New Years Resolutions Revisited: Part 2

The advent of spring (though, it's not terribly spring-like weather here) and a 3rd of the way through the year seemed like a good time to take a look back at a few of my New Years Resolutions (yes, I'm totally still thinking about them and sticking to them- here was my first revisit). 

1) WORKING OUT

Oh man, starting at the end of February and then all the way until now I have worked out nearly every single day, except Sunday. Yes, people, I get up in the morning and go to the gym on Saturday. If you've been around on the blog long enough you know that this has to be one of the first signs of the apocalypse because it has to be the end of the world for me to be doing something like that! The thing that really made it worth going was my friend, Meagan, talking me into going to the classes- spin, zumba, body combat, body pump. All the classes I may have secretly mocked I now love. And hate (spin). And I'm feeling great!


2) MY ETSY SHOP

I've still be working on doing more with my Etsy shop but it's a battle for me because my work space is horrible. So, this weekend we bought a new desk and tomorrow I'm getting a bookcase and we are totally reorganizing the space. I think it's going to be much easier and I can not wait. I also had an order from an events planning company who asked me to speed ship some safari candle holders for some famous stylists sons birthday party. Turns out people know this stylist, her name is Rachel Zoe & she even Instagramed a picture with my candle holders in the shot. Kinda cool! I also signed up to do the Beehive Bazaar in May (like the Bijou Market I did last year but I thought I'd try it again with a new one) Wish me luck!

3) UNICORN HAIR

Everyone over the age of 30 should dye their hair fun colors, it changes you. At the beginning of the year I dyed my hair dark with a light panel underneath with the intention of dying it fun colors but I lost my nerve. Then this month I went in & got a bunch of blonde highlights and hated it. So, I thought, hey, if I'm dying it back brown anyway, I might as well do unicorn hair. I called my friend, Rachel, the expert at fun temporary hair and had her do it.I'm telling you guys, the sun is brighter and the sky looks bluer with unicorn hair.

What about you guys, how are your resolutions/goals? Anything awesome? Fill me in!

On Trying Something New

I'm here to testify, my friends. 
Try something new. 
You & your life will be better for it. 

My lovely friend Rachel's birthday celebration was this past weekend & when she told me she wanted to go snowshoeing  to celebrate, my first thought was, "Voluntarily climb a mountain? In the cold? Really?"

But I would honestly do anything for that girl, so I strapped on my smile and a pair of snowshoes.

And, you guys, I really haven't taken the time to appreciate nature nearly enough. I give it a go in the spring/summer/fall but once winter comes "nature loving" is dead to me.

But, after this trip, I see it. There is something to be said for the stark landscape. As if your living in a black and white photograph. The echoless silence. It's all at once lonely and not.

So, back to it: I did something new. Something hard. And it was fun. I felt exhilarated and maybe a little exercise endorphin high (No, really, it's been way too long since I've exercised). And while I won't be going out to buy my own snowshoes, I am planning a few treks into the cold as a reminder of the beauty that is out there. Even in a frozen February.


Winter and I still aren't best friends. But both looking past our differences and trying for acquaintances.

And tell me, friends, what's something new you want to try?

Bijou Market

Two words explain my blog absence: Pure Insanity. 
Okay, not really, the two words are : Bijou Market. 

It's a small local homemade & vintage goods market they have twice a year here in Provo. The lovely Smithy convinced me to sell my drink stirrers and other party supply stuff & she is selling some of her bracelets on the table with me too. (Here is the little write up they did about the shop)

It's just been madness getting it all together. I like the creative parts of it- designing a table, finding new and holiday relevant stuff to make, & making labels for everything. But not so much actually having to make stuff & the mass production of it for this sale was craziness. But it's done & up.

 If you want to stop by it's on Center Street at 116 West Provo tomorrow from 10-5! They have lots of goodness- great for you or for gifts. If you stop by take a look at my tiny, not professional table, but feel free to loudly declare how "cool the stirrers" are & how people "should totally be buying these". Because that won't be transparent at all.

Thus far, It's been a two- fold good experience:
1) I put myself out there. Something that is SO HARD for me & I think will benifit me in the long run in lots of other creative pursuits.
2) I know now that this isn't something that I'd want to do like on mass. I think I might kinda be done thinking about it. I'll keep the Etsy shop up but I'm not going to be crazy about it.

And thanks goodness after all this is done we can get back to our regularly scheduled blogging-ness & life-ness!

Gnome Sweet Gnome: The Shop

Drink stirrers are a kind of random choice for my to open my little Etsy shop with, especially since I don't drink.

But I sure love pretty party supplies & I think drink stirrers add the perfect touch to a party. There is just something fancy about having a stirrer gracing your drink.

I made some animal cocktail stirrers for my 30th Golden Birthday & a few people commented, "You should totally sell these on Etsy". So, one random afternoon I thought, "Why the heck not?" Because most of my life decisions occur on a random Tuesday.

I've had a couple sales, my first one being to my lovely friend Brook who is just so darn thoughtful, & I have to say making them/sending them off is just about one of the funnest (yup, it's so fun I had to use a fake word) things I've done lately.

I've got a couple other ideas of things to put up there & I'm pretty sure, if I can get my booty in gear, that I'll put some past Twilight shirts up to sell too.

So, keep checking back & I'll let you know if any other exciting goodies pop up.

P.S. There's a link over on the sidebar for my little "Gnome Sweet Gnome Shop". ------->

Other posts I've written out there on the Internets....

Here are a couple other blogs/places you can find posts I've written over the years:

Writing & Books:
- Why Adults Should Read YA & Why it's so Good on Mormon Mommy Writers
- How to Literarily Get Over Twilight on Handbags & Handguns
- "Author" Interview on A Storybook World
- How to Find a Writing Group on Rachel & Co.

Things I've Made:
- Valentines Day Skirts on Freshly Picked
- Gnome Sweet Gnome Shop on Etsy

Other Random Mentions:
- Show & Tell on Bleubird Vintage
- Review of "Babies" on USA Today

Non-taste Test

As I've gotten older every time I get a cold I loose my sense of smell.
Which then makes me loose my sense of taste.
Which is sometimes great- Goodbye, cravings. Hello, Salads for every meal.
And sometimes stinks- Linc is poopy? I didn't even know. (or is that a good thing?)

Anyway, I was drinking a Gatoraid yesterday & I realized I couldn't taste it as much as "feel" it. Like it kind of tingled in my mouth (& I SO don't want to know which chemical caused that feeling- that's creepy!) But it got me thinking... could I tell what I was drinking, even if I couldn't taste it?

I wouldn't be a member of the Carter Family if I didn't put it to a test. Here were the drinks:

(water, slightly flat Sunkist, Gatoraid, pina colada SOBE, Capri Sun, apple juice, milk)

I blindfolded myself (I know it looks like a small black bra but it's a totally awesome sleep eye cover thingthat like doesn't smash your eyes) & Scott did the test on me.

I did pretty well- the milk & water were easy. I also managed the Gatoraid (again, that slightly unpleasant tingling I never noticed before) & the Pina Colada SOBE. All the others were a complete shot in the dark, but I say 4 outta 7 is better than half & I'll take that.

Does this happen to anyone else?
I'm a freak of nature, right?

Reality Check

I like to think that my blog is a fair representation of my life. I'm pretty much an open book- on my blog & in real life. But the other day someone said something about how "prefect" my life was- a friend who knows me in real life & reads my blog. I laughed out loud.

Don't get me wrong, I have an awesome life. A life I wouldn't switch with anyone else. But let's all be honest with each other, no life is perfect. Perfect for me, but not "prefect".

So, in the spirit of my lovely cousin Katie's "Keepin' it Real Wednesday", behold REALITY:

Exhibit A:

See that lawn? That's my lawn. The ghettoest (that SO a word) on the block. Our roses hopefully distract from the brown weedy patches but, yeah, it's my lawn. In our defense, we're putting in a sprinkler system this summer so we have to dig up the lawn anyway & it was terrible to begin with, so we've kind of let it do what it wanted. Apparently what it wanted was to die.

Exhibit B:

My baby is REALLY cute (evidence here, here, & here) but you know what? There's a good chunk of the time he looks like this.

Exhibit C:

Our dining room table in its current condition. That folded laundry at one end (hey, at least it's folded), a discarded game of Monopoly Deal, & the remains of the dinner I fed my family- Taco Bell (a sick mama does what she has to do, including Taco Bell).

EXHIBIT D:

This is what Rob's room typically looks like. Not exactly a disaster, I like to think of it as creative expression- just look at those complicated "towers" (he calls them) & lined up "guys" (also a Bearto-ism). I usually don't have the heart to tell him to tear them down right away so they stay like this a lot of the time.

EXHIBIT E:

Me, no makeup (which isn't far off normal for me- I don't wear much). Which really didn't turn out as dark circle-y as I look in real life- but check out that pulled back mom hair, Scott t-shirt, & broken blind in the background. And what is with that mirror? Didn't I JUST stinking "Spring Clean"?

EXHIBIT F:

My sink as it currently resides. No words need be used. That is all.

And there it is, my friends. I'm not even embarrassed. You know why? Because it's real life. And I think we honestly do each other a disservice if we pretend that our lives are prefect, manicured, & put together at all times. Heaven knows, that if you know me in real life I am one of the least put together people you've ever met.

Creative? Occasionally.
Fun? Possibly.
Entertaining? I like to think so.
Put together? Not in a million years.

WEEK 3: Spring Cleaning

I'm gonna be honest, I am not a good housekeeper. I'm not putting myself down or anything- I'm a fun mom that plays with my kids. I go out & do fun stuff with them. A decent cook. But housekeeper? Not high on my list of stay-at-home-mom qualifications.

(hey, this pic kinda/sorta looks like The Birth of Venus?)

GOAL: So, for Week 3 I figured it was time for some deep SPRING CLEANING. Oh, the dreaded words. And I'll be honest, it bled into this week & it didn't all get done. We got busy, then I got sick, but I got a number of things done & am pleased with myself. Also I didn't put the garage or anything outside- that was more than I dare tackle this week.

And here's how I went about getting my spring cleaning done:

1. Make a list of what needs to be done. Research online & see what other people have on theirs lists too. There were several things I didn't think of- stuff like replace your air filters (we've lived here 3 years & I didn't even know we had air filters).

2. Start from the top & work your way down. I always forget this & clean my kitchen floors only to have to clean the counters, which always manages to drop stuff on the floors. So work your way down. As in start with your light fixtures & high up dusting. Last do the floors.

3. Start with big stuff- things like moving furniture to clean under it, flipping the mattresses- stuff like that.

4. Don't forget the small stuff. Things like cleaning out your expired makeup, replacing the soap in the bathrooms, updating your first aid kit.

5. Employ your tiny slaves. There were lots of things that Syd & Rob were happy to do- caring clothes, washing windows, wiping down counters, & dusting was a favorite too.

6. Gather cleaning supplies- I really should do better using more natural stuff- like water, vinegar, & lemons. But this goal was big enough that I stuck with tried and true stuff I already had to clean- Scrubbing Bubbles for the showers, Windex for the mirrors, & 409 for basically everything else.

7. Good music or a good audiobook. For me this is a must. Without it my mind wanders & I stop. But if I have an audiobook I've been looking forward to then it gives me something to look forward too when I clean (my all time favorites are Harry Potter, Hunger Games &The Help)

Here's a copy of my list if your interested (I even prettied it up for you guys):

CONCLUSION: Like I said, it didn't get completely done & I kinda feel like it got "un-done" by me being sick & the kids having the run of the house. But it was nice to do stuff like wiping down the baseboards that you don't realize are SO GROSS until you get down there to clean them.

It's nice to have a clean"-ish" house & to have a lot of those things checked off my big muddled mental list of stuff I gotta get to "someday".

What's on your spring clean list?
What are your go-to cleaning supplies?

P.S. See my goals for Week 1 & Week 2

WEEK 2: Skirts & Dresses

I have always loved skirts & dresses. Love them in all their forms, but I've had a hard time integrating them into my "non-Sunday" wardrobe & REALLY want to. Plus, it's HOT in the summers here & there just isn't much in the way a long shorts that don't look frumpy on me.

GOAL: So, for week 2 I wore only dresses & skirts everyday. I don't have a ton. I mostly wear dresses/skirts to church so some of them are just too dressy for weekly wear & a fair bit of them aren't really nursing friendly. Basically, I had to great creative!

Here's what I wore each day this week (I had 2 on Saturday because I had a bridal tea party & then a "cleaning" outfit):

CONCLUSION: It was fun to try & integrate what I have into a more casual style. I felt prettier, tried more "style-wise" in 1 week than I had in months, & I am totally into wearing dresses/ skirts weekly from now on.

So, what about you guys?
Are you weekday dress wearers?
Any tips or favorite skirts/dresses that can be worn in lots of different ways?

P.S. Here's WEEK 1 goal!

WEEK 1: Service

So, I was planning this whole "30 before 30 list" thing but I as I started to write it I realized I'm running low on days & there is just NO WAY I'd get them done. So I opted for a "Weekly Goal" for the weeks leading up to my birthday- all for personal betterment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOAL: My first weekly goal was to do small acts of service for a week. Before my mom passed away Scott & I (really the whole family) did A LOT of service. Being a caretaker was a big part of my identity. I didn't realize how difficult it would be for me to loose that when I lost her.

I kept telling myself I needed these HUGE service projects to fill that void in my life, but life always got in the way. But I had this "really-obvious-to-everyone-else" epiphany a couple weeks ago. Service doesn't have to be huge. It can be small acts of kindness.

So, for WEEK 1 I made a list of small acts of service that I could do that didn't take a lot of time, ones that I could do over & over for different people, but also made a difference in someones day. It's not much, kind of pathetic really, but it CHANGED my mind set.

1. Making someone dinner- This is surprisingly easy. I just doubled up what we made for dinner, called someone I knew would appreciate it. I also try to keep disposable pans & other containers around so they don't have to worry about returning anything.

2. Helping strangers- You may not believe it from the blog, but in person I'm very shy. So offering help to strangers was hard but I was able to make a conscious decision to do simple stuff- helping out a busy mom, carrying someones tray, saying hello & thank you, & my personal favorite sincere compliments.

3. An encouraging email- We are all fighting a hard battle & a nice note of encouragement can help someone along. One of the ones this week was Rob's preschool teacher, heaven knows she battles everyday.

4. A thankful letter- I have so many people that I am thankful for in my life. Some I tell all the time how grateful I am for them, others I haven't really taken the time to thank- I focused on a couple of those this week.

5. Watching a neighbors kids- Quick, easy, & makes a huge difference to a mommy who needs a break.

6. Treats- Who the heck doesn't want treats? I really can't have treats hanging around the house but love to make them with the kiddos. So this week the kids & I made a batch of cookies & passed them around to friends & neighbors.

7. Writing letters to the less technologically savvy- I truly believe this is a lost art form & I try to keep up on "real" letters. Especially to older relatives who don't have the internet. I try to every once in a while print off some pictures & send a letter onto my grandmas who wouldn't otherwise see all the pictures on the blog.

CONCLUSION: It jump started my desire to incorporate more service in my life. It made the kids more conscious of service they could do for each other & it generally put me in a better mood each day. I'm excited to keep up with this in upcoming weeks. I'll let you know how that goes & if we think of anymore creative ways to serve!

Stay posted to hear about this weeks goal- it's been fun so far!

Linc & I

I can't believe this little man is 2 months old.

2 months old & he's already stolen all our hearts.

Genetic Anomaly

So, Linc was born with a genetic anomaly, called a preauricular tag, that I was only vaguely aware I had.

I posted this picture on Facebook:

And a friend said "Oh, he has an earflap! Which parent did that come from?"

I was like... "I guess me".

Behold our earflapness in all it's glory: