May's Goal

 To read about my monthly goals for 2013 see here.

How can I write this post with out sounding like I'm making excuses?  Because it was a judgement call about what was best for me and what wasn't working for me. 

Long story short:  My goal didn't happen this month, and I'm okay with that.

Long story:  I created my banner and my facebook page (not live until I open my shop).  I started working on some items for my shop, and sketched some other items.  I researched opening a separate checking account.  But in the end there wasn't the space in my apartment or the time in my day.  (the space would have made it easier to find the time.  I can work for fifteen minute periods if I can shut the door when I'm done and not have to worry about cleaning it all up each time.)

In the mean time, I'll continue to work on my ideas (my favorite idea is a lace ruffle dress for toddler girls) and turn them into reality so that I can soon open my shop!

On to June: Work out every day but Sunday!

It's a Water Party!

If you're a new follower because of the giveaway we're doing, I guess I should let you know that I'm NOT a fashion blogger.  That was for fun, and probably never again, so hopefully you're not disappointed :) (You should be more disappointed if I were to continue. . . )

If I had known that our patio area wasn't fenced in, I probably wouldn't have signed with this apartment complex.  Olivia loves to be outdoors and it would be so nice if she could play out there with out my constant supervision (read: sitting and blocking her from making a break for it) But we're only here for five more months, so I deal with it.  One day it was pretty warm out and Olivia and I were driving each other crazy (thanks to an early nap leaving us with a looooong stretch of afternoon)

So I got her into a ballerina outfit/swimsuit and filled a bowl with ice cubes, a large cup with water and some measuring cups to scoop with and we headed out to the patio area. 

Dumping water from the cup into the bowl of ice.

 

"Olivia say cheese!" She had no interest in posing for me.  Too much to do!

And we start drinking the water.  I guess it's pretty clean.

Dumping water and ice from the bowl into the cup.

Drinking from the cup.

And of course brother was there with us too!  He had a great time being outside.  Love this kid, so chill.

After I put away the camera I had to fill Olivia's cup no less than ten times.  So if you do a similar activity, you might want access to a hose.

So what are some other great ideas for entertaining toddlers, inside or outdoors?  Olivia is getting bored of me and her toys. 

30x30 Looks 19-24 (and a SURPRISE!)

The 30x30 challenge continues.  Lot's of pony tails this week, that shows you just how crazy of a week it was!   (make sure you go all the way to the end for the surprise. Skim or skip down if you have to!)

DAY 19-Sunday
Church and family day as usual.

DAY 20-Monday
What a day!  It cool and rainy so I was excited to finally get to wear my corduroy jacket.  Poor Axel Baby got sick and needed to be held all day.  Thankfully this jacket covers up all the drool and spit up on my shoulder :) 

DAY 21-Tuesday
I got all ready for our trip to California.  I also took Axel to the dr, since he had developed pink eye.

DAY 22- Wednesday
Possibly the longest day of my life!  It deserves its own blog post.  I drove with my two babies from Salt Lake to Lancaster CA.  I love road trips in skirts because they're comfy and cool, especially this maxi which is almost like wearing yoga pants!  I cheated for the first time and wore shoes that aren't part of my 30 (for shame!!) But since I took this the night before we left for CA I didn't want to wake Axel by digging my flip flops out of the closet (that's his bedroom, ha!) so I am bare footed.

DAY 23-Thursday
We spent the day playing with Grandma and Hannah and then we had Chipotle for dinner for my dad's birthday!  That night while Hannah and my dad were at a church function, my mom babysat my kids while I went to my choir teacher's final concert.  This also deserves its own blog post.  (Not in love with my hair here, but for the concert I pulled it up into a. . . you guessed it, a pony tail)

DAY 24-Friday
Such a relaxing day!  With my mom taking care of most of Olivia's needs, I remembered how easy one baby was to care for.  After Axel woke up from a nap and I nursed him, he played with my pajama shirt while I napped next to him.  Later my mom, dad and sister Hannah walked to the park and had dinner while Axel napped in the stroller and Olivia played on the playground.

And now for the good part. . . I give you THE. . .

The ladies of the 30x30 Challenge would like to gift you with a $60 shopping spree to a store of your choice! Winner will be able to choose a gift card to one of our favorite stores—Loft, Old Navy, Gap, Target, or Forever 21! Use the Rafflecopter to enter! Good luck!
   a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open from 5/27/2013- 6/2/2013 and the winner will be announced on 6/3/2013. Entries will be validated. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected

Thanks to Jacquelyn for organizing this giveaway!  Also a very big thanks to Kelly for organizing this whole event!  Its been great fun to get to know all these sweet ladies through this experience.  :)
And as always check them out here!

Food Friday: Pleasing Pita

I love this recipe.  Its yummy and super healthy.  I look at the list of ingredients as guidelines, you can add what ever you like!  Its called "Pleasing Pita" but I usually eat it like a salad, not in a pita pocket.

Pleasing Pita
3 cans of beans, drained and rinsed (I use small red, white beans and some times black beans, but you can also use kidney, butter beans or any other kind you like)
1 14oz can artichoke hearts, drained
1/4 c prepared quinoa
1/4 c barley pearls
1/4 c cooked wheat berries
1/4 c cooked lentils
1 red bell pepper chopped (or what ever colors you like!)
1/2 c Anaheim pepper, chopped
1 medium red onion, chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

Dressing
3/4 c sweet chili sauce
1/2 c olive oil
2 T granulated white sugar
1 lemon, juiced

Garnishes
Avocado slices
Tomato slices
Sprouts


Mix all salad ingredients and toss with dressing.  Does it get any easier than that!?!?!

When I made it I didn't have barley, wheat berries, or Anaheim peppers so I left them out.  And I had a small amount of quinoa left so I just cooked it all and it was a little more than 1/4 c.  Just add what you like, as much as you like and leave out what you don't. 

This recipe can be found in my favorite diet book, The Wow Diet.

The Sound of Silence

So, I'm the oldest of six kids, in case you didn't know.  Quiet has never really been my thing.  When I'm cleaning I want some jams! (For cleaning I recommend Michael Jackson station on Pandora)  When I'm laying by the pool I want some Jack Johnson (haven't tanned since I had kids, but it's nice to remember what relaxing was like)  When I'm puttering on the computer I like ambient noise.  There are several ways to get ambient noise.

• Kids playing.
• Windows open with birds chirping
• TV on

VIA

Well I have kids, but one is too little to play and the other is too quiet when she's playing alone.  Up until a couple of days ago its been to cold to open the windows and so?  Lots of TV hours have been logged at this house.

BUT!  I scream.  But, it's only because I hate the quiet, we don't actually watch it.  That's true, we don't.  Not all the time.  Olivia doesn't like to sit still for long.  You know that's not totally true though.  Olivia doesn't know all the words to Doc McStuffins by not watching. 

My mom will read this and I know what her comment will be.  "This coming from the girl who said she didn't want a TV in her home?!?!"  Yep, I said that.  Yep, I still mean it.  But it's one thing to say it and mean it, and it's another thing to do it.  Right?  Because no one is eating brownies any more since we found out they have little nutrition value.  I have a TV and the temptation is there.

I'm working on turning it off more often and now that spring is here and I can open the window and hear yard work being done (side note: that is one thing I love about apartment living.  Yard work is getting done and I don't have to do it!  But I guess I do pay for it, even if indirectly) and that does satisfy my need for ambient noise.

Next winter Axel might be able to play with Olivia a little more, you know, make a little more noise (the good kind.  Both my children are great at screaming, the bad kind).  I guess I just feel lonely with all that quiet around.  Some might say I'm uncomfortable with my own thoughts, but I think the fact that I have a blog shows I'm quite infatuated with my own thoughts. 

So. . . don't really know where I was going with this.  Guess I just wanted to confess.  Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. 

30x30 Looks 13-18

And the 30x30 challenge continues. . .

DAY 13-Monday
It ended up being such a warm day that I rolled up the sleeves on my navy cardi.  As if showing three inches of my wrist is going to keep me cool.  As.  If.

Not sure what I was doing with my neck/chin here.  Just when I think I'm getting better at posing. . . 

DAY 14-Tuesday
Thanks to Axel waking up several times in the night, I was super drained on Tuesday.  We had to make an emergency run to Target for toilet paper and soap.  I did manage to make one of the best dinners of my marriage thus far (cheese burgers and potato salad) so it wasn't the worst day ever.

DAY 15-Wednesday
Not sure if these two pieces go together or not.  But it was comfortable and quick. 

DAY 16-Thursday
I woke up to horrible allergies.  I made dinner for my sister-in-law who just had a new baby and later that night I watched The Office series finale.  Between the sneezing and the tears, I looked a wreck.  So I had to recreate this outfit another day!

DAY 17-Friday
Date night!  We're trying to save money for a house, so funds are tight.  I wanted to surprise Adam with ice cream and a DVD, but it was raining and I didn't feel like going outside with two babies.  So I called and had him pick up ice cream and Lincoln.  No surprises but he was still happy (he's been wanting to see Lincoln for a LONG time!)

DAY 18-Saturday
 I had a massage in the morning.  Adam finally made me go (it was my Valentine's Day gift!) by making the appointment for me.  Next time I have a massage I will make sure I have nothing to do the rest of the day because I just felt tired and dizzy and yucky from all those toxins that get released.  I tried to drink a lot of water, but I still needed a nap!

As always, make sure to check out these other lovely ladies that are no doubt doing a better job than I am!  :)

Vintage Post: Jim and Pam saved my life

This post was originally posted on my old blog on January 21, 2010.  As The Office is ending I thought it was a good way to pay tribute to the couple that saved me from a fate worse than death.  I am not joking!  To keep this post authentic, I kept it exactly as it originally posted, although there are a lot of changes I want to make!  The episode I reference is episode 614, called The Banker and first aired on January 21, 2010.

Jim and Pam Saved My Life

No joke!! Even though I didn't really like the Office stooping to the level of so many other sitcoms by airing an episode created by compiling old clips, it did make me laugh. A lot. It was like some of the best moments from all 5 (or 6?) seasons all rolled into 22 minutes (that's not including commercials). Then at the very end there was the Jim and Pam montage and it reminded me of a journal entry I wrote just one week before Adam asked me out. I was lonely from ending another relationship and thinking about calling him just so I didn't have to be alone. But I was holding off by watching The Office and laughing out loud all alone. Then suddenly there was a moment on the show when Jim told the camera he was proposing to Pam and I felt a tingle go up my spine. Wow! I wished I could find a guy that made me feel that way! Of course the only guy I could think of that made me feel that way was Adam Thomas. What were the chances of him ever liking me, or asking me out?? I never got my way in love and relationships. In any case, that one moment kept me from calling an ex and holding out for real love. Luckily for me, it did turn out to be Adam!! Yeah, Jim and Pam saved me!!