2011 was a big year for our family. BIG. We started the year off with a brand new baby boy, added in preschool for our little girl, and threw in some major (but good) changes in the husband's business right in time for the holidays. I feel like we've been going at break-neck pace for the past couple months and I'm ready for the new year to bring a little restoration to our home and our routine. In honor of the new year, here are some big and not so big resolutions for the next twelve months...
1. Lose the baby belly ~ Both the husband and I are deeming 2012 the year that we reclaim our health. We've let busyness and laziness get in the way of taking care of ourselves as we should and it's time for that to end. Goodbye skinny fat, hello skinny jeans!
2. Get that baby sleeping through the night ~ Ah, the thorn in my side. Lack of sleep is a big contributor to the issue prompting #1 and I blame myself for being a softy on this one. My little ones have both been hard to sleep-train, but I vow to win the war on this one.
3. Break my little one of her computer/tv fixation ~ This one is completely my fault and one of the highest, if not the top priority on my list. It's slowly progressing to a better point but between bed rest and a newborn at the beginning of the year, we've let PBS kids and Dora take up too much time in our house this year.
4. Remember to floss ~ Pretty sure this one is self-explanatory.
5. Take control of the clutter ~ Like any house with people living in it, ours is prone to the clutter that comes with daily life. Bills, school papers, mail, etc. all seem to find themselves in the wrong place most of the time. Add to that the toys that end up scattered around plus all the random crap that seems to forget where it lives and it can feel pretty chaotic. Time to take back the limited space in our house and use it efficiently.
6. Blog more and blog better ~ The past year was busy and difficult in many ways as I adjusted to having two kiddos and my husband's company became more demanding of his time. I really do enjoy blogging as a creative outlet so I'm hoping to make it more of a priority as much as life allows.
7. Read more ~ I love to read, but at the end of the day sometimes a magazine or home blogs just hold stronger appeal. I miss the feeling of being captivated by a story that is not remotely close to resembling your own life.
8. Waste less food ~ We made a lot of movement on this in the past year, but I still feel like we could do better at using what we have and eating leftovers before they are so toxic they have nowhere to go but the trashcan.
9. Have regular date nights ~ We're pretty good at getting out semi-regularly but we've let it slip in recent months as life has gotten more hectic. Sometimes it's just easier to get time by yourself than it is together, but we both recognize that the cornerstone of a strong family is a strong marriage. Definitely need to get back in the habit of going out as a couple more often.
10. Find a kitchen designer and really take the time to plan our renovation ~ We are planning a large scale kitchen redo this year. Not the DIY kind but the DNDIY (do not do it yourself) kind where walls are blown out and new cabinets are put in and appliances are replaced and heinous countertops are removed. I'm really excited for how this will improve our little house but I want to be careful that we invest the appropriate time and energy into planning so this is done right.
11. Have at least one girl's weekend ~ Again... self-explanatory right??
12. Focus on today as much as possible and be grateful for how blessed we are in this life.
Cheers to a fabulous new year full of possibilities!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Friday, December 9, 2011
Tis the Season
We got an early jump on decorating for Christmas this year. At 3 1/2 my daughter is finally old enough to really "get" the concept of Christmas, so we wanted to make it special for her this year. Plus since last year I was put on bedrest right before Christmas, this year feels like kind of a re-do anyway. We picked up our tree a little earlier than usual so I'm trying hard to remember to water it so it actually lasts until Christmas. I've been going crazy over all the fantastic decor floating around blogland. So here are a few previews of our home. I'll hopefully post more once the camera battery is charged again... woops!
Here's the most festive corner of the room. You can't tell because I cropped the picture, but we stopped the lights about 1/3 of the way from the bottom to prevent any accidents from curious little hands. (I took this picture at night so the lighting was pretty unfortunate. I swear our walls aren't actually pink.)
Here's the most festive corner of the room. You can't tell because I cropped the picture, but we stopped the lights about 1/3 of the way from the bottom to prevent any accidents from curious little hands. (I took this picture at night so the lighting was pretty unfortunate. I swear our walls aren't actually pink.)
The mantel took a lot of tweaking until I was satisfied. I wasn't planning on the pointsettias but the hubs had ordered them from a fundraiser and they just showed up one day. I'm liking that they add some life to the otherwise faux greenery. More pictures of the rest of the house when it's done I have a chance to post them.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
It's About Time...
for a new post I think. I've had a lot going on lately. As I type, I'm waiting out some serious bed-protesting and hoping the crying stops soon. Sigh.
As the first summer month just started, what better time than now to begin really working towards that post-baby bikini body?! I'm pretty sure you're supposed to do this before bikini season actually starts, but I like a little pressure to motivate me towards my goals. Fellow procrastinators rejoice!
So will it be fit mama or fat mama? That is the real question. I'll give you one guess which category I fit into right now. As much as people say to give myself a break because I just had a baby, I can't help but think "I don't need a break. I need a kick in the rear." I did just have a baby... four months ago. Tick tock, tick tock. Time to stop waiting around for the weight to magically fall off. In preparation, I've been trying to identify my biggest stumbling blocks when it comes to shedding the jiggly reminder of what my body just went through.
In no particular order, here are the rules I will need to abide by if I want to be a hot mama and not a hefty one.
1. Don't drink your calories.
This is a big one for me, especially given the abundant desire for caffeine I have most mornings since we're not sleeping through the night yet. I don't like regular coffee so I get my caffeine from soda or my new favorite, the McDonalds caramel frappe (cue the pangs of longing from deep within). I'm not good at drinking plain water so I was drinking a lot of juice to stay hydrated in the late stages of my pregnancy and early stages of breastfeeding. In my opinion, juice just barely trumps soda in the good-for-you category because it usually contains fruit, but the massive quantities of sugar and calories don't make it a smart option on a regular basis. I've weaned the juice out of my life pretty well in the past few weeks, but the soda and the frappes are a bigger problem because of the caffeine situation. Not to mention, I LIKE THEM. But a small frappe even without the whipped cream is still over 300 calories and soda contains all sorts of calories and crap that really isn't good for anything.
2. Don't use food/drinks as a trophy or a consolation prize.
I'm really good at rewarding myself with unnecessary junk food and drinks (see above). You know how it goes. You've been eating really healthy all day so you figure a little ice cream won't hurt. Or better yet, you worked out, so you've earned a treat, nevermind the fact that this little reward basically cancels out the exercise. But my biggest weakness has to be justifying something unhealthy because I'm having a hard day and in my mind a little treat will make me feel better. And while a better pick-me-up would be a a new book or maybe a pedicure, most days I don't have time for either of those things and a trip through the McDonalds drive-thru is usually feasible even with two littles in tow. But the root of the problem is using food to revive my mood which leads me to...
3. Don't eat junk as a response to emotions or boredom.
Life can be stressful and tiring and emotionally draining. Life with a toddler and a new baby is the extreme version of all these things. Some days I feel like Supermom and some days I feel like a super failure. It's a constant rollercoaster and that takes a toll. It's easy to justify something tasty when you've been dealing with a screaming baby and a whiny toddler all morning. Sometimes I just want something for myself and a frappe is a little treat that I can enjoy while still performing all my motherly duties. A little indulgence never hurt anyone, but I've been taking it to a new level lately and it's hard to really enjoy something when you know it's biting you in the butt. Likewise, there are times when I'm not feeling motivated to conquer the ever-present list of household tasks and find myself raiding the pantry instead. Not the best option and it's not getting the laundry done either!
4. Don't let poor planning get in the way of eating right.
My mom always used to remind me of the 5 Ps "Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance" or as she preferred the 6 Ps "Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance." It's the truth too. Nine times out of ten when I eat unhealthy meals, it's because of poor planning (or no planning). When you're single or just a couple, throwing together a healthy dinner option at 5pm isn't out of the question. Once you have kids involved, it's a recipe for disaster. Improving my planning skills is one of my biggest goals because in this case, it's not just me reaping the unhealthy effects, but my family as well.
So there you have it. The four major rules that need to be enforced if I'm going to lose the squish. Wish me luck!
As the first summer month just started, what better time than now to begin really working towards that post-baby bikini body?! I'm pretty sure you're supposed to do this before bikini season actually starts, but I like a little pressure to motivate me towards my goals. Fellow procrastinators rejoice!
So will it be fit mama or fat mama? That is the real question. I'll give you one guess which category I fit into right now. As much as people say to give myself a break because I just had a baby, I can't help but think "I don't need a break. I need a kick in the rear." I did just have a baby... four months ago. Tick tock, tick tock. Time to stop waiting around for the weight to magically fall off. In preparation, I've been trying to identify my biggest stumbling blocks when it comes to shedding the jiggly reminder of what my body just went through.
In no particular order, here are the rules I will need to abide by if I want to be a hot mama and not a hefty one.
1. Don't drink your calories.
This is a big one for me, especially given the abundant desire for caffeine I have most mornings since we're not sleeping through the night yet. I don't like regular coffee so I get my caffeine from soda or my new favorite, the McDonalds caramel frappe (cue the pangs of longing from deep within). I'm not good at drinking plain water so I was drinking a lot of juice to stay hydrated in the late stages of my pregnancy and early stages of breastfeeding. In my opinion, juice just barely trumps soda in the good-for-you category because it usually contains fruit, but the massive quantities of sugar and calories don't make it a smart option on a regular basis. I've weaned the juice out of my life pretty well in the past few weeks, but the soda and the frappes are a bigger problem because of the caffeine situation. Not to mention, I LIKE THEM. But a small frappe even without the whipped cream is still over 300 calories and soda contains all sorts of calories and crap that really isn't good for anything.
2. Don't use food/drinks as a trophy or a consolation prize.
I'm really good at rewarding myself with unnecessary junk food and drinks (see above). You know how it goes. You've been eating really healthy all day so you figure a little ice cream won't hurt. Or better yet, you worked out, so you've earned a treat, nevermind the fact that this little reward basically cancels out the exercise. But my biggest weakness has to be justifying something unhealthy because I'm having a hard day and in my mind a little treat will make me feel better. And while a better pick-me-up would be a a new book or maybe a pedicure, most days I don't have time for either of those things and a trip through the McDonalds drive-thru is usually feasible even with two littles in tow. But the root of the problem is using food to revive my mood which leads me to...
3. Don't eat junk as a response to emotions or boredom.
Life can be stressful and tiring and emotionally draining. Life with a toddler and a new baby is the extreme version of all these things. Some days I feel like Supermom and some days I feel like a super failure. It's a constant rollercoaster and that takes a toll. It's easy to justify something tasty when you've been dealing with a screaming baby and a whiny toddler all morning. Sometimes I just want something for myself and a frappe is a little treat that I can enjoy while still performing all my motherly duties. A little indulgence never hurt anyone, but I've been taking it to a new level lately and it's hard to really enjoy something when you know it's biting you in the butt. Likewise, there are times when I'm not feeling motivated to conquer the ever-present list of household tasks and find myself raiding the pantry instead. Not the best option and it's not getting the laundry done either!
4. Don't let poor planning get in the way of eating right.
My mom always used to remind me of the 5 Ps "Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance" or as she preferred the 6 Ps "Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance." It's the truth too. Nine times out of ten when I eat unhealthy meals, it's because of poor planning (or no planning). When you're single or just a couple, throwing together a healthy dinner option at 5pm isn't out of the question. Once you have kids involved, it's a recipe for disaster. Improving my planning skills is one of my biggest goals because in this case, it's not just me reaping the unhealthy effects, but my family as well.
So there you have it. The four major rules that need to be enforced if I'm going to lose the squish. Wish me luck!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Letting Go
To say I haven't posted much this year is a huge understatement. The last six months have been pretty spare in particular but I thought it was only appropriate to write one last post for the year and to put it up on the very last day of 2010 (except that Blogger didn't post as scheduled so let's just pretend this went up on 12/31/10).
This year was big for our family. Both my husband and I celebrated milestone birthdays. October marked the end of our first year as a married couple. And in the summer we made the monumental decision to expand our little family. I am apparently one of those fortunate women who gets pregnant in a snap but the pregnancy itself takes its toll... hence the absence of blog posts. I spent the first few months in a fog of perpetual "morning" sickness with little desire to do much of anything. Finally I hit that blessed turning point and regained both my energy and my ability to get through the day without feeling like I was constantly one second away from tossing my cookies. I enjoyed a couple wonderful months and then last week the bottom dropped out just a little.
Excessive contractions sent me to the hospital in the middle of the night just a few days before Christmas. I'm fine. The baby is fine. But now I'm on bedrest for at least the next month and possibly for the duration of this pregnancy, which leaves me stuck on the couch potentially until the end of February. Fortunately I was able to get home in time for Christmas. I was here to see the excitement on my little girl's face when she recognized that the formerly bare space under the tree now held dozens of wrapped packages. I got to watch as she inspected the empty plate of cookies and milk we had left for Santa the night before. I saw the joy and delight as she opened her presents and helped everyone else open their gifts as well. And I was home to see her spend the day playing with all the toys we had known she would love.
I try to be thankful that I was here for Christmas and not stuck in a hospital bed. I am doing my best to focus on the fact that I see my husband and daughter each day and get hugs and kisses and snuggles. But I would be lying if I said that I'm full of joy all day. I spend a lot of time feeling frustrated, helpless and exasperated with my situation. I'm here but I'm only able to participate so much. I have a million things that I want to do floating around my head at all times and very little ability to get any of them done. It might sound like a picnic to have everyone waiting on you hand and foot but I thrive on being the caretaker. I'm sure I sound like a whiny little baby but at least I'm being honest. Every day I fight feelings of uselessness and helplessness. Instead of being a major contributor to our home running smoothly, my job is now to do as little as possible in order to keep this baby inside as long as I can. In my heart, I know that's a worthwhile task, but the daily reality is a struggle.
So here is my resolution for the next two months... focus on the positive. Instead of worrying that I'm a burden to my family, I'm going to be thankful that I'm not in this alone and that I have an amazing husband and supportive family and friends to take care of me while I need it. Instead of thinking about how little I am accomplishing around the house, I'm going to try to take advantage of the ability to rest before the birth of our child which will most definitely demand a lot of energy. Instead of dwelling on how little I can do, I'm going to remember that no one else can do what I'm doing right now and that our baby depends solely on me to be born healthy and strong. All in all, that sounds like a good goal for the next eight weeks.
Happy New Year~
This year was big for our family. Both my husband and I celebrated milestone birthdays. October marked the end of our first year as a married couple. And in the summer we made the monumental decision to expand our little family. I am apparently one of those fortunate women who gets pregnant in a snap but the pregnancy itself takes its toll... hence the absence of blog posts. I spent the first few months in a fog of perpetual "morning" sickness with little desire to do much of anything. Finally I hit that blessed turning point and regained both my energy and my ability to get through the day without feeling like I was constantly one second away from tossing my cookies. I enjoyed a couple wonderful months and then last week the bottom dropped out just a little.
Excessive contractions sent me to the hospital in the middle of the night just a few days before Christmas. I'm fine. The baby is fine. But now I'm on bedrest for at least the next month and possibly for the duration of this pregnancy, which leaves me stuck on the couch potentially until the end of February. Fortunately I was able to get home in time for Christmas. I was here to see the excitement on my little girl's face when she recognized that the formerly bare space under the tree now held dozens of wrapped packages. I got to watch as she inspected the empty plate of cookies and milk we had left for Santa the night before. I saw the joy and delight as she opened her presents and helped everyone else open their gifts as well. And I was home to see her spend the day playing with all the toys we had known she would love.
I try to be thankful that I was here for Christmas and not stuck in a hospital bed. I am doing my best to focus on the fact that I see my husband and daughter each day and get hugs and kisses and snuggles. But I would be lying if I said that I'm full of joy all day. I spend a lot of time feeling frustrated, helpless and exasperated with my situation. I'm here but I'm only able to participate so much. I have a million things that I want to do floating around my head at all times and very little ability to get any of them done. It might sound like a picnic to have everyone waiting on you hand and foot but I thrive on being the caretaker. I'm sure I sound like a whiny little baby but at least I'm being honest. Every day I fight feelings of uselessness and helplessness. Instead of being a major contributor to our home running smoothly, my job is now to do as little as possible in order to keep this baby inside as long as I can. In my heart, I know that's a worthwhile task, but the daily reality is a struggle.
So here is my resolution for the next two months... focus on the positive. Instead of worrying that I'm a burden to my family, I'm going to be thankful that I'm not in this alone and that I have an amazing husband and supportive family and friends to take care of me while I need it. Instead of thinking about how little I am accomplishing around the house, I'm going to try to take advantage of the ability to rest before the birth of our child which will most definitely demand a lot of energy. Instead of dwelling on how little I can do, I'm going to remember that no one else can do what I'm doing right now and that our baby depends solely on me to be born healthy and strong. All in all, that sounds like a good goal for the next eight weeks.
Happy New Year~
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Been Busy
Just in case you thought I had dropped off the face of the planet, here's a sneak peek into what I've been doing the past couple months.
I know it's a little blurry but you get the idea! Big news in our house but the morning sickness has been rough so I haven't been in a very bloggy mood. I do have a lot of projects coming up that I will hopefully get around to posting about. Now that I'm feeling a little more like myself, I hope to get back to more regular posts.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Ch Ch Changes
I haven't disappeared. I'm actually still here. Just haven't been doing any blogging. Obviously. Today I decided to play around with the new Blogger design feature and it completely screwed up my old design. I couldn't figure out how to get it back to normal despite a lot of messing with it. I decided in the meantime I couldn't live with it looking crappy so my blog got a completely unintentional revamp. I'm not sure if it will stick but until I can figure out the new design tools, I'd rather live with this template than the gross messed up version of my old one. And I promise to write a real post soon.
Friday, June 4, 2010
This is How I Roll
Recently our friends’ twins turned 3 years old and we needed some birthday presents. Obviously there are two of them so in my mind, the presents need to be somewhat equal in cost and as far as the “coolness factor” goes. In other words, you don’t get one twin a fabulous toy and the other socks and undies. You don’t want to cause unnecessary drama for someone who is already dealing with the inevitable crazy that raising two children of the same age can bring. I also hate to spend too much on something that they may not even like a few months down the road. Knowing my own child’s frequent change in interest, I’d rather get something they can use in the short-term without breaking the bank. This is where Lindsey of The Pleated Poppy comes in to save the day.
Lindsey has an online shop full of adorable items that she makes herself. One of the cutest things she makes are her Crayon Rolls. And just last week, she very conveniently posted a tutorial, just in time for the twins’ birthday party. This could not have been an easier project and turned out really well despite my tendency to be impatient and skip through insignificant details like measuring. The twins are a boy and a girl so I chose cute fabric for each and I was happy with the result.
I packed these up with some coloring books, stickers and a little t-shirt for each one. It wasn’t too expensive and turned out to be a great birthday package.
Lindsey has an online shop full of adorable items that she makes herself. One of the cutest things she makes are her Crayon Rolls. And just last week, she very conveniently posted a tutorial, just in time for the twins’ birthday party. This could not have been an easier project and turned out really well despite my tendency to be impatient and skip through insignificant details like measuring. The twins are a boy and a girl so I chose cute fabric for each and I was happy with the result.
I packed these up with some coloring books, stickers and a little t-shirt for each one. It wasn’t too expensive and turned out to be a great birthday package.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
