planning a little homemade something for me too! We both spent hours and hours working on our gifts for each other. So, it was one of the best surprises to find out that we had both spent quality time working on our little projects for one another. I asked Connel what he remembered about getting the quilt and he said "It was nice to have a little bit of you "in" the gift and to know you spent time doing something nice like that for me." then he teasingly said that he also was glad to find out that I could sew and could fix all his clothes...and that he thought "Daaang! She wants cuddle with me!" (FYI-"Dang!" is an excited expression in my husbands language :)

When Connel brought out the gift he had made for me. I remember trying to hold back tears. It was a beautiful wood framed mirror with a shelf. It was wrapped with a pink ribbon and on the front of the mirror was a heart shaped piece of pink paper that said, "When you look into this mirror, I hope you see all of the wonderful qualities I see in you." It also remember thinking that I thought it was manly that he could do woodwork! :) It was a really good feeling that we had both put time and effort into our gifts and really had to think about what the other person would like. And even though they are just "things", they hold very sentimental value and help us remember those feelings of love and giddiness we had for each other when we were dating.

That's just one of many great memories. I'm sure you have some that you want remembered and recorded so now it's your turn to reminisce about when you and your spouse were dating...

Here are some journaling prompts for writing:

Dating Memories

Maybe you started out as friends? Tell about your friendship before dating began.
What were some of the fun things you did together while dating?
Where were some of your favorite places to go/things to do while dating?
Write about some of your most memorable or funny dates/outings with each another.
Did you ever get in a fight or break up? How did you apologize/make up? What made you get back together?
Where your likes/dislikes compatible? Or did you have to learn to like something? Did they introduce you to something you had never done before?

Falling in Love

What were your feelings for him/her that were different from feelings you had had before?
What was it about that person that made you feel special?
Was there a defining moment when you knew you were in love?
WHEN, WHERE and HOW did you tell them your feelings of love for them? Did they feel the same way?
What were some sweet and/or romantic things the other person did for you while dating? (did they do anything extra chivalrous? or surprise you in a special way? or make/give you a nice gift?)

Involving Others

Was there any competition?
What did other people think about your relationship? (friends and family members)
Tell about meeting one another's families.

Did you have any outings/activities with the family involved?
What were your first impressions of their family?
What were their impressions of your family?
What were your families first impressions of them?

Tell about meeting one another's friends.

Did you have any outings/activities with the friends involved?
What were your first impressions of their friends?
What were their impressions of your friends?
What were your friends first impressions of them?

Remember to send me a link to your love story if you have it written or have started writing it! I've loved being able to read a few of them already!

Just a tip: Writing about all of these prompts at once can be a little overwhelming for some. You might want to try taking time each day and writing about one or two at a time. That way you will have started and that is the most important step!

Have a great night!

how do i love thee?

2011-06-08T22:57:00.002-04:00

Whoosh! ...and the day is over! I have to be honest. Today was a really busy day. I am tired. By the time I sat down to blog tonight I didn't feel much like writing anything and I sat around reading my blogs on google reader all night instead! But I still thought I would still share a little something...here is a great video that inspired me.

Enjoy!

bookstore date night.

2011-06-07T22:54:00.000-04:00

On Saturday night I asked Connel to go on a date with me. Ever since I saw an idea on The Dating Divas blog for a bookstore date night*, I've wanted to use it. I felt like we were getting stuck in a rut with the old dinner and a movie routine. It was fun to change things up a bit and do something where we could walk around, talk and have fun getting to know each other a little better. My husband does not really like to read that much, but I still thought he might still like this idea and I was right. Well, at least I think so, because he told me he had fun!

The first thing we did was go to the cookbook section. We were each supposed to find a recipe that looked yummy and that would be a fun one to make together. I guess Connel had a "picky palate" that night because he couldn't find anything, but I found one in the book "Guy Fieri Food: Cookin' It, Livin' It, Lovin' It". In fact almost every recipe in this book looked really yummy!

Penne with Cajun Hot Links and Chipotle Shrimp...Yum!

Then we moved into the Joke book section. We found that this was a little hard because most of the joke books were ADULT joke books. We found a regular joke book and read some funny "yo mamma" jokes, but then we found a little "What would you rather?" book and it was way better! If you do this date, you might want to go to the kid's joke book section to find more "appropriate" jokes.

Would you rather have eyeballs on your palms or detachable ears?

After that we went to the travel book section. We stayed there for the majority of the time looking and dreaming about where we would go and what we would see. He decided on the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean and I chose Hawaii. Looks like we are both dreaming of an island vacay!

Seychelles Islands

Hawaiian Sunset

After that we were kind of done. We didn't do the Poems or the Quiz from a Magazine but we did go and find a children's book that we used to love. Ours were not so "little" children books. I found "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" I remember checking these books out from the school library ALL. THE. TIME. And Connel found a Magic Eye book. We got dizzy trying to look at all the pics in that one!

I read Connel the story of "The Big Toe". He was so scared. ;)

Harry Potter Magic Eye is definitely not the best available.

After that we decided to go walk around the outdoor mall and get some ice cream. Then we went home to relieve our babysitter and watch the movie "The Last Song". We both liked it. Our favorite character was the little brother. He pretty much made the whole show worth watching. :) I didn't realize until afterwards that I had stayed with the "theme" of the night and watched a movie that was based on a book! :)

So there you have it. Our bookstore date! It was fun, inexpensive and we felt like we had spent some quality time together. Plus, we still got to watch a movie! Which I love!

*If you want to know more about how to carry out this date, and to get an invitation and task cards (I didn't use them) for the "book search tasks" check out the post HERE on The Dating Divas blog.

monday challenge: do something they love.

2011-06-06T23:46:00.001-04:00

My Grandmother, my Mom's mother, used to wake up each morning at 4 am with my Grandfather and make breakfast for him before he went to work at Challenge Dairy collecting milk from local farmers. I can imagine that as a wife and mother of six children, sometimes getting out of bed in the morning could have been a hard thing to do... and at 4 AM!? That seems almost impossible to me!

I never knew my Grandparents, and I don't know much at all about their relationship with each other. However, I imagine that time they spent together in those early mornings was something that they cherished. I'm sure that my Grandmother was blessed in many ways for sacrificing her sleep and time for her husband. I'm sure that this little act of service was something that sustained my Grandfather each day through a hard day's work. I also know that her example was remembered in future generations, because I remember that my Mom would always be up early with breakfast ready each day before we went to school.

And now I hope to let the example flow yet one more generation.

You see...my husband's favorite meal of the day is breakfast. The one thing he loves more than breakfast is when I make it for him. When we were first married I used to make breakfast for him every. single. morning. A few years into marriage, I started getting lazier and lazier and now I only make breakfast on Sunday and Saturday mornings. Maybe.

But lately, I have been thinking about how I could spend some more quality time with my husband. It was kind of funny that the first thought that popped into my mind was that I need to get up and eat breakfast with him. So, enter the challenge...

I am going to get up early to make breakfast for him like I used to.

This is a hard one...it means that I have to be disciplined about what time I go to bed. It also means that I have to sacrifice a little sleep...and I LOVE my sleep. ~~But, it also means that have a good excuse for taking an afternoon nap.~~

My challenge to YOU is to think of something that your husband loves you to do ...that you don't do very often. And take some time to do it.

It could be making breakfast for him, or it could be something totally different. Challenge yourself to do whatever it is you want to do. Do it for a day, or for one week, or month, or make it a renewed habit. But make it achievable.

I hope that doing this little challenge will bring blessings and cultivate a little more love into my relationship with my husband and give us a little more cherished time spent together. I hope it can do the same for you too!

If you'd like to share...Are you going to take the challenge? What are you going to do for your husband?

friday five.

2011-06-03T09:23:00.000-04:00

Here are five links that I loved that you can take some time to read this weekend. Enjoy!

Simple Marriage | Ignite Your Romance with Old Fashioned Values

Dating Divas | Spouse Subway Art

How Does She | Keep the Spark HOT!

Romantic Vineyard | Fireproof Your Marriage

Simply Modern Mom | Project 52: Date Nights

(Spouse Subway Art idea inspired by The Dating Divas; created on wordle.net)

writing your love story: firsts.

2011-06-02T23:20:00.000-04:00


This picture is not significant, until I tell the story behind it. This is when we were in Utah at a friends, he was studying and fell asleep. I remember thinking "Aw. He's so tired...I love him." then thinking, "Oh my gosh...I DO love him!" This is when I first realized I was in love with Connel! He had been taking time to travel a 4 hour drive from Idaho to Utah almost every other weekend and taking time out of his schooling to see me. We would stay up late talking on the phone a lot too. It's good to remember the sacrifice that we went through to see and talk to each other...that must have been part of the reason I fell in love with him!

I have always been into preserving memories. I like to journal and scrapbook and I love to reminisce about good times past. I feel like pictures and journals give me a reminder of how far I have come, the blessings I have had, and reminds me of all the wonderful people that have been a part of my life.

I used to write in my journal almost every day. For some reason, after I met Connel, I only wrote in it a handful of times. It kills me that I didn't have those raw emotions down in writing!

It may not be perfect, but what I treasure is that I DO have it recorded! A few years ago, I wrote our love story in a photo book. I copied and pasted it here on my blog as well if you ever want to read it. It's the shortened version...but it's something.

Also, about a year ago, I found a journaled tape that I had made about him sometime during the first few months that we spent together. It's cute, it's hilarious, it makes me cry...I treasure it! (I do need to get it updated from a tape to something else so it can be preserved for future generations though.)

So, maybe you have a scrapbook of your dating years. Maybe you have your wedding album. But do the pictures tell a story? Do those pictures tell what your emotions were? What were you feeling when you first met him? first held hands? first kissed? What were your feelings on your wedding day? THAT is what matters. If someone were to look at your pictures, would they be able to know what was happening? Probably not. Will your kids want to know what was happening... how you first fell in love? Probably.

So...I am going to help you record your love story. Once each week, I will post writing prompts for you to use to help you write and preserve your love story. From the first day you met, to dating, to engagement, to your lovely wedding day!

Today we will write about "firsts" in your relationship:

Tell about how you first met?

When and where did you meet?
Did someone introduce you?
Was there a spark at first sight?
What was it that made you notice him/her?
What was it about him that impressed her?
What was it about her that impressed him?
Was there anything about them that you disliked? or were bothered by?

Tell about your first date.

When and where was it?
What were your thought and feelings before the first date?
What were your thoughts and feelings during the date?
Are there any funny/embarrassing/touching stories about your first date that you can share?
What were your thoughts and feelings for him/her after your first date?
Did you want to go out with them again?
What made you want to go out with them again?

Tell about the first time you held hands.

When and where was it?
What was it like? Was is awkward? sweet? funny?
What were your thoughts/feelings?

Tell about your first kiss.

When and where was it?
What did (or didn't) you like about the kiss?
What were your thoughts and feelings after the first kiss?

Tips for writing memories/journaling:

Write first, edit later...don't worry about your spelling and grammar, etc. Just start writing and then edit it when you are finished with that portion.
When you do worry about editing. Watch your spelling, handwriting, grammar, language, and punctuation.
Try not to use trendy acronyms. If you do try to create a key for what they mean. (In 20 years they might not know what LOL means!)
Be yourself. Give your story voice, but it is essential to be yourself as you write, because this is a story about YOUR life! Written by YOU!
Write about the good and the bad. People will want to know that you were a real person with real problems! It helps them relate to you.
When you are writing about others, be respectful and tasteful. Don't be rude.
Do your best to be accurate.
Write with audience in mind. Like your children and grandchildren for example.

Record it how you'd like, write it down, record your voice, make a video, make a book, scrapbook it (don't forget the journaling), blog it, type it...

...just start!

Even better...include your spouse, let them share their feelings and record them, you might find out things you never knew! (I'm totally going to be doing this!)

So grab your favorite treat, your spouse, and start reminiscing! And who knows, maybe it will help you remember why you fell in love in the first place!

Okay well, I hope you have some fun while doing this! If you write or have written your love story on your blog...post a link in the comments or email me...I'd love to read it!

love jar.

2011-06-01T18:44:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I have to admit that I had a different post planned out, but last night our power ended up going out until midnight (which somehow caused my child to wake 4 or 5 times throughout the night) and today I spent prepping for a garage sale that my friends and I are having and I ended up throwing out my back!

I am exhausted, but I am still going to share with you a fun little idea that my friend Suzy and I came up with together awhile ago. We each created a jar full of romantic/fun ideas that could be done anytime, and any day. The best part about it is that if you or your spouse feel like you want to surprise your the other but you don't have any ideas, it's super easy to just grab a slip of paper from the jar and do what it says...and you know it will be something that they/you will love!

Sorry about the blurry pics! :(

You can make your own!

All you need is:

a glass jar (a mason jar would work)

two different colors of paper (we used red and blue)

marker(s)

a list of romantic or fun ideas (one list each for you and spouse)

scissors or a paper cutter

First, cut two different colors of paper into strips (about 1/2-3/4 inch thick).

Then, on the strips of paper, write down the ideas that you came up with. Here are some examples of ideas that I used for my jar.

"Give him a foot massage."

"Send her flowers for no special reason besides that you love her."

"Leave him a love note."

"Make her a mix CD." (with songs meaningful to your relationship)

Fold the paper strips and place in the jar.

Cut a piece of paper to fit around the outside of the jar, and on it write the following instructions.

Love Jar

Instructions

1. Choose a paper strip from the jar... husband chooses red, wife chooses blue. (or whatever colors you have chosen)

2. Follow directions on paper and get creative with it!

3. Remember to keep it a secret! :)

Embellish to your likeness and tape the paper in place.

Choose a paper strip to complete for your spouse right now! Have fun and be creative!

seven year...itch?

2011-05-28T21:21:00.011-04:00

photo by Karen Anderson Photography (I don't think she does weddings anymore though!)

Just three weeks to go and then... my husband and I will have been hitched (but not itched!) for seven years. SEVEN YEARS! That went by fast!

When we were newlyweds, we bought a full eight place setting dinnerware set. After seven years, there were only pieces remaining...a few plates, a couple mugs, and some bowls! We have been thinking about getting a new set for a while but have been too lazy and too stingy with our money. However, this past weekend we decided it was finally time to renew our dish cabinet! We took a trip to Costco and came home with a lovely new full set of dishes! Yay! It feels good knowing we can actually invite someone over and not have to ask them to bring some of their own plates! Ha ha!

I think sometimes, marriage can be similar to those old dishes. Shiny and new, and at first, you treat them with care and delicately. But after awhile, you become lazy. They start to get thrown in the sink, sometimes they get dinged and dropped, or maybe they just don't look as "in style" or "beautiful" to you as they once where.

Sadly, for many today, it is easy to just throw the old marriage in the garbage and go out and get a new one. But I've learned from others examples, that it just doesn't work that way. I have always been taught that marriage is eternal, and I believe in that. I also believe it's up to us to make it that way!

A story told in a General Conference of our church by Elder F. Burton Howard comes to mind. He told about when he and his wife were first married and the only thing they registered for was a set of silverware. His wife carefully chose the set that she wanted. When their wedding came and they opened the gifts, there was no silverware at all in any gifts. They laughed about it, and the years went on. Money was scarce but piece by piece his wife collected the silverware set until eventually they had the entire set. Even then it only came out for special occasions and sometimes not even then. After any use, it was hand washed and dried and carefully placed back in it's box, if it needed polishing he would go get the polish and they would carefully polish any stains away. He continued to say,

"Over the years we added to the set, and I watched with amazement how she cared for the silver...

...I noticed that the silverware never went to the many ward dinners she cooked, or never accompanied the many meals she made and sent to others who were sick or needy. It never went on picnics and never went camping. In fact it never went anywhere; and, as time went by, it didn’t even come to the table very often. Some of our friends were weighed in the balance, found wanting, and didn’t even know it. They got the stainless when they came to dinner.

The time came when we were called to go on a mission. I arrived home one day and was told that I had to rent a safe-deposit box for the silver. She didn’t want to take it with us. She didn’t want to leave it behind. And she didn’t want to lose it.

For years I thought she was just a little bit eccentric, and then one day I realized that she had known for a long time something that I was just beginning to understand. If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don’t expose it to the elements. You don’t make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by."

I have always felt like my husband and I have had a good relationship. But, like every couple, we have been through some trials together, and you know... we have our days ;). Sometimes we get lost in the everyday routine and I neglect to put that extra care and polishing into marriage that I should. I know I'm probably not the only one that does this and so I decided to challenge myself...

...and you!

For the month of June and for commemoration of our anniversary month, I will be doing a little series here on my blog about:

STRENGTHENING MARRIAGE!

I'm so super excited about this! I hope that it will be a fun thing to do, I hope that it will help me strengthen my marriage a little, and hopefully it will help you strengthen yours at the same time! I have some plans already in place (date night ideas, marriage tips, daily challenges, etc.), but if you have ANY suggestions or anything that you feel has TRULY strengthened your marriage, please tell! I would love to try them! I don't consider myself a marriage expert (who is?), but I do LOVE my husband and want to make our marriage last FOREVER! I'm excited to be creative with this, so leave me your thoughts!

family movies.

2011-05-19T22:00:00.020-04:00

In all of our decluttering, we happened to get rid of our VCR. Sad for two reasons.

#1- It's 2011 and we actually still owned a VCR.

#2- We had to get rid of a lot of our movies!

Within the stack of about 25 videos were some of my favorites. Ever After, While Your Were Sleeping, The Sound of Music, and about ten others. We listed them out on a piece of paper so we could have the list for future reference in $5 Wal-Mart movie picks.

We also got rid of some movies, including DVD's that we knew didn't fit with our family values. It was really hard to get rid of a couple of those "cockroach in the ice cream" movies. But at this point I don't really remember exactly which movies those were and if I do, I don't really miss them that much! It feels better knowing that I don't have that influence in my home. I have been on the search for some good clean family flicks and I have watched several lately that I have added to our list of favorites.


The Other Side of Heaven

The Karate Kid (2010)

We Are Marshall

Bridge to Terabithia

The Adventures of Milo and Otis

Annie

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Flipped


Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation

Here are some of our other favorites:

Swiss Family Robinson

Groundhog Day

Home Alone

Little Women

The Kid

Ever After

The Sound of Music

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Cheaper By the Dozen

Muppets Take Manhattan

North by Northwest

Princess Bride

Rear Window

The Sandlot

Back to the Future Series

Star Wars Series

Indiana Jones Series

Three Men and a Baby

Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (1971)

The Goonies

Charly

Legacy (1990)

The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd

Fly Away Home

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Ladyhawk

The Stupids

Clue

Fireproof

Facing the Giants

Faith Like Potatoes

Agatha Christie's Poirot Series

Narnia Movies

National Treasure

Enchanted

Night at the Museum

Up and other Pixar Films

Hook

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

On Our Own

Flicka

Mary Poppins

High School Musical

I'm sure there are more but I think that is a long enough list to keep you busy if you are going to try and watch some of them!

Any family favorites that you'd like to share? We love suggestions!

most important.

2011-05-17T23:45:00.001-04:00

We are stuck in a lazy kind of routine, my poor baby had pneumonia and we haven't really been able to get back on track with our daily routine. I'm trying to get out of this rut...and I have had a few days of motivation and energy here and there. I need to find some energy... actually, it's more than just that. I have some things I need to change.

I have some goals I want to achieve and relationships I want to strengthen. I know what I have to change within myself to make these things happen. I have been inspired this past weekend and I feel a sense of urgency to prioritize, to make time for the most important things, and start weeding out things that aren't necessarily bad, but that are distracting me from my ultimate goals. The problem is that times like now, I see all the things that I am doing wrong and I want to change them all at once. Then I get overwhelmed by it all and suddenly I loose the motivation to keep going.

It was mentioned by an inspired leader in our local/district stake conference this weekend to look at the weakest part of our lives and strengthen it first. I know where I can start and it will require some patience and determination on my part but I know that it is possible. I guess it has to do with submitting our will to the Father. I also read an article here and one portion of it stood out to me:

"His focus on the Father is one of the principal reasons Jesus’s ministry had such clarity and power.

In the same way, you and I can put Christ at the center of our lives and become one with Him as He is one with the Father (see John 17:20–23). We can begin by stripping everything out of our lives and then putting it back together in priority order with the Savior at the center. We should first put in place the things that make it possible to always remember Him—frequent prayer and scripture study, thoughtful study of apostolic teachings, weekly preparation to partake of the sacrament worthily, Sunday worship, and recording and remembering what the Spirit and experience teach us about discipleship.

Other things may come to your mind particularly suited to you at this point in your life. Once we make adequate time and means for these matters in centering our lives in Christ, we can begin to add other responsibilities and things of value, such as education and family responsibilities. In this way the essential will not be crowded out of our lives by the merely good, and things of lesser value will take a lower priority or fall away altogether." -Elder Todd. D. Christofferson

This is the direction that I hope to take. I want to try to live more simply with my life focused on Christ. I want to have more peace in my home. I want to fill my home and life with good and important things. I want to better myself, so that I can be my best for what's most important...

What do you do when your stuck in a rut and want to motivate yourself? What inspires you to stay on track/stay motivated?

motherhood.

2011-05-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

“There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be 'full-time moms,' at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else.”

M. Russell Ballard, “Daughters of God,” May 2008 Ensign

oh what a beautiful mornin'!

2011-05-04T08:36:00.000-04:00

I got up early this morning. I opened up my windows and I let the cool breeze flow through my little house. It's amazing what a cool morning breeze can do to wake you up and make you feel rejuvenated.

I normally claim to be a night owl, but for some reason, a bright early morning is my favorite time of day. The sun is just rising, the breeze is fresh and the world is somewhat quiet. I find that whenever I wake early I find myself more appreciative and aware of the love our Father in Heaven has for us. What a wonderful and beautiful world he has created for us to enjoy and take care of! I find that I have more love for my family and I want to sacrifice my time for them. I find that I have more motivation to get going with my day. Usually on days when I wake up early, I tend to be more busy throughout the day and so at the end of the day I feel a sense of accomplishment. Maybe it's also because I've added just a couple more hours to my day. Whatever the case, I love this feeling and perhaps I'll try to make it a part of my everyday.

May God show you his glory in the little things today.

Here is a little playlist that I sometimes listen to if I am down or just need a little push to get going... Enjoy!

Before a was a Mom I was a freaking GENIUS with kids.

2011-04-27T15:05:00.002-04:00

Complete. Child. Expert.

(Um...ya...I was a little arrogant about it. ;)

I do have a lot of experience (7-8 years and a bachelor's degree) educating and caring for other people's children. But when I became a Mother a year and a half ago...the child rearing professional in me suddenly disappeared.

My daughter and I.

Every once in a while, I have someone who knows a little bit about my education background who asks me a question. Aaaaaannnd....Either I don't want to come across sounding like a know-it-all or I have just plain forgotten. Not everything, but most things that I know, would probably help them. If I happen to have an answer come to me off the top of my head (rare), I try to share it but still feel scared. (Yes, fear...I know.)

You see...it's kind of like a nurse or doctor coming across a car accident. They have the training, they see the situation, and they are obligated to stop. They may not know exactly what to do right away, but they know that they have the training and they should use it when a medical need arises. If they were to drive right past, nobody would be the wiser. But they would know they passed up the opportunity to help.

For me, I see a situation where a Mom is struggling... not just a random situation on a bad day....but perhaps a friend who is having trouble with a certain child behavior. Maybe they are refusing to potty-train. Maybe they are showing aggression. Maybe they won't pick up their toys when you ask them to. The parents are concerned with the situation and they talk about it.

It's funny, I'm around other Mom's quite a bit and we talk about certain behaviors and situations with our kids and how to handle them. Some people give advice. Some people give LOTS (to much) advice. Some people sit back and listen. Some people have a great heap of good advice but don't give it...

When I was a student studying early-childhood education, I vowed that I would be an advocate for parents and children. And here's me...I admit...sometimes I drive right past. Because I'm fearful...I pass up an opportunity to help. I'm scared that I might not know exactly what to do, or even worse... what if I'm wrong... what if my suggestion doesn't work?!?

I can usually figure out the main problem behind the situation, I know where to find good information and how to implement help in a successful way. I know I have resources that can help... but, I just don't want to give unsolicited advice. (That can be really annoying.)

With children, each day presents itself with a new or reoccurring problem or situation that has to be worked out. Most of the time the behavior or problem requires a parents help to fix it.

So answer me this: Do I help??? Do I give advice??? What do I do???

a bit about my baby girl... who will someday be a big girl.

2011-04-14T09:02:00.028-04:00

My sweet little baby. I went through all of her past and present clothes yesterday. (She was so little!)

It took me 5 hours. 5 hours!!! How many clothes can a 18 month old own? I am actually kind of appalled with myself. I am proud to say that I tossed half of them in a sell/donate box. I am increasingly realizing how important it is that I teach my daughter that these things are NOT the important things. Aware of the message I may send when I dress her up and tell her she is beautiful. Why would I want to teach my daughter that having that many clothes is important? Why would I want the way she looks on the outside outshine who she is inside???

I do think okay to have fun dressing and getting ready and feeling like you look classy and nice. We should try to take care of bodies and dress appropriately. It's just that I need to make sure that she is feeling beautiful because of what she is... not what she wears.

I don't care if you have the time or not... :)

If you have daughters please please read this...

(I wrote that really big because I think it is important.)

What About Our Girls? Childhood Cut Short

(watch the video too!)

"These girls of ours, WHAT ARE WE DOING???? WHY WHY WHY are we letting our kids grow up so fast? I am trying the darned best I can to let all of my children have a normal, long childhood but it seems like I have to fight tooth and nail ALL the time. I can stand strong as much as possible, trust me, I'm willing to fight the fight, but I feel like I'm up against the world, and in spite of all my attempts at normalizing this stupid rate of a super rushed childhood we have created, it is impossible, yes impossible, to keep all the crap out."

"...we are being conditioned to accept less and less of a moral standard by those that have little or no standard. They are influencing us whether we think they are or not."

(by Sarah at Clover Lane)

-----

There is more I could say but she says it soooo much better. Please...go read the post ! It will be well worth your time.

Also, if you have sons... She wrote this post the other day and truly agree about what she said about raising our boys to become responsible and disciplined men.

the petterson's and the messy house.

2011-04-09T23:27:00.002-04:00

Have you ever felt the need to just declutter your entire life? I mean just get rid of excess STUFF???

I have been rethinking how our family is living and the direction that we are going/want to go in life. I know that there are things that we need to change and goals we need to set to help us concentrate on what is most important.

It's kind of interesting to me that ever since I started thinking about this, I have consequently run across articles or classes or blog posts here and there that have helped me in my little "quest". They all just kind of landed in front of me.

I truly know that this is something that I am SUPPOSED to do. Like God wants me to concentrate on building a foundation for my family to stand on. I feel so motivated!

Anyway, I wanted to share my thoughts on a book that was suggested by Heather from the Coterie Blog. (I think you all know that I love her blog :) The book is Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider (simplemom.net) When I read the Amazon sneak peek of the book, I KNEW it was what I needed! I bought it and let me tell you...this book is changing the way that I look at living!

The book is about what it means to REALLY simplify (not just some buzzword) your life, how live it with intention, and how relationships are more important than things. I have to admit that as I read the first couple of chapters, I got a little teary because this is something that I have been trying to do and have wanted to do for a LONG time, but I just didn't know exactly how to carry it out! I have always tried and tried to create an organized home and family life, and as I read I felt that this could help me get there...and perhaps stay there!

I have read the first half of the book and already we have created a family purpose statement. (I know, it's a really similar layout to the Young Women Theme... don't laugh! :)

I also created a blank family calendar using a poster on Heritage Makers, laminated it and put on the refrigerator. I love it so far!

We were previously having family "pow-wow's" and, although I sometimes gripe about it, we regularly discuss the budget (Connel makes sure of this!). And I have a self made planner/home management notebook that I already use. So, I felt good knowing that I was already sort of on track!

Today I started the part that I am MOST excited about, the 10 day clean out/purge of EVERY room in my home!

Whenever I get the itch to organize, I always feel like I am just moving around stuff that we hardly ever use and putting it in nice little boxes and stacking it up so that all of our excess stuff looks nice and neat. :)

Of course, a couple days go by and I will end up needing one little thing at the bottom of the box that is in the bottom of the stack. I'm either to lazy or to rushed to put the nice little stack back in order and it ends up in one big unused mess all over again!

So I am super excited about purging my entire house. I started with Day 1 today and in less than an hour I already had a laundry basket full of things to sell/donate!

It's feels really nice to get started, I can't wait to do the rest! I never thought I'd play the part of Mama Bear from "The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room"! But I guess things have come full circle!

screen shopping {red, white, blue, and beachy}.

2011-04-08T06:30:00.011-04:00

The other day we rented the movie "How Do You Know". I love Reese Witherspoon but I wouldn't say that it was the highest quality movie that I have seen. Seriously, how often do you get high quality lately? Hardly. ever. So hey, if you know of some good ones, let me know, we are on the hunt for some CLEAN family flicks.

But on to the style side of things...if there was one thing that I really liked about the movie it was her clothing! The style of the casual clothing she wore was adorable! I went shopping online and found some examples of the outfits that I am crushing on. Now all I have to do is somehow convince my husband that these finds are immediate needs. :)

This outfit looked extremely comfortable, but I need a longer short. Here is what I found...

{shirt, capris, sandals, necklace}

Another outfit she wore (couldn't find a picture) was a white peasant dress with a denim jacket over it. It was sort of feminine with an americana/preppy touch. Here is my version:

I'd go with plain white... or a floral looking dress

{dress #1, dress #2, jacket, shoes}

I also really liked this outfit, I only remember part of the look, but this is how I would wear a similar top and cardigan.

{cardigan, top, khakis, shoes}

And my final inspiration is from a birthday card that my mom sent! :) I'm too lazy to scan or even take a picture of it, but it's a little girl walking on the beach in a sunhat and a flowy little beach dress. I have wanted to wear a similar outfit ever since I saw it on the card!

Here is my idea of a flowy comfy beachy outfit:

{dress, shoes, sunglasses, hat}

I just love those floppy hats!

Now I just have to stop dreaming and actually save the money to go get some of these finds!

Have a great weekend!

monday.

2011-04-05T07:59:00.011-04:00

A great day to start the week.

(Connel and I at our wedding reception in Nyssa, Oregon: June 2004)

To be diverse, I was NOT going to be a predictable Mormon and post about General Conference today and how it helped me and my list of twenty goals and things I need to improve... So HA! But, I found that I am just like everyone else or I just have the NEED to share this beautiful talk that I think just happened to every wife's favorite. I was entertaining my toddler at this point in conference and I "heard" Elder Scott's talk but I didn't really get to "listen" to it until this morning ...it is FANTASTIC!!!

shape block painting.

2011-03-23T07:00:00.002-04:00

I can let my child play in shaving cream, but for some reason I have issues with paint. But I really want to let her be creative so I busted it out!

What you need for this activity is:
shape blocks
paint (tempura is best, but I had acrylic, so I used it!)
tray or old sheet cake pan
contruction paper
paint holder or paper plate/bowl
apron or paint smock

I had to show Hannah how to dip it in the paint, but she caught on quickly after that!

But, she still decided that finger-painting was more fun!

Trying the circle...she ended up just moving it around on the paper instead of stamping it...but all I cared about was that she was enjoying it! :)

(and it wasn't as much of a mess as I thought it would be. It was nice having the tray to corral the paint.)

kool-aid snow cones.

2011-03-21T22:25:00.000-04:00

Make a snow cone using real snow! Well, I think it just might officially be spring here in Ohio, but I know some of you out there still have some snow right? Oh well, if not, you can at least store this idea in your mental data bank for next winter. Or find a way to shave your own ice. ;)

What you need:

snow

prepared kool-aid

small squeeze bottle

bowl and spoon

bib/kid's apron

We collected some snow from our backyard and scooped it into a couple bowls....

...then snitched a bit.

Then we mixed up some kool-aid and poured it into a small squeeze bottle from a little snow cone machine we found at Goodwill. Then we squeezed the kool-aid onto our snow...

...and a little bit onto ourselves. :)

Then, we enjoyed our yummy homemade snow cones!

(and the rest of the kool-aid. :)

shaving cream sensory activity.

2011-03-15T13:40:00.001-04:00

Over the past little while I have been trying to do at least one creative activity with my toddler each day.

It's kind of my own personal little goal of trying to get away from too much television watching and to make sure that I am having some quality one on one time with my kiddo every day. I even try to make up a little "lesson plan" each week of things that we can do together. Art, sensory boxes, make-believe play, etc. I just want to spend some time with her and make sure I cherish her littleness (and it helps me to be able to use what I have learned in school)! I even went as far as to make a huge long list of activities and outings that I want to have over the next few months. Lucky for you :), I have TONS of ideas to share.

Here is a classic sensory activity that we did last week, It's a delightful sensory experience for your little ones...no matter the age (my cooperating teacher used this when I student taught 1st grade to get the kids help in cleaning the tables). It is a little bit messy, but OH SO FUN! Come on... little mess won't hurt ya...

...you can DO IT!

While I was gathering up my supplies for this activity I suddenly got extremely excited to see how she would react! Here is what you will need:

Saran wrap and/or a vinyl tablecloth,
Shaving cream (preferably the type hat foams immediately out of the can)
Food coloring (optional)
Child's smock or apron

First things first---prep for easy clean up!

I covered the table with saran wrap. and placed a vinyl table cloth in the floor to catch any drippings. You can use a vinyl table cloth on the table as well and then just wipe clean or stick it in the washer when you are done! I didn't end up needing the table cloth on the floor, but only because my shaving cream was too sticky. Make sure they wear a smock if you don't want to have to give them a bath! ;) I don't mind a little bit of a mess so I let her play in just her diaper and gave her a bath afterward.

I just sprayed some cream on the table and let her go at it! I also added food coloring for added effect!

I think my daughter loved it, maybe just a little bit.

...she really "got into" it!

Now go make a mess with your little one(s)!

Pssst... just FYI - I have more activities that we have already done and plenty planned to do and share so check back for more fun!

And yes, some are less mess...

fashion question answered.

2011-03-11T13:26:00.000-05:00

Heather at The Coterie Blog is hosting Fashionista Fridays, in which her lovely sister Chelsea (um, ya, I know her PERSonaly!) answers fashion questions. I am so thrilled that today they answered my question about modest mom shorts!

the start of something new.

2011-03-07T15:29:00.001-05:00

I have been toying with the idea of doing some new things with my blog for awhile now...
and now is the time I start.

It's not for the money or popularity (okay so maybe a little bit of the popularity). But really... it's because I think it would be fun and something I can feel successful at. Yes, I feel successful as a Mother...um, well, most days. But I just need something for my personal enjoyment, ya know?

I have plenty of interests and ideas to share, but I know that if I try to share all of them (and feel obligated to do them so I can share them), I will overwhelm myself.

Soooooo...
Will you do me two favors? Pretty please? :)

{Number 1} Will you take a look at the poll on the sidebar and vote for the things that you are most interested in?
{Number 2} Please, please comment if you read this post, I was wondering who's reading. (even if you have been lurking in the shadows ;)

Thanks so much my blogger friends!

bring kareen home.

2011-02-17T21:03:00.003-05:00

My friend Lexi is helping with an online auction and I thought I would help spread the word.

The Online Auction goes from February 14, 2011 to February 28, 2011.

Kareen is a four year old little girl with Down Syndrome who was given up at birth and has lived in an orphanage in Eastern Europe ever since. In her country a child with special needs is only held in an orphanage until the age of 4 or 5 and is then transferred to an institution where conditions are bleak and offer little hope for living a fulfilling life. Kareen's story has touched Kris and Kecia's family and they are committed to bring her home. The cost of international adoption is very high and they could use our help.

tomorrow is saturday.

2011-01-29T00:15:00.001-05:00

Is anyone our there? I mean in the blogging world? Really, I feel like facebook is {({TAKING OVER})} (said in a very scary echo-y voice). Really, I've spent way to much time on that website and I just know you have too!

Right now I am going to blog all about me. I want, I need, I love. Here are my latest obsessions.

What I'm Watching.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

My parents had the 2nd season and I watched the whole thing in 3 days over Christmas and now I am watching the 1st season on hulu. I love her clothes, oh, and did you know??? 70's is totally in (again) this spring. YES! I L.O.V.E. the 70's, bold colors, funky prints, denim, fur, spanish-style dresses! I'd give them a valentine if I could! I had a sick obsession with the 70's and disco music/dancing in high school. It was a little weird. In fact, cousin Doug and Richard...do you remember dressing up 70's and learning to disco from that old record...then bringing the house down at the local stake dance in Idaho Falls? That was, in a word..."funky"! I should have kept those bright green bellbottoms! Kidding...kidding.

Just give me some wide-leg trousers and I'll be a happy girl! Go retro!

What I'm Wearing.

The Daybook.

Somebody linked to her and created a monster in me. I love the way she dresses, she's cute, she's trendy. She can pull off practically anything and I could hate her for it...but she's just one of those people that you can't hate, so... I can't. Anyway, she's daring...and it's been awhile since I've been daring with what I wear! It's fun! I love this eclectic trend! And her top 10 winter wardrobe essentials list has been my go to for clothing finds lately. I found some denim shirts at Walmart for $1 quite awhile back and I thought, "Well, they're Miley Cyrus and so they have to be in style, right? HA!"...lo and behold, she helped me find a way to wear them... and I like it!

What I'm Listening to...

Sara Bareilles Newest Album

I fell in love with her song Gravity from one of her previous albums and so when my sis-in-law had this CD in her car over Christmas...I fell in love. "Hold My Heart" is particularly melancholy and I love "Let the Rain". I just love her blues-y chill voice.

So that's me lately...and that's a wrap!

Goodnight. Tomorrow is Saturday and I hope I get to sleep in!

bad attitude.

2010-12-08T22:39:00.001-05:00

I've been in a teensy bit of a bad mood lately. Really. I have not been very patient, kind, loving, happy, etc. I saw this on the Sullenger's blog and I decided...I need to change my attitude. Enjoy! It's a super cute video!

reading.

2010-11-30T22:22:00.001-05:00

For the past 2 weeks I have been entertaining a visitor (MY DAD!!!) and gone for the Thanksgiving holiday (to see my SISTER!!!) and so my blog has been neglected. We are back, for a little while at least, so look forward to some updates later, but for now, I am going to neglect again and go enjoy a good book.

I have been in a reading slump for a few months and forgotten how enjoyable it is! Oh! The joy of escaping life for a few ~~minutes~~ ~~hours~~ days to relax and enjoy a good novel!

Just finished this:

Going to go start this:

biggest loser {weeks nine, ten, eleven and ...}.

2010-11-12T21:05:00.001-05:00

Sooooooo... we all know that I have been slacking in the posting of my Biggest Loser Challenge. Yes, I am having a hard time keeping up with it, the diet I mean. And it's somewhat embarrassing. But, there have been lots of things I have learned from this "diet"...mostly about myself. The main thing is that I have very little self control! At least when it comes to food.

However, I am not giving up or quitting! You have not failed until you stop trying!!! Right? I have been weighing in and trying to exercise daily, I do pretty good at the mealtime goals, but when it comes to the snacking and goodies...well, I admit I have a problem...like I said, Halloween was hard on me! I want to learn to eat healthy and learn to finish something! So, I am continuing with a new resolve and I have worked out 4 days out of the week already---an hour each time!

But seriously, if I was on the BIGGEST Loser TV show, I would have been kicked off a LOOOONG time ago!!! :)

Anyway, here are the stats from the last 3 weigh ins...

The goal for week 8 was to Stop and think about why you are eating. Are you really hungry?? Don't eat and watch TV or read. Concentrate on your food. Stop eating after you are 80% full and wait 20 minutes. See if you are still hungry after those 20 minutes.

I am okay with this most of the time. It seems to work well and I feel full sooner, meaning I eat less! P.S. I used the "put your fork down and chew your food" method a couple times and it seemed to work well, AND it helped me look like less of a pig.

I lost .8 lbs!

I weighed in at 132.2 lbs

All my waist, hip, thigh measurements stayed the same.

---

The goal for week 9 was do not go out to eat. And if you do, only eat half of your meal.

We didn't go out to eat (luckily that was the week before! hee hee!) but we did get pizza. Oh blessed pizza...how I despise and love you at the same time! I have always been able to eat a LOT of pizza. In 4th grade I went to a birthday party and ate 8 pieces of pizza and won a contest for who could eat the most pizza...That is an entire medium pizza folks!

I can eat a LOT of pizza and I LOVE IT! But, it is NOT GOOD FOR YOU! However, I have discovered that if I eat a larger sized salad BEFORE I eat the pizza, I can only eat about 2 pieces. And salad is good for you! Anyway, just saying that pizza is a weakness and we DID have pizza, I continued well with the other things, but I have eaten lots of pizza. Not so good.

I gained 1.8 lbs.

I weighed in at 134 lbs.

Poo!

The goal for week 10 was

Week 10: Eat more salad. Put the dressing on the side and use one with low calories. Also no croutons and more walnuts or sunflower seeds. Remember to put lots of veggies on it!

I did well with this, including the part about lots of veggies. But...I love Ranch dressing, and that's all I have to say about that.

I lost .6 lbs.

I weighed in at 133.4 lbs.

By the way, my measurements are NOT moving at all.

Well anyway, there's not much of a change to report from three weeks ago, except that I do feel the DESIRE to work out. I wasn't feeling that. And I WANT to drink water. I eat fairly good breakfasts. Beside special occasions I have been VERY good at not eating after 7 PM. And I have been doing well with taking my time when I eat.

So, I am really close and I feel like I have lost some bad habits so far! Yay!

Well, here's the challenge for week 11:

Substitute higher calorie foods for lower. Sour Cream-Plain yogurt, Sugar-Honey, Butter-Smart Balance spread, Cream-Milk, Noodles-Spaghetti squash, Eggs-Egg beater, Oils in baking-Applesauce

What about you? Are you still doing this? Are you doing well? Have you lost much? Are you gaining or are you a BIG LOSER? :)

a bit about adoption.

2010-11-10T13:59:00.001-05:00

I know I have a little birthday to post about, and I know I promised some pictures of Hannah at 1 year...but...I feel I need to post about something very important and so I am going to do it now.

When Connel and I were having a hard time becoming pregnant, we thought of all the options. We thought of not doing anything and just "letting" things happen. We thought of getting infertility treatments...

...and we thought of adoption.

We ultimately wanted to try and become pregnant ourselves...and through prayers, little miracles, and some great/not-so-great medications and hormones...we did. But, as I researched and read about adoption and the miracle that it is, I gained a testimony that it is truly an act of love and unselfishness, of and for all parties involved.

Today, this post today deeply touched my soul and I felt the strong need to share it, maybe someone out there needed this today.

Click text below to read the post:

Adoption and the Bible from Lannie

or copy and paste to URL:

http://1pieceofme.blogspot.com/2010/11/adoption-and-bible.html

save their lives.

2010-10-26T15:09:00.001-04:00

I just read the most powerful powerful post...

Click here to read it--> MORE THAN WORDS

Photo: Ashley Malena Photography

There really are NO WORDS describe the emotion that I was feeling as I read this post. This is surely an answer to a prayer that I have had in my heart for years. My baby is only one, but I have worked with children in preschools and child care centers for years and I have seen as parents disconnect themselves from their children's learning and growing and depend solely upon the "teacher" or "professional" for their child's development.

If they only knew the importance of their input and involvement in the lives of their children!

It made me think back to when Hannah was in the NICU. She was only in the NICU for 8 days but during those days I feel like I depended so much on the "professionals" opinions that I forgot that I have a voice...no, I have THE voice in my child's development. And she has a voice too...but I am the one who helps her express it. In some ways I feel like I have carried that dependency with me through this first year.

This is quite possibly my favorite part of her post and made me all teary-eyed:

"I begin to look at my children differently. I loved them before, but through a bit of a fog. They become not little people I am taking care of, but fascinating, complex, unique beings I have the privilege to watch unfold. Finding a break from the whining suddenly becomes less important than trying to soak them in fast enough before they grow up on me.

Sam has a day off for teacher's conferences. We walk down the street to the river and throw stones in. We wade in the water and squish the mud between our toes. We gather leaves. We make up stories. The day is so beautiful I want to cry. I used to think all these things my children and I love to do together were some precursor to the real stuff. Just us passing time till they were old enough for others, those who knew what they were doing, to step in and take over.

I think about my own mother. I can't remember much of anything from the years I spent in public school away from her. Trigonometry? Took the class. Got an A. Can't tell you what the heck trigonometry even is. But I remember vividly my mother showing me how to turn a hollyhock into a dancing girl. The sound of her voice singing "Sandman." I am a writer because I sensed her love affair with the written word and wanted in on it. Suddenly, I realize its these little things filling my days with my kids that is the real stuff. I know, now, certainly, I am the expert on my children.

Whether or not Sam goes to preschool was not the issue here. What was? Having a mother who is empowered enough, and in tune enough with him to make good decisions on his behalf."

But then she wrote this and I was a sobbing mess:

"One night after I tuck him in, Sam begins crying.

I open his door. "What's wrong, honey?"

"I'm afraid of the monsters."

I start to try and convince him there are no monsters, as I have before, but stop and try to think of things from his perspective. When I leave it will still be dark. The shadows will continue creeping up the walls and unexplainable noises will keep ringing in his ears.

"I'll tell you what. I'll kill the monsters."

"What?" Sam wrinkles his nose. This isn't the response he expected.

I whisk out a light saber and run around the room on a murderous rampage. Sam giggles while I describe falling limbs and severed heads.

He's okay now. So we go through our "Mugga mugga, butterfly, kissy kiss" routine again. One final hug. Sam locks his hands behind my neck, looks me in the eyes for a moment with pure affection and says, "Mama, you save me."

The startling sweetness of his words makes me smile. "Yes, sweetheart the monsters are all gone. I saved you."

He looks me in the eyes again. Even though his vocabulary is expanding, he opts to tell me with his eyes what he wants to say. He holds my gaze and, unblinking, looks at me deeply, directly, indicating there is more to his words.

"Mama, you save me," he says again.

For a moment I am still. I want to pick Sam up and hold him until he is too big to be held anymore. I want to put his words to music, to paint them in a mural. To scream from the rooftops the joy/heartbreak and excitement/exhaustion that is being his mother.
He knows now I would set the tubes and monitors aside and hold him, hear him. More importantly, I now know I'm strong enough.

"Do you feel the power?" I say in the dark.

Sam leans forward and whispers in my ear, "I feel it like a light saber.""

To me she describes the power that Mothers hold in their hands, yet just have to realize it. If all Mother's realized this we would indeed live in a better world. It's something I am going to have to remember to realize everyday...

It seems kind of weird but as I was reading this post I was listening to music and I'm sure no coincidence...the song "Everyday" by Rascal Flatts came on and I found myself thinking of the lyrics from the perspective of my child. (Yah, yah, I know you are all sick of my obsession with Rascal Flatts but just keep on reading. ;)

You could've bowed out gracefully
But you didn't
You knew enough to know
To leave well enough alone
But you wouldn't
I drive myself crazy
Tryin' to stay out of my own way
The messes that I make
But my secrets are so safe
The only one who gets me
Yeah, you get me
It's amazing to me

[CHORUS]
How every day
Every day, every day
You save my life

I come around all broken down and
Crowded out
And you're comfort
Sometimes the place I go
Is so deep and dark and desperate
I don't know, I don't know

[Repeat Chorus]

Sometimes I swear, I don't know if
I'm comin' or goin'
But you always say something
Without even knowin'
That I'm hangin' on to your words
With all of my might and it's alright
Yeah, I'm alright for one more night-
Every day
Every day, every day, every day
Every day, every day
You save me, you save me, oh, oh, oh
Every day
Every, every, every day-

Every day you save my life.

I remember learning in my years as an Early Childhood and Special Education Major that that I am the advocate for my child! I am a hero to my sweet, quirky, energetic little child. And you know what...you are the same thing to yours!

biggest loser {week eight}.

2010-10-23T20:34:00.001-04:00

This week I weighed in at

133

Gained none, lost none.

But, I did lose one inch.

However, I need to step it up...

I have a goal of losing 15 lbs. I have only lost 3!

HELP!

So, the next month I am going to make sure that I am not eating any junk food, NONE!

If you offer it to me, don't be offended if I decline.

(Halloween is going to be rough.)

What's the challenge for Week 8?

Stop and think about why you are eating. Are you really hungry?? Don't eat and watch TV or read. Concentrate on your food. Stop eating after you are 80% full and wait 20 minutes. See if you are still hungry after those 20 minutes.

(sorry this post is REALLY LATE! I thought I had posted it already!)

LDS responce to HRC petition.

2010-10-15T09:14:00.001-04:00

While your at it, read THIS, wonderful, wonderful words.

biggest loser {week seven}.

2010-10-14T10:26:00.001-04:00

Last weeks challenge was to eat low cholesterol and low calorie snacks.

I weighed in at:

133 lbs!

Yes! Good results make me feel nice.

The challenge for week 7... Grill or bake it, don't fry it!!

I wonder if a crockpot counts?

pillow talk.

2010-10-11T21:30:00.001-04:00

Wife: Did you read my blog today?
Husband: Ya, about that guys blog?
Wife: Yes, and about all my imperfections?
Husband: You didn't write about all your imperfections...
Wife: (dumbfounded)

perfection.

2010-10-11T11:23:00.061-04:00

Have you read this post by Single Dad Laughing titled "The Disease called Perfection"? (Click HERE to read it.) It's grand. Along with a lot of his other posts. Not everything he says on his blog is right on tap with what I believe. Like, I'm not sure about embracing my weaknesses. I think that we can admit that we have weaknesses, so that we can look to Christ and have Him help us overcome them.

Ether 12:27"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

My opinion is this...I do think that this life is a journey toward perfection, but I think that what this world perceives as perfect is different than that perfection that God asks us to strive for. In the words of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin:

"Indeed, the Savior Himself admonished us to strive to be “perfect, even as [our] Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). As much as we want to obey that commandment, however, we also understand the difficulty of attaining perfection in this life.

To that end I am grateful for the insight of Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who has written: “In the Greek from which it was translated, the term perfect in Matthew 5:48 [Matt. 5:48] … means ‘fully developed,’ to become ‘finished’ as to our individual potential and to have ‘completed’ the course God has set forth for us to follow. … All of the godly attributes, to the degree developed through our ‘diligence and obedience,’ will actually rise with us in the resurrection, giving us ‘so much the advantage in the world to come’ (D&C 130:19)” (Men and Women of Christ

Perfection is worth striving for even if it is ultimately unattainable in this life. For it is through our struggle to become like the Savior and His Father that we ourselves become perfected. If we follow the pattern that Christ set for us, we will be responding to the scriptural mandate to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moro. 10:32)."[1991], 21–22).
Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Guided by His Exemplary Life,” Liahona, Feb 1999, 34

Does that make me feel like I need to be perfect? In a way. But does it make you feel like I need to like up to the standards the world has set for the perfect body and the perfect hair and the perfect husband and the perfect children? No, it makes me feel supported in my life journey. It makes me want to be what the LORD wants me to be, not what the WORLD wants me to be. And I believe that is good.

I readily agree with is opinion that people need to be more "real." Then, we could all feel a little better about not being so perfect. I think, aside from the Savior, we would find that...no one is.

If I told you some of my imperfections, you would find that...
I spend to much time on the computer, and sometimes my child plays by herself on the living room floor while I am sitting at the keyboard. Which she is doing right now.
I criticize my husband about...A LOT, for really small things that don't matter and for really large things too, and sometimes I criticize him to or in front of other people. (sorry babe, that one I'm working on).
I am awful at calling friends and family.
I have a bad habit of starting things and never finishing them.
I have a fear of calling even good friends to ask them to hang out or do me a favor.
I don't save money, if I am given a wad of cash to do what I want with (or even sometimes grocery money), I will spend it within a couple days on clothes, crafts, or fast food (so thank goodness for a husband that saves).
I LOVE fast food, even greasy McDonald's cheeseburgers.
I love junk food.
I am not a flexible person, I try to be, but when things are not going my way, or shall we say the way I have planned, I tend to get uptight and even angry.
I wish I had bigger boobs.
I swear, usually under my breath, sometimes out loud, when I get hurt or mad or even inconvenienced.
I get so frustrated when my house is NOT organized.
I judge people.
I gossip.
I laugh at dirty jokes.
I chuck things when I'm really mad.

Okay...I think that's a long enough list for today. And... there are other imperfections that I just won't tell. I will never admit them here, and no one needs to know besides me and God. I hope I have made some of you feel that you are not alone in some of your imperfections. So with all that said...

Go. Read it. Tell me what you think. Please. I'm curious.

biggest loser {week six}.

2010-10-07T10:32:00.001-04:00

Last weeks challenge was to eat breakfast. To choose healthy options like oatmeal or fruit and to only eat the "good" stuff once a week. I did okay with this, I make a few smoothies and I tried to eat a well-rounded meal each morning. Now, I just gotta keep up the habit.

I gained .2 lbs. Haha! I never thought I would be going nuts about something like that, but it's driving me crazy.

So, I weighed in at

134 lbs even.

Okay, okay! So, I have to confess, because I feel guilty...I cheated... I made a HUGE batch of cookies on Monday and scarfed down about 5 of their warm gooey yumminess in less than an hour. (and a few more the day following. So that may be one reason for the .2 lb gain. Geez...

Argh, OKAY! So, that's not the only thing...I only worked out 2x this week... I was bad this week, BAD I tell you!

I promise to be better this week. I will work out everyday and go for long walks with my child. I will not make any more cookies... and no matter how much my husband wants me to make him a pie, I will wait until Thanksgiving. Okay, really? So... that last one I am not that excited for, but HE is and he wants me to make it for him in the middle of my diet? I think not. Sorry babe... it's all about the support. ;) I love you, and I love your back rubs too...just as long as you don't knead with your thumbs. :)

Okay, so this weeks challenge is...

Eat low cholesterol and low calorie snacks. Here is website to go and get Fit-Nutz, a low calorie peanut butter.

Good luck!

biggest loser {week five}.

2010-09-29T14:49:00.001-04:00

Last weeks challenge was to replace your bad snacks with good snacks. (Carrots, apples, celery, etc.)

Weighed in at:

133.8 lbs

(that's 2 lbs total so far!)

Waist: 36 in. I've lost 1 inch since starting! Woo hoo! :)

This weeks challenge is:

Eat breakfast. Choose healthy options like oatmeal or fruit. Also only eat the "good stuff" once a week...meaning not eating bacon and eggs with sausage or doughnuts every day.

I usually only have a bowl of cereal or just little munches of what Hannah is eating. So, I will try to eat healthy well-rounded breakfasts with fruit, yogurt, granola, oatmeal etc. I tend to prefer that type of food over eggs and bacon anyway.

So... fruit huh? Anyone up for a week of smoothies for breakfast?

Here's a link to OUR BEST BITES FRUIT SMOOTHIES TUTORIAL...Mmmmm. Just what I need.

and there's always GREEN SMOOTHIES...which my Mom introduced me to this summer, they are actually not bad, if you get the right concoction going. My whole family was drinking them most mornings! How healthy! ;) I know someone out there (you know who you are) that calls green smoothies "Shrek Ice Cream"---now there's a great way to get your kids to eat their greens!

Healthy smoothies = a healthy smooth bod! Yow!

Good luck!

biggest loser {week three and four}.

2010-09-22T08:44:00.001-04:00

My computer was in for repairs this past week so I'm sorry that I did not get last weeks Biggest Loser up! Here is my results for the past weeks:

Week 2's challenge was to watch what you are drinking. Cut in half the amount of soda and juice you drink. (if you can't stop altogether). Increase how much water you are drinking. Decrease or stop alcohol and coffee (and stop cream and sugar in your coffee).

I did fairly well, but still did not drink the "recommended" amount each day. This week I got better at this and have been drinking close to the recommended amounts.

I lost, but was back to my starting weight, which was

135.8.

The challenge for week 3 was: Do not eat after 7 pm.

I did well at this, it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. Maybe over the next few weeks it will get harder, those 9 PM sweets cravings always hit me when we are watching movies! I did slip one night, but it was justified in that it was a girl's night out! :)

I lost 6/10ths of a lb! Woohoo! Ha ha! I weighed in at

135.2.

The challenge for week 4 is...

Replace your bad snacks with good snacks. (Carrots, apples, celery, etc.)

Good luck!

(I'm gonna need it this week!)

second kiss: a novel.

2010-09-13T06:19:00.002-04:00

One of my friends just got a novel published! (I feel so cool knowing a published author.) The book will officially be released on November 30th. It is a novel written mostly for teens/young adults and is called SECOND KISS. She wanted to write a book that was fun for teens but also promoted wholesome values. <---How cool is that?!? If you are interested and want to read her book CLICK HERE to read more about it. It sounds like a really fun read! I can't wait to get mine in the mail! You are awesome Natalie!

do you ever feel like this?

2010-09-09T12:13:00.001-04:00

Do you ever feel like you have to do everything?

What I mean is, do you ever feel like the world expects so much of you?

For instance, lately I have been feeling like in order to be a good wife and mother I need to:

have my house clean at all times,

cook amazing meals made from scratch,

craft the life out of my scissors and glue gun,

refurbish every piece of furniture in my house,

piece and sew a king size quilt,

go thrifting every Thursday,

lose 20 lbs in 20 days,

clip coupons and spend only $10 on this weeks groceries,

get a masters degree,

be involved and make a stand in politics and current events,

redecorate my entire house,

prepare for a natural disaster,

plant a garden,

take the most awesome and best photos ever...

...and make a witty tutorial on my blog about how I did all of it...

...all while trying to spend time with my husband and child, complete the daily to do list and try to get some sleep.

Ever feel that way?

I've had a few reminders lately of what's most important...

Ashley Sullenger who lost her baby in July wrote a post on her blog answering the question, Is there anything you would have done differently? If you have a chance...no, make it a POINT to read it. Especially watch this video she made:

These videos:

...and this quote that I read on The Polished Pickle:

“Whatever the era, whatever the times, one thing will never change: Fathers and mothers, if you have children, they must come first. You must read to your children and you must hug your children and you must love your children. Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House but on what happens inside your house.”
("Text of Mrs. Bush's Speech," Washington Post, June 2, 1990)

I don't have to feel guilty taking time for cleaning and cooking, it's fun to craft and take pictures, I'm still doing the BIGGEST loser challenge, and as I love spending time decorating my house...

...but I can spend more time remembering what's most important.

...and less time living up to the world's expectations.

biggest loser {week two}.

2010-09-08T22:27:00.001-04:00

The past weeks challenge was:

Start exercising. 30 minutes of continual exercise at least 3 times a week.

I lost nothing. In fact, I gained a little over a pound! :( I weighed in at:

137 lbs

Don't worry, I'm not giving up that easy! I am trying to work out every day (not just the 3x a week like the challenge says). I know what my problem is... I am gorging myself on the junk food in my house right now, because I know I will have to cut it out in a couple weeks! LOL!

This weeks challenge is:

Watch what you are drinking. Cut in half the amount of soda and juice you drink. (if you can't stop altogether). Increase how much water you are drinking. Decrease or stop alcohol and coffee (and stop cream and sugar in your coffee).

This one might be a little more of a challenge for me. No! Not the alcohol and coffee part! :) Ha Ha! Just the drinking enough water. I looked up on the Mayo Clinic website about the Health benefits of drinking water.

"Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.

Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired."

It's taking me a bit of self-control and little nudges from my husband to get up in the morning and workout because that is the only time that I can do it. It also makes me feel better throughout the day when I exercise in the morning. It's crazy how your energy gets zapped being a Mommy! I KNOW I need to drink more water, so maybe doing it will help me have a little more energy too!