Moore or Less

Here is a great way to save on groceries!

2011-12-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

Get this E-book free! See how-

Bleach Stencils Tutorial

2011-06-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

Bleach stencils are nothing new, you can find tutorials all over the internet, but I thought I would post one with my latest projects my latest projects. :)

These are easy and fun to do, older kids can help. :) Be sure to wear old yucky clothes that you don't mind getting bleached if you make a mistake.

Step 1: Choose a stencil- There are several places online to find stencils- here are a few of my favorites Deviantart search stencils, http://www.spraypaintstencils.com/, Threadbanger, share a stencil or you can just google what stencils you want- there are some good ones. If you are ambitious you can make your own stencil in photoshop.

What you'll need: Bleach

Spray bottle

Thin plastic (from packaging)

stencil

magic marker

Shirt

Step 2: Trace your stencil onto the thin platic (you can you paper as well, but if you want to make more than 1 of something, plastic works better)

Step 3: Cut out the image- the more detailed your stencil the longer this will take. You can use an exacto knife, but I just use scissors for better control. ( I need more practice with X-acto knives- my hand cramps up)

Step 4: Position the stencil where you want it on the shirt. Use plastic or cardboard inside the shirt to prevent bleed through and spray with the bleach. Allow a few minutes for the the bleach to react before removing your stencil.

Step 5: Immediately put the shirt in a cold sink or rinse will cold water to set the bleach. I like to run the garment though the washer on cold afterward as well.

That's it! :) Easy huh?

Stroller Face Lift!

2011-06-09T12:15:00.000-07:00

I was given our EvenFlo stroller by a dear friend before Hudson was born, and it was twice loved at the time. Hudson loved it and Lincoln rode in his carseat in it last summer, but now that weather is nicer and Lincoln's cruising in it, I thought it deserved a make-over!

Here are the Before Pictures- I have been working on it all morning, and it is already looking much nicer. I am waiting on some liquid stitch to dry before I post the Afters- but I think you'll be impressed. (My sewing skills are not the best, but I enjoy sewing when I am not being graded, so I can sew fine for myself- I wouldn't go into BUSINESS, but I am ok with mediocre.)
After!

It snowed this morning! (give away)

2011-04-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, April is almost over, but it is still snowing here in Wyoming- and in honor of this never ending winter, my good friend and blogger, Amanda Wolz is doing a give away of her FABULOUS crochet hats-

There are 3 ways to enter/win:
1. "Follow" her blog http://bloominbeautiesbowtique.blogspot.com2. "Like" us at http://www.facebook.com/bloominbeauties
3. Refer your friends to the facebook page by posting a comment, and linking back to us!

Random.org will decide the first 2 winners, while the person who refers the most will win the last.

*Winners will be able to pick a crocheted hat (any size/color), or any other merchandise worth up to $20*

*Giveaway ends Wednesday, April 27th 2011*

Click this link for more information!

Never ending winter Give-away!

Chalkboard T-shirts

2011-03-18T12:45:00.001-07:00

Since moving to Wyoming this January, I haven't had a chance to play with my brand new Cricut machine until today- So I decided to do some freezer paper stencils which are so easy with an electronic cutting machine. The other day I came across some clearance chalkboard paint for 72 cents and thought, why not try making a shirt with it? I was a little dubious of the results, but I gave it a try.... And got some terrific results! :) I am quite pleased with how they turned out! :)

The baby's shirt wipes clean every time I pick him up and he drools a fair amount, so in hindsight, I am not sure a baby shirt is a great idea- but it's cute and it matches his big brother. Plus it cost next to nothing to make, so I am not worried about it! I made the pants too, out of an old shirt I had that I no longer wear.
Easiest pants to make ever! I got the instructions from here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNBmfHlWD6I . Easy peasy- and Lincoln is LOOOONG and skinny so either his pants fall off his bum or they are high-watered. These seem to be really comfy and they fit.
So there you have it. These are my two greatest creations! (The boys, not the shirts)

Leprechaun Trap!

2011-03-17T10:06:00.002-07:00

This was an easy craft that Hudson and I put together with the stuff we had laying around the house.

Here's what you need:

An empty jam jar

Toothpicks

Drinking Straws

Ribbon

glue stick

paper

Green felt

acrylic paint

Gold curling ribbon

We cut up the felt and put it in the jam jar to pad the leprechaun's fall. Hudson didn't want him to get hurt. You could use crumpled strips of paper for this if you wanted... We glued the ribbons on so it looked like the end of the rainbow and put curled bits of gold ribbon inside- to trick the leprechaun into thinking it was REAL gold- because we KNOW that leprechauns love gold! We also glued signs on the trap to reassure him that it wasn't a trap, just in case. We needed a ladder for him to get in, so we poked toothpicks through two drinking straws (was easier than I thought, they just slide right through the plastic) and painted it blue. Later today, Hudson will look inside and there will be a Gold one dollar coin inside- left behind by the craft little spirte that got away!

Allowance with training wheels...

2011-03-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

We have had this magnetic chore chart from Mellisa and Doug for a little while, but Hudson would just play with it- but I wanted to use it. He's five now and started showing an interest in paying tithing, but without any income, how do we teach it? I wanted to start giving him an allowance, but was not sure if he was ready for it- so I came up with this system.

For every magnet "sticker" he will get 1 "Bean" (which is a glass jewel thingy from the craft isle at Wal Mart). Beans have value- and can earn 7 a day from doing his chores- things that he's expected to do anyway- but if he does them on his own or the first time he gets a sticker. On saturday morning we trade all the stickers for beans that he gets to put in his jar. (We are going to decorate it) He can trade the beans at any time for these rewards that we discussed together and decided on.
He will have to learn that if he wants a new video game- he'll need to save the beans. He can get 49 beans a week- which is worth about $5 - but he doesn't just get the $5 unless he trades the beans for it- which he probably won't do. And if he has a time out for any reason he'll lose 5 beans. We already had this happen this week and he figured out really quickly that he doesn't want that to happen...

So we'll try this for a while and see how it works. I think the best part is that he's excited about it- he got to choose the rewards and the consequences- so he feels invested.

Scripture journals

2011-01-25T15:00:00.001-08:00

I bought my sunday school kids composition notebooks to use a scripture journals- I will offer jolly rancher bribes to bring scriptures- (Flame me if you want, but it worked for me at age 12)- and each week I will give them a quote or a handout to paste in the journal- and a topic to write about if they want to. (Extra jolly ranchers if they bring the journal with them each week too.) I am trying to make sunday school engaging and interesting and giving them tools that will help them through the difficult teen years. I even bought my own little easel :) My lesson on sunday will ROCK! I will post further soon.

New Calling

2011-01-23T20:44:00.001-08:00

I've been called and set apart as a SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER! I am looking forward to teaching the 12 year old sunday school class, and I want to do the best job possible. I am always online looking at fun blogs about LDS lesson helps. www.sugardoodle.net is one of my favorites as The Idea door... but ALAS! They deal mostly with Primary or Young Women or Relief Society. What mention there is of Sunday school is about the main sunday school, and it turns out that I get to teach about Latter day prophets- so there isn't much about this particular class.

But I am creative and I am bound and determined to make it fun and interesting for these kids who are coming out of primary.

So- Maybe I will have to make my OWN fun blog posts to help the other sunday school teachers like me out there. Stay Tuned.

Ward Scripture 2011

2011-01-17T15:16:00.000-08:00

Here in Gillette, our ward memorizes a scripture every year. I think this is a great idea- and so I have decided to post the scripture somewhere in my house where I can see it every day and maybe it will help me to memorize it. Please excuse my messy handwriting. Once I have memorized it, maybe I will swap it out for a new one. :)

New Place- New Year

2011-01-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

We're here in our new town and I would post pictures of our new apartment, but... it's still full of boxes. I find that we're so worn out from just getting here that I haven't been terribly motivated to unpack. Also- I threw out my back and lifting boxes really hurts- heck- lifting Lincoln hurts. So I have just been taking it easy for the last few days.

I like our new Ward. I have already been asked to speak in Sacrament meeting on the 23rd.

I LOVE being a stay at home mom- but I didn't remember it being this LONELY. I think part of the problem is that Jason has been working CRAZY LONG hours. He leaves at 4:30 am and gets back at 8:00 or so. Last night he didn't get back until 9:30. The overtime money won't be so bad, but I do miss him and it's been hard for Hudson to only get a few minutes here and there with him. We can't even call because out at the mine there is no cell phone reception. The other thing that makes it difficult is that we are using only one car at the moment as Jason's corolla isn't starting. (TOO cold!) and so we've been confined to the apartment grounds for the most part. Jason will probably buy a truck or something soon, as he's made more in the last week than the both of us combined made in the last few months... We'll be paying off student loans and stuff too.

But I am eager to get the house put in place and start to decorate using the cute ideas I see online- and I excited to start posting more often too. :) Since I have ALL day long- I am hoping to make this blog what I pictured it being when I started it. :)

Get along Little Dogies

2010-12-13T13:07:00.000-08:00

You know that Wyoming will be your new home!

Well, it'll be ours anyway. Jason has accepted a job offer in Gillette, Wy- and we are in the process of moving.

I despise moving. I really do. I hate the hassle, the packing, the cleaning, the mess, the stress, the fact that the children are underfoot 24/7... it's really a pain.

I also am bummed to leave behind all the terrific friends I have made here, and I will miss that fact that we've been so close to Grandma and Grandpa Moore that they could stop by for a day without major travel plans.

So far I have "most" of the bathroom packed
"most" of the boys' room packed
"most" of my craft items packed...
"most" of the dvds/ tv stuff packed...
see a trend here? The "most"s are not alls and are making me really antsy. I hope I can get this all done in time.

Pre-Winter Blues

2010-11-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

It's not officially winter yet, I guess. But The view from my window would suggest otherwise. I have not posted in a while because I was ill for a time- and just didn't feel like it- now that I am feeling at least 97% I decided I'd update.

Update #1: On October 21st Hudson turned 5!

Update #2: We're MOVING!!! Yes- I am afraid it's true. Jason is graduating in less than a month and we are packing up our things- and going to......
well, we don't know where exactly yet, but we know we're moving.
The thing I dread most is our awful landlord who is (and I know it sounds trite, but there is no other way to describe her) mean. She is just mean. She has no reason to be cruel she just is- and that is what makes her so bad. So we are probably not going to get our desposit back even though I have lived for 2 1/2 years without putting up a single picture on the walls. (and before you ask, yes I tried those 3M sticky things.... don't work for anything that weighs more than a piece of paper and I have several broken frames to testify of that....)

Also I know my procrastinating ways- and I am combatting them even as I write this. It is my goal to have everything packed up and boxed away before Christmas EVE... And I don't fancy the idea of having to carry boxes out to the truck (which hopefully some company will PAY for) in -45 degree weather... today it is 8 degrees, but it might as well be 45 below... brrrr.

Update #3: I sold my red car to my friend Paula at work. This way we don't have to trailer 4 cars or make two or three trips. We've had our ups and downs in that red car, but it is reliable, and should work well for her. :) Plus this way we no longer have that specific monthly payment and it will help to pay down our debt.

Update #4: I have really come to enjoy taking portraits and think that if I get enough practice, I might be able to do some freelance photography in the future. I'd like to be able to save enough money to buy a "real" camera- a digital SLR and some nice lenses. I could then make some money doing something really fun and creative. (obviously not make ALOT, but just as a hobby)

Well, that's about it for now. We're going to G-ma Griffin's place for Thanksgiving, then possibly to Colorado but for sure up to Wyoming which may be our new home in 2011- if Jason likes what he sees...

Fulfillment

2010-10-12T22:26:00.000-07:00

Is there anything more satisfying than meeting the needs of your children? I would argue no, there isn't.

Teen Suicides

2010-10-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

I think that the recent increase in teen suicide due to bullying is very very sad. But wonders what kind of message we are sending to kids by martyring the teens all over the news so much? Yes- it is a call to action- something must be done. But if I were a teen with suicidal thoughts (and you don't know if I wasn't so don't judge) I think knowing my image would be on tv- publicily humiliating my tormenters, and the candles and the teddy bears and all the people who would gather together in my name- might just be making suicide look that much more appealing. I'm just saying- No excuse for bullies- very sad about the suicides, but instead of letting the media tell the story, shouldn't we sit down with our kids and TALK about it?

Mysterious Ways

2010-10-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

I know that most people would say that Heavenly Father isn't interested in the trivial things of my day, like what shirt I choose, or what I eat for breakfast- but I know that he is aware of me- and that he blesses me in Mysterious Ways.

You know that Psych season 4 DVD that I was loathe to return, but put on my frugal big girl panties so that I could get my son a much needed coat? (small sacrafice, I know, but it was still hard for me)
well.... It's on netflix streaming! YAY! I can still watch it! :)

Ok- Netflix has become our entertainment budget. For 8.99 a month we get unlimited movies streamed to our computer and our tv with the wii- and one dvd at a time. This is what we do instead of renting videos and going out to movies. It works pretty well, actually. :) And I have sworn off buying movies for a long time- I don't really need to buy movies. I will watch it how many times after purchasing it? And I have to store the darn things and that just adds to the "stuff" that I am hoping to rid myself of soon.

Ok- I know- it may not be an earth-moving miracle- but it's a miracle to me. And I am thankful for the blessing. :)

The Frugal Beast

2010-09-30T11:02:00.001-07:00

Ya, Ok, I admitt it. I am a reluctant frugalista- I would MUCH rather have a billion dollars to spend on whatever it is that I want. The fact is- I don't - and maybe if I did I still wouldn't be happy because I wouldn't know how to manage it. Maybe that's why we're struggling right now, to help prepare me for the blessing that are on their way. To prove that I can work with very little so that I can better manage it when we become better off... I don't know.

Anyway- my inner comedian is at work- and it makes these LEAN times a little more bearable.

For Example:

I wanted to buy Lincoln a Bumbo chair- but I knew he'll be sitting up on his own before too long, and I don't have an extra $40 sitting around. (also, don't want to store the darn thing when he's too big for it ...see hoarders post) So this is what I came up with instead.

And when you put a blanket in it it's even MORE comfy for him... This is the bucket we store Hudson's toy cars in, but when its not being used Oh Boy! What fun!

Also- I thought it would be nice to have one of those double stroller things where you have the one child sitting in front and a chair for the older child in the back- but this works equally well...

Ok- I know, it's not the intended use, but Hudson got tired on the way home from a walk and this seemed like the easiest solution... Not winning mommy of the year with this one, huh?

Anyhow- I did something that was pretty hard for me to do, but I am proud of myself for it. This July I bought season 4 of Psych at Wal Mart. I was SOOO excited, but when I brought it home I had buyers remorse. I didn't really NEED it- I shouldn't have spent money on it.... so I left it shrink wrapped. Well, things are pretty tight here, like I mentioned, and I sucked it up and returned the dvds to wal mart. I used that $40 to buy Hudson a new coat and to make a payment to my hospital bill. It wasn't easy, but I am proud that I could make a responsible decsion. And now, someone can buy me Psych season 4 as a gift later since I now no longer have it... hint hint. ;)

Look at me go! Maybe I can do this after all!

Sloppy Jofus

2010-09-28T15:44:00.000-07:00

(This Beef Flavored TVP is found at http://www.shelfreliance.com/beef-tvp-1.html) It's the best price I have seen online- I got mine in Canada for about $15 a can)

I used TVP to make sloppy Joes last night- For those of you who don't know, my husband is a wonder bread and hot dog type guy. He likes easy cheap foods, but he wants them to be familiar. He has expressed less than enthusiasm about my using TVP in the past (TVP, incidentally, is Texturized Vegetable Protein, dehydrated soy basically) but what he doesn't know won't hurt him right? He doesn't even notice when I use it in chili or with taco meat as a filler... Well, my plan was to reconstitute the TVP before he got home so he didn't notice. It's actually "Beef flavored" so it tastes a little more like real meat. Texture-wise it's a little softer, but I know there is a noticeable difference. I was also planning to use 1/2 lb ground beef and 1/2 pound TVP to better disguise it.

But that's not what happened.

I had a pretty stressful day yesterday and was not in a good mood when Jason came home from his class. (I was actually still crying about cat feces to Erica- see previous post) so I was running a bit late and had to hurry with dinner if I wanted to eat before work. So I was just putting the TVP into the skillet with the tomato paste water and seasoning when Jason walked in. He looked at it for a second, but Bless that Man, he said nothing.

I think if he had said something, he knows he's get a Pyrex bowl thrown at his head- so I served it up and Hudson complained that it didn't taste like meat- I asked what it tasted like and he said water. I wonder if reconstituting it in Beef Broth would improve the flavor? hmmm...

Jason again said nothing. He ate two sloppy- jofus without complaint. If he's hungry he'll eat it. Of course I wasn't like "Oh honey look! I am using our TVP food storage- what do you think?"

and if he barfed later I am unaware because I went right to work. :)

Thank Goodness for WIC

2010-09-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

I am on the WIC program- and I am sad because Hudson will be five next month, so we won't get benefits for him any more, but WIC has been such a blessing in our home because otherwise we couldn't afford to eat as well as we do.

Now that I am learning to use WIC to it's fullest, I am really beginning to see how much food we can eat with it!
I am practicing being a more frugal cook, and using up all that I can without wasting. So tomorrow I am boiling eggs for egg salad sandwhiches and using the eggs and cheese and some fresh veggies for an omlet, and of course Hudson loves his PB&J and milk and fruit. I got the stuff for a really nice Salad and I can use left over taco meat or chicken to make that a meal. So- you know I can really make my food stretch- and I am even starting to enjoy this meal prep stuff a little more- (remember when just a few posts ago I said I hated it.)

In other news- I watched Hoarders today for the first time and it upset and aggitated me for the entire night. I mean those of you who have seen my house - I am a little cluttered- I am NOT a hoarder (of course the people on the show say that too) at least not yet- but what I found the most disturbing is that I related to the things they said ie: I MIGHT need that, nothing has a place to go, I have always been cluttered, I feel guilty thowing stuff away... etc etc... YIKES! I was so upset about it I cried to my sister about cat feces for a while... I don't even have a cat.
Well, after watching a few gut wrenching episodes (literally) I got of my fanny and organized like mad... so maybe having OCD won't help. I will just watch an episode of Hoarders every morning and that will motivate me to clean the house for the day... I will then listen to a soothing church talk to help me feel better about myself.

Cooking from Food Storage-

2010-09-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

There were two really good episodes of Living Essentials on BYUtv.com about cooking from food storage.
It looks cheaper than buying those processed foods and it's a good way to go through and rotate your food storage. Of course rotating means replenishing what you use, which I haven't been able to do for a while. Plus- we are anticipating a move sometime in the future and so we'll replenish then. Right now our budget is really tight, so we have to do what we can.

anyway, here are the episodes I liked.
http://byutv.org/watch/597-133#ooid=NhNTFqMToNcu1k5nNMqeKaePJl-Wl7KQ

http://www.byutv.org/watch/597-522

Date Night

2010-09-24T11:33:00.000-07:00

Tonight is Date Night! It's been a really long time since Jason and I could go out some place alone. I am excited to spend some time with him. I want to try something creative- and since I am fairly sure he doesn't read this blog- I would share- but since I am not sure how well recepted the plan will be I will wait until after tonight.

I found this site- and it really inspires me-
http://loveactually-blog-ideas.blogspot.com/

It is full of inexpensive and creative date ideas- most of which I am sure Jason would scoff at- but I really enjoy the site anyway.
I am going to give Jason 52 weeks of date night for a christmas gift or a date of the month club. Please put ideas in the comment section!!!

The Biggest Loser

2010-09-22T10:47:00.001-07:00

Last season was the first time I had watched the biggest loser- and a new season has begun. So I don't know- like I have a few extra pounds I'm hefting around- you know- postpardum and everything. But I know as Lincoln grows a little bigger, I should be growing a little smaller. It's only baby weight when I've got a baby around, you know. When they're teenagers I won't be able to use the excuse anymore.

So I am going to do it with them. (nothing like that motivation to help me along. I can't sit and eat a hamburger while watching.)

So I am going to start eating alittle better again, and exercising more. Nothing big like you see on TV- I can't afford to join a gym or anything, but I am going to go for it! :)

Also- I really like Burgandy Keel (purple team) I think she's got a great attitude and I relate to her. I hope she does really well in the competition. She is from Utah- I wonder if she is LDS- does anyone know?

7 days

2010-09-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

I have to work seven days in a row this week- yarg. Tonight is day 6. I get wednesday off and then have to work thursday- then get Friday and Saturday off. YAY!

But I am pretty tired.

In other news- I already have a puppy and a tigger outfit for Lincoln, so maybe I will just use that for Halloween. I really want to make him a little fried egg costume, and make the stroller a frying pan.

I don't know. I am not fully awake yet.

Stand up- stand out- comedy

2010-09-18T21:59:00.000-07:00

I've decided I am a closet stand up comic. I love telling a good story, even if it's not entirely true, and getting a laugh. I love being laughed at- and it happens to happen fairly often.
I have decided my job at Wal Mart (yes, that's where I work and I am actually enjoying it thanks,) is a perfect place to test some of my jokes.

I've got coworkers laughing and customers laughing, and so I think that I may be on to something.

But who wants to see a Mormon stand-up comedian. No, my jokes aren't about being Mormon, but they're all clean, usually not at all racy.

I have decided to start a joke and story journal- to just work on my material.
Maybe someday I'll go out on a limb and try it for an audience that has actually paid to see me. :)
But maybe not. Who knows?

Hand-made halloween

2010-09-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

I want to make my kids' costumes this year. I am now a (kind of) stay at home mom- and could probably find time to do it. Lincoln won't know or care about what his costume is, but Hudson will want to pick (which means I could be in trouble)-

The cheap costumes are in the $15 range- and the really nice ones are all the way to $55. I have some surplus fabric, and could find fabric for cheaper than $15 if I need to, I am sure.

I also want to make a stroller cover for Lincoln's ride- like these by MapleTree2000 on etsy.

She has several different types, and I would gladly pay $55 for it, if I had $55. But as I am pretty much broke- I will have to somehow pay homage by finding way to make one myself.

Any ideas on what Lincoln could be? Maybe a worm in an apple? A skunk in a log? A hermit crab in a shell? Give me Ideas!

I will need to get started here pretty soon if I hope to be done by the end of the month.

Food Nanny Rescues 3 Families

2010-09-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

Cooking Lessons part II

2010-09-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the comments with tips and tricks. We had a rice cooker at one time, but it tended to leave 2nd degree burns in its wake. (Think "the cornballer" for all those Arrested Development fans out there. Best tv show ever, in my humble opinion)

I guess microwaving is an easy way to make rice too.

I think I will have to check out this "food nanny" as all of her recipes seem do-able. I am a beginner cook, but it seems when I type this into a search engine I get back "how to boil water". I have the basic skills, but not the knack- you know- the creativity or gumption to actually execute the meal.
I hate when you pick up a cook book or a magazine and see a recipe and think "wow that looks great" only to feel overwhelmed by the ingredients. Example. This one calls for white wine. (which I know, cooks out, whatever, but I am not going to buy a bottle of wine to use for one dish- and I don't feel 100% right about it anyway) or another recipe calls for Tarragon. I know this is a spice. I don't know what it tastes like- I never use it in other recipes, and it sounds like it's going to cost a lot for the 1/4 teaspoon that I'm going to need.

Boo hoo, right? Maybe I should just stick to the processed stuff for a little while. Wean myself and my family off of it. www.kraftfoods.com is a website that I really like for making "accessible" meals for people like me. 5 meals in 1 bag, is good too, because it plans everything for you. Ok, so if I want to cut the prices and the calories I can substitute name brands with generic and I can choose lower calorie options when available...

Tonight, I am making home fries (with real potatoes) :) I don't know what else will go with it, but hey it's a start.

Cooking Lessons

2010-09-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

I'm back! I took a break from blogging after having my baby, Lincoln, who is adorable- and my husband was in California for an internship. I found that being a single parent for the summer took up most of my free time.

Ok- I am back. It feels like I am always working on one more thing- I always have somewhere to improve and it can be down right discouraging. I find that if I want to improve my finaces, I need to improve my organization, and if I want to improve my organization I need to better control my time management. I find that if I want to save money, I must be able to cook for my family instead of purchasing unhealthy and expensive processed foods, but it occured to me the other day as I was scalding a pot of rice on the stove. That I don't know how to cook.

I don't really enjoy cooking. I find that it requires planning (something I am not good at) and usually requires washing many dishes afterward...

BUT- I have decided to cook more, buy less frozen or processed foods, and save some money.

I have no idea where to start. I think I will cruise the internet and let you know what I can find for beginner cooks. :)

My clean sink

2010-03-21T21:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. My sink is clean. I have done the dishes (not every night, but often) and it's amazing to me how much it helps to just keep the sink clean. Suddenly, dishes aren't quite as daunting. (I am hoping to make this a new life long habit... so don't jinx me!)

I was really sick last week, so that sucked. Combine my general lack of energy with a terrible cough and lack of bladder control (thanks alot baby ?).... and my house suffered a bit. But it's an upward trend and that's what I like to see....

I only have about 4 weeks left if they induce me at 39 like they plan to... and I still haven't felt that wonderful nesting urge... in fact it was only this morning that it really dawned on me that I only have a month left.... Panic does not equal nesting... Oh well. I fall back on the idea that it'll all work out... somehow.

Also- Great news! Jason was offered a summer internship in Los Angeles. We tried to figure out how we all could go and it just wasn't working out, so Jason will embark on a grand adventure in California.... and I will embark on an adventure here in Havre, MT.... Google map us- street view... yes, it's a little depressing.

Hudson isn't so thrilled with the idea, but we've been assuring him that Daddy is not moving away, he's just going to be gone a few weeks (a few like 12) and we're hopefully going to be able to afford to visit him at least once... Did the words Disney Land escape my lips? Maybe... that seemed to improve the little guy's outlook, but only marginally.

I am nervous about being a single mom of two for a few months, but I have an AWESOME support system here in Havre. I have a loving ward family that will take care of me if I need it. My wonderful in-laws are just a few hours away and have promised to visit on occasion, and I've got wonderful and helpful friends. I think I will be ok, other than missing my husband and the ambient sounds of World of Warcraft....

Anyway, life is good. And I am ready to go on to the next "babystep" in the FlyLady's book. Wish me luck!

Come FLY with Me

2010-03-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

So- I've read the book before- I have read several home organization books- but this time I am conducting a little experiment. Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley- the Fly Lady.

Why am I doing this? Well, Heavenly Father blessed me with visiting teachers who wanted to come over- and while super excited to have VTs over, I was actually paniced because of the state of my house... I am usually anxious because of this, I have never been good at organizing EVER. My mother would section off my bedroom with "CAUTION" tape when I was kid... and I always figured, there will be enough to clean as a grown up, so I don't want to do it now.

Welcome to today- I am a grown up with an adorable 4 year old son, and another baby on the way... (EDD April 28) and my house STILL isn't clean. And as much as I keep rationalizing why I CAN'T do it- I know it needs to be done...

ANYWAY- My visiting teachers were coming. And it turns out that one of my VT's is actually the Relief Society President. I made the mistake (or maybe a cry for help) of complaining of my lack of "domestic goddess skills"- and wouldn't you know, she found an answer!

I am supposed to experiment with the book and when I've completed it- I get to teach about my experience at a weekday RS meeting (or enrichment meeting , if you are rebeilious like me. I still call it Homemaking meeting sometimes... sigh)

So- I am blogging about it. That's right. All the nitty-gritty WITH PICTURES! I am hoping you guys hold me accountable- and I bet some of you are following my progress from my ward too- so I hope you'll make a comment here and there- so here I am taking my first baby step. Wish my luck!

2010-02-10T14:13:00.000-08:00

Belly Shot. 12/09. Don't say I never posted one. I actually have a little bump in the photo- It's otherwise still pretty small. :)

Winter Driving

2010-02-03T07:20:00.000-08:00

I think you'd be proud of me if I told you how far I've come in my winter driving skills. A few years ago we moved from Kent, WA to Ellensburg, central Washington. It was my first real winter driving experience- and I HATED it. You can ask my husband and he will tell you that there were mornings when I'd have to pull over and call him because I was so scared I was crying. Of course, I had a longer commute to work at the time, on country roads with deep ditches on either side, and a speed limit of 50 mph... I could at my fastest reach maybe 35 before I could feel the road sliding out from under me. Yes, I spun out a few times, no I was never in an accident... but I remember praying earnestly every morning just to make it to work in one piece...

Then we moved to Montana, where I learned what a "real Montana Winter looked like"- The kind of cold that hurts way down to your bones. The negative 35 degrees winter that your car won't start it. The cold that makes your preschooler cry, even though he's bundled up tightly.

Last year I grumbled, cursed, and felt nervous behind the wheel everytime I got in the car. We got stuck a few times, again no accidents, but I was never so thankful for a thaw in all my life.

But, now I feel like a pro! Despite the several inches of snow we've gotten I have driven with alot more confidence. I haven't cried once! I still occasionally curse under my breath when it gets a little hairy, but over all a vast improvement. If anything I should be MORE nervous this year because I am pregnant and if I get in an accident it would be VERY scary, because it's not just me I have to worry about... but maybe because someone else is depending on me to be brave, I am able to just do it...

Anyway, I feel pretty proud of myself, and I thought I'd share. :)

Another Give AWAY!

2010-01-06T07:22:00.000-08:00

Ok, It worked so well the last time that I thought I'd give it another go. There is an awesome give away at The Vintage Pearl- check out their link. ANYWAY, there is a give away for a $50 gift card. And if I don't get it, I would be just as psyched if one of you guys do, so... here is the link to Blue Cricket Designs on how you can enter.

New Year- Same Me

2010-01-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

So, I've decided that I am ALWAYS resolving to do the same things better. Does that mean that I shouldn't make new year's resolutions? It doesn't seem popular any more, and while I admire the "just take things one day at a time" approach, I still think resolutions are a good thing to do. It's kind of a yearly inventory. Sure, I've already been late to church, and spent money on something I didn't really need, so if I were looking at resolutions that way, of course they would seem a little pointless. It's not about the "Always" or "never" it's about "where am I?" and "where do I want to be?"

So, in light of these observations I am going to share some of my resolutions with you. I believe that the key to success with these is to have a detailed plan, which I do, but I am not going to outline each of them here on the blog... So here is goes.

1. Get (more) out of debt
2. Become more organized
3. Be more self- reliant
4. finish my novel
5. transition to SAHM (or get closer)
6. Grow spiritually- specifically, attending the temple more frequently, and having a daily scripture study of some kind.

What are your new year's resolutions?

I won!

2009-12-15T09:52:00.000-08:00

I won! By the way, the give away I posted... yeah, I won. I am pretty amazing. and I am really excited to get my prize in the mail... yes, I know I don't have a little girl to use the hair clips, but they are so cute I may just use them myself or mail them to a friend for Christmas... we'll have to see. But I have to say that I am excited about it anyway.

Also, I have been having alot of fun with felt and will post a picture soon! :)

Oooh a give away!

2009-12-08T07:37:00.000-08:00

I've always seen give aways on blogs, and figure, you can't win unless you enter. Plus you can get some really cool homemade stuff, so I am giving it a whirl. This particular give away is fun because you get to post your favorite Christmas tradition, and thinking about it made me get a little more excited for the holidays.

Go to http://brittasboutique.blogspot.com/ to enter to win!

Cute Bread

2009-12-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is lately, but I am becoming obsessed with bread. It started at my cousin Sarah's house when I ate her delicious homemade bread every morning over Thanksgiving break. Hmmmm... (stares off dreamily for several long minutes before realizing that she is supposed to be writing...)

Anyway, I have been finding more and more cute bread online and gosh darn it, I am falling in love. Check some of these out, hopefully the artists won't mind. I will try to site everything...This darling piece of Toast was on www.dailycute.net with instructions on how to make him.

These cute pieces were found on Etsy, made by pumpkinpye517. She has tons of cute bread items including French Bread with little moustaches and cheese toasts. I want to buy all of them- and I don't know why all of the sudden bread is so stinkin cool, but it is.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share. I'd like to try my hand at making food with faces out of felt and sculpey, if I ever get around to it... (and that is my biggest set back as a creative artist... procrastination....) and now I'm hungry.

Hanging in there

2009-12-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

Things here are generally good. We had a really fun Thanksgiving break, after shelling out some money for a new fuel pump, that is... but it was totally worth it for me to see my big sister and her baby bump! I also got a chance to play with my cousin's adorable baby boy and I found myself actually excited to have another little boy. Which is weird because it took longer than I had expected to feel excited about this pregnancy. I mean we wanted to get pregnant, I've wanted to have another child for a long time, so it was bizarre to me that I have felt so disconnected these first few months.

But all that has changed. I even went out and purchased material for a cute baby quilt. I am beginning to get the "nesting" feeling. It's just too bad that I am also getting that "I'm broke and my back is killing me" feeling. I am going to actually try to decorate my living room, which means slip-covering the mismatched furniture, making cute accent pillows, and embellishing the curtains. This also means organizing the bookshelf, and clearing out clutter.... Don't even get me started on what we'll do with Hudson's room, because I don't know yet...

I think I'll purge a bunch of stuff... I want to live more simply.

PS Eating out update- DOING SO WELL! We've really been doing good at eating at home. I hope to keep it this way. :)

Baby Boy

2009-11-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

So, for those of you who are on my facebook probably already know... We are having boy #2 in April... but you folks who didn't know, don't feel bad, I only announced it last Thursday. Yes, I know, I've been sitting on this information for a while. . . Doesn't it make it seem like time goes faster, now you all have less time to wait!

So far so good. I will keep you posted.

A book I'm reading

2009-10-28T13:12:00.000-07:00

I have been reading "The Family Manager" by Kathy Peel. I am really enjoying it. As self help books go, this one is by far my favorite. It speaks to me, not just because she admits to having once lived a life very similar to mine, but also because it's formatted in an appealing way. There are lists, quotes, little pointing fingers, checklists, worksheets, jokes etc... And it's all do-able... you know what I mean? There is no-"go out and spend hundreds of dollars on a new organizations system that may or may not work for you!" or making it seem over simplified "Just clean your house everyday..." right... if I could do that, would I be reading your book?

No, Kathy Peel is a real person, with a real family. And she says that Moms are really like CEOs of small businesses... when you start looking at it from a management perspective, she's right. Who controls all the incoming and outgoing money? Mom (or dad- the co-pilot) Who schedules the family's time? She incorporates sound business practices with family life, and I've found it to be most helpful... Delegating, team building, simplifying etc...

I enjoy it, and I would highly recommend it!

Am I Brave Enough?

2009-10-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

I mean- Can I really do it?

I am almost afraid by writing these words, I am setting myself up for failure. I know- it must be done...

We need to stop eating out...

I know you've heard me complain about the food here in Havre, so why do we eat out so often?

1. It's fast. With Jason in night classes, and me getting off work at 5 pm- we're usually pretty hungry when I come home. We don't have a lot of time so we go out.

2. We are indecisive. Between the three of us, we usually cannot decide what to eat until we're so hungry that our tempers are flaring.

3. No dishes. Is there anything nicer than tossing your plates in the garbage when you're done instead of washing them, the pans, the silverware after eating? Or just leaving them on the table for someone else to take care of? I think not.

4. I am a terrible cook. I am not kidding. I try to make thrifty meals or homemade stuff, and Jason hates it. Oh, he'll eat it, because like I said we're too hungry at that point, but of course it won't taste as good if I make it.

5. It's something to do. In a tiny town (where all the businesses close before 7 except walmart and fast food joints.. oh and bars, but that's not a problem for us.) eating out provides some entertainment.

6. I am lazy- yes there it is. I admit it... I just don't want to do it. Any of it. I don't like planning the menu, cooking the food, serving the food, doing the dishes yada yada yada... Go ahead and judge me, I don't care! I sometimes wish I could be a stepford wife complete with remote!

So there it is- Sometimes there are battles in our lives that must be fought and won: demons to conquer and foes to slay! This is my battle (and at the risk of sounding a little to melodramatic) I WILL NOT BACK DOWN! I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED! I CAN DO THIS!!! (cue theme music--)

Paranoid

2009-10-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

OK, so I will admit it. I have inherited some serious paranoia... and you know what? Suddenly my mother is no longer over protective- and I feel so much love retroactively. I worry, but it's not because I don't trust, or I want to annoy. It's because my child is the most precious thing in the world to me and I know I would go absolutely crazy if I were to ever lose him...

I am reminded of Finding Nemo-

Marlin: "I promised I'd never let anything happen to him."
Dory: Hmmm, that's a funny thing to promise.
Marlin: What?
Dory: Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him.

Where does all this anxiety stem from this morning? Hudson's preschool class is going swimming this morning. He doesn't know how to swim, and he's convinced that he does, and having once nearly drowned, I find myself a little worried... Other worries this morning include: The school bus driving in the snow, I forgot to put Hudson's toque on this morning and I don' want his head to get cold after swimming... I am worried about slipping on the slippery streets and about catching the swine flu...

Jason is right, I am a little bit of a basket case... so?

Apathy- A pathetic excuse...

2009-10-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

You know what really bugs me? Apathy- and high school students seem to have it in truckloads. I don't really mind if school pisses you off, at least you're exhibiting some kind of emotion!
Rage against the machine!
Protest!
Write angry letters!
I don't care!!! But please, please, please.... please don't just sit there are look at me like this...

I am sick of people NOT CARING about stuff...

OK, I'll stop ranting.... but honestly people- wake up and start doing SOMETHING!

Snow... really?

2009-10-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

It's supposed to snow tomorrow. We all know how I feel about that...The high this Friday is going to be in the 20s...

Snow is the reason I realized I was a grown-up.

Suddenly one snowy morning instead of feeling delighted by the beautiful and delicate flakes that twirled down to earth, I felt a solid cold dread in my stomach. And that's when I knew I was a "grown-up"

To a child snow means:
Snowmen
Sledding
snow angels
Christmas is on its way
School cancellations
snowball fights

To a "grown up" snow means:
higher heating bills
bad driving conditions
frozen pipes
shoveling the drive way
scraping car windows
worry about slipping/frostbite/hypothermia
that general feeling of being trapped....

see what I mean? Last year it was too frickin' cold to even enjoy the nice things about snow. Never before in my life have I seen so many lawns without snowmen, so few foot prints and sled tracks... no, I'm afraid when it's -35 degrees out, not even kids like snow around here....

so it begins....

Here's hoping that this winter will be Shorter, warmer, and drier than last!

When I get homesick...

2009-09-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

As you can tell, I feel a little nostalgic for my homeland in the pacific northwest. This usually happens, I find, when the weather starts cooling down and the rain comes... Usually early October. Restaurants aside, I miss certain sights, sounds and smells as well... I have been stalking my old haunts by way of Google Maps, street view... I find it both comforting and creepy...
If you want to know a little more about where I am at, Type in Havre, MT into Google maps street view.... 1st street is our main street...it will explain much about the way I am feeling....

The Thing I miss most

2009-09-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hey folks!
I haven't posted in a while. But now, I am resolved to post more frequently.

The thing I miss most about living in Seattle....
The food.

In no particular order the restaurants and foods that I miss the most:

Sizzler - awesome buffet, strawberry lemonade, and excellent Malibu chicken, fall off bone ribs and baked beans....
Qudoba- Tortilla chips with just a subtle hint of lime, 3 cheese queso, and chicken Quesidillas
Full Throttle- Avocado burger
Olive garden- salad, bread sticks, and pasta (all sorts), artichoke dip
Can-Am Pizza- pizza
Ihop- Stuffed french toast with strawberries
Ivars- Fish and Chips
Golden Corral- Sweet buttery hot rolls, and bourbon street chicken
Stanfords: wood smoked Hamburgers
The Golden Steer: Bacon
Taco bell- double decker taco
Wendy's - (Ok so we have a Wendy's but they don't have this on their menu anymore) the Spicy baconator
Panda Express- Garlic eggplant stir-fry
Zao's noodle bar- Dan-Dan chicken
Chang's Mongolian Grill- Noodles!!!
Rainforest Cafe- Rasta Pasta
Sabbros- Stuffed pizza with spinach and broccoli
Papa Murphies- vegetarian gourmet pizza

Dang, now I'm hungry! :(

In an effort to reduce the painful effects of living so far from so much delicious food, I am searching online for copycat recipes... I'm sorry to the chefs who work so hard to keep things a secret, but I'm in the middle of nowhere... trust me when I tell you that I will be visiting your establishments to spend money as soon as I can...

Why I love My Ward

2009-08-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

In case I haven't mentioned it lately, I love my ward. The Havre Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is by far my favorite ward I've ever been in. This is not to slight any other ward I've been in, as there are people and things I love about all of them, but Havre feels so much like home. I love all of the people, and what makes it feel so great is that I feel a love from them as well. I feel my Savior's love in this ward and I find that so refreshing. I am able to study the gospel and build my testimony each week there.

Here are a few things that my ward is doing that makes me love being in it...

1.) The young women bake the sacrament bread every week as a way to participate in the sacrament, and that kind of love and sacrafice helps me to think more fully on the sacrament while I partake...

2.) This bishop has asked our Relief Society to help families prepare for Chirstmas so that we can avoid debt and so that we can focus on a Christ centered Christmas this year. To do this we are having a monthly enrichment were we are hand making gifts for our families- :)

3.) Our bishop has offered some of his land for the ward members to help work and when it is harvested we'll get some of the food... We haven't been able to coordinate times to get out there, but the fact the system is in place speaks volumes of our Bishop's love and concern for our ward family.

well, I could go on, but I've got to end this post.

2009-07-19T18:27:00.001-07:00

It's been a while. I am still at the same weight. But this is my new philosophy about weight loss...

D&C 101: 37

so there!

Also, recently my bike was stolen off my porch... I am having issues dealing with its loss... I will report back again soon... My blog vacation is offically over.

Day 2

2009-06-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

Day 2

Day two went well too, for the most part. I had a good breakfast and lunch, but you remember those cookies? They were nothing compared to the "last day of school" party in the HS library, replete with A HUGE sheet cake with piles of sugary frosting and several buckets of ice cream. I did really well with it. I had one piece of cake and a small scoop of ice cream and then went and hid in my ISS room. (amid heckling for being the most reclusive staff member. But one of the teachers I really respect said that I was smart for knowing my limits) Later one of the teachers offered me a 9 x 13 section of left over cake to bring home, but I said no thanks. I heard from another teacher that she had had 3 pieces of cake because they were trying to get rid of it. I felt pretty good that I hadn't stuck around... plus she looked like she felt pretty sick!

For Dinner I had Nalley's vegetarian chili- it's very good. The first time I served it Jason had no idea it used TVP (textured vegetable protein) instead of meat. When he found out, he was like, "oh, ok." :) It's less calories than regular canned chili and it takes great... added bonus is that it takes a total of 5 minutes to prepare. I like to serve it over a piece of torn up bread and sprinkled with cheese and a few fritos corn chips. It's a whole meal in 5 minutes. It can still be high in points (weight watchers) if you don't watch your portion size. I used a smaller bowl ( a blue one because I've heard that blue helps suppress appetite... I know I'm nuts)

And for my final proud moment of the day.... I went to a really fun Mary Kay Party that a lady from my ward put on and she did this really cool candy bar game where each candy bar represents another aspect of Mary Kay and if after she explained them we could remember what they represented we could have the candy. I remembered all of them and there was a lot of tempting candy, but I opted for the pack of gum instead of a chocolate bar... I got some other candy, but I'm going to save it or give it to Jason.

I'm happy that I'm making more conscious decisions about my diet. It does take alot more mental effort. Even though I'm not writing down and tracking points, I am very aware of what I eat and so I think it's helpful! :)

Ok, I'll stop now, I've got a bunch to do today! :)

Day 1

2009-06-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

Ok folks... here it is!
June 1st was day one. Here's how it went

Weight: 190

Food: I feel pretty proud of my food choices today.
Breakfast: Soy milk and banana
Lunch: Healthy choice meal and 100 calorie cookie pack
Snack:I only had 2 cookies from the staff lounge (and I was alone with them- four plates of them...) Dinner: I opted for a 6 inch turkey sub in lieu of my usual foot long. I concentrated on eating slowly so it helped me feel full.
Snack: Sugar free jello pudding served cold.

As far as exercise goes: I got up early to do some wii fit-

I went to my weight watchers meeting and got motivated to incorporate more activity into my lifestyle. I will be bicycling to work the rest of the month and that should help.

Day one counts as a success...

(I know I'm posting on day two, but this will be one day off because I still have a lot of time to screw up day two... and a lot of time left to make good choices.

He knew what he was talking about.

2009-05-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some quotes from one of my all time heroes... (I was born on his birthday)

• "You can't escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."—Abraham Lincoln

• "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will."—Abraham Lincoln

"I would rather have people laugh at my economies than weep for my extravagance. ... Abraham Lincoln

I think the USA could do well to remember the wisdom of this great man.

OH MY WORD!

2009-05-28T08:27:00.001-07:00

Apparently this is really going to happen this August. Not like the 1994-1995 hype that ended with Archie getting back together with Cheryl Blossom. I can't say I'm really that surprised that he's picking Veronica. It's just another case of a guy being too silly to know what's good for him. As much as I really like Betty, she really could do much better. I certainly wouldn't want to marry a guy and then wonder for the rest of my life if he regrets his choice. Best to look for other fish in a bigger pond... It's only taken them oh 50+ years to get here.... Oh well.

30 Day weight loss Challenge

2009-05-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

That's right. I don't know if it's hormones or what, but I am sick to death of feeling flabby and fat. I have been waffling in my weight loss attempts for weeks and I just need a good shot in the arm (or kick in the rear) to get back on track. So what am I going to do? A 30 day weight loss challenge!

Side note: what makes this even harder is that I just finished writing 50 articles on weight loss for www.contentdivas.com and spent the whole time feeling guilty that I KNOW all about weight loss, but I'm fat. >:( explain that.... I guess it's a classic case of those who can't do teach... but who wants to take weight loss advice from a chubby girl? It's at times like these I thank my lucky stars I'm a ghost writer.

ANYHOW! 30 Day weight loss challenge. I'm just making this up as I go because I couldn't find something online that fit exactly with what I was going for. (BTW I'm starting June first, and anyone who wants to play along can feel free to.) I will be posting daily (Egads! Bear with me.) about my progress, but here is the catch. I will not weigh myself only twice - June 1st and then not until JUNE 30th. There will be pictures, actual measurements, and yes my real weight posted. (Not even my driver's licence has had that kind of honesty.)

I guess today I'm just kind of warning everyone that things could get ugly... and I actually WANT people to comment- keep me honest. If I think someone out there is keeping tabs on me this will probably work better.

~Kelly

Really?

2009-05-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

I woke up to a blizzard again this morning. I'll post pictures later.

But since I'm still sick and feeling crappy, I have decided not to be mad. Being angry at the weather is probably the stupidest thing to be mad at. There is nothing I can do to change it, so I'll just raise my eyebrows and say, "really?" and then trudge out into the snow to scrap the inch or two of crusted on snow off my car and begin my day...

I'm beginning to doubt Montana.

Happy Mother's day

2009-05-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

This is my very digital scrapbook layout. I made for my mom. I need more practice, but I think it turned out nicely. :)

when life gives you lemons

2009-05-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

Squeeze the heck out of them and make delicious, refreshing lemonade. Like so:

1. Quarter the lemon

2. Put it in a zippy bag (check for holes if you can first)

3.) Add sugar to taste (only 15 calories for a tsp of sugar, or you can use splenda)

4. Squeeze the jucie from the lemon! (Great for even little kids, and can be very cathartic)

5. Add water, and icecubes if you want. Also I like to add a few frozen berries. The kind we made at day care training had koolaide icecubes!

5. Enjoy!

Clean up is a breeze! These are fun for picnics. Lemons only cost about 20 cents each here so it's cheap too. Only down side that I can see is for certain preschoolers with short attention spans who want to set it down and run off and play. :)

That Darn Cat

2009-05-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

I probably woke the neighborhood this morning with my rather shrill (I am ashamed to say) scream.

Here's what happened. . .

I am buckling Hudson into his car seat and I hear a small "Thump thump", pause momentarily, but think nothing of it so continue to strap Hudson in.

When I stand up, I'm eye to eye with a cat. It's literally an inch from my nose. I scream - Hudson laughs and the cat- completely unfazed- cocks his head and meows. I slam the door hoping to scare it away, tell it to shoo, even clap my hands at it to no avail. Finally I said, "I'm going to drive away with you on the roof!" And hop in and start the car. The cat leaps to the ground.

This is the same cat that tried to get inside my house the other day, ducking and weaving and trying to get past my legs into the door. I finally had to brandish a rake at it for it to leave. It's getting pretty brazen.

Sheesh!

"meh"

2009-05-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

What I'd like to know is how I got stuck in this t shirt and jeans trap. It's only one step away from the baggy sweats trap (although on weekends I've been known to indulge). I mean, really, for someone who was once a fashion major and who wore some pretty (dare I say) Zany clothes I've really mellowed. I think it has something to do with my life in general. I'm complacent when it comes to my diet, my style, my housekeeping, my finances... It's not that bad, but it's not that good either. A word I would use to describe this apathetic or just pathetic approach to life? "Meh"... It's pretty much my answer when asked my opinion on just about anything.

I have a friend who dyed her hair pink. She's not a punk-rocker or anything, just wanted pink hair and she went out and got it. I wonder what's preventing me from going out and taking more risks like that. Things I'd like to do but just feel like I'm not entitled to.

I need to go out on a limb and try something new. Jazz it up, so to speak. Any suggestions?

In case you haven't heard...

2009-04-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

I LOVE PAPERBACKSWAP.com! It's this really neat website that you can post your old books, books that you read once and didn't enjoy, books you got as gifts, or books you buy at thrift stores for way cheap, and post them to this website. Once you post 10 books you get 2 free credits and can order ANY book in their vast database, or save them for a book you really want on your wish list. :) Then if someone requests a book from you, you print off the sheet and mail it to them (usually only a couple of bucks) and then when they receive the book you get a credit to order another book. You don't have to pay for shipping on the books you receive. It's really fun and it's a cheap way to get rid of books you no longer want and order new and interesting books. (They are all in really good condition too!) Check it out, and if you sign up, tell them I sent you. My email address is scrapbookmomma@gmail.com!

1940s hair

2009-04-28T17:18:00.000-07:00

For some reason I got the hankering to learn how to make vintage hair styles. I've always loved the look of 1940's hair. So I looked it up online and apparently, there is an underground world of people who think they were born in the wrong decade. It's actually kind of neat. Anywho. I want to try 1940's style without being too wild and crazy. (History aside: Women had elaborate hair styles because during the war clothes were rationed so hair styles were the main form of self expression...) So here I am with my VERY FIRST attempt, no hair spray, rats (foam rolls or bags of hair) and just 4 bobby pins... I think I could make this look for me!

Some Quotes

2009-04-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

Some quotes I liked from the book I'm reading "Behind Every Good Man" by John Bytheway

"The Grass isn't greener on the other side
the grass is greener where you water it"
-some guy named Mel from inter mountain sprinkler

"Pride is manifest in so many ways, such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, an being unforgiving and jealous." - Ezra Taft Benson

It brought me to mind of the fantastic Relief Society lesson yesterday, and the teachers challenge to not be critical of anyone, especially those in our ward and families. I am beginning to see the bigger picture here and wonder where this book was a year ago when I could have really used it. (I can really use it now, but it would have gone a long way to soothe a troubled heart...

I highly recommend it.

2009-04-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

I really want to do this. A couple of weeks ago I made a skirt out of a pair of pants that were too long for me and I love it. (Next time I will try a little harder to make nice seams and use the right color thread, but it kind of got me excited to find other ways to recycle my clothing. The other aspect is that is sometimes hard to find modest and cool looking clothes at the stores, and this is a good way to make a unique outfit and tailor it to your needs. :) I will post a picture of my awesome new skirt soon. Maybe with a tee-shirt that I've fancied up! :)

2009-04-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth-Day! (and Birthday, Dad!)

I am not an Earth-hippie as my husband calls them, but I won't deny that I long to be more eco-friendly and more self-reliant. I have recently read the Foxfire books and know how to slaughter my own pigs, build a log cabin, and make soap from lard, (none of which I think I'll need anytime soon.) It's fascinating to me- self reliance- and I really want to get there. I'd like to be like Henry David Thoreau on my own little Walden... but I also want the complete seasons 1-2-3 of Bones... I am torn. So I do what I can to live with one foot in and out of eco-hippiville...

I recently found this website that I am now a HUGE fan of, and would love to help out. If you save your old candy wrappers or juice pouches they will donate 2 cents for every wrapper to the charity of your choice or to any school in the USA. Isn't that Awesome? I'd like to do my part, but I am also trying to lose weight and it's better if I just don't buy the cookies/candy in the first place.

http://www.terracycle.net

Here's another great book and website for those who want the best of both worlds.

http://www.gorgeouslygreen.com

I have also recently found a man who could go on my list of personal heroes (Somewhere near John Denver and Mr. Rogers) - They call him the Garbage Warrior. He's amazing! I recommend these videos.

2009-04-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

I weighed in tonight at Weight Watchers. I gained 1.5 this week. :( I'm pretty bummed about this because I have been walking and trying to exercise this week. I even walked to weight watchers- uphill! But these things are often a week behind so maybe I'll see results for my hard work next week.

"But don't give up!" The lady across the table from me said as I crammed my feet back into my walking shoes.

"I wouldn't give myself the satisfaction!" I said stoutly, drawing laughs from the women in line. I guess that did sound a little pscitsofrenic.

So when I got home tonight I popped in a 15minute dance workout video and realized again why I don't do that dvd very often. Besides a total and utter lack of coordination, a sandy haired dance fiend intent on showing me up keep tripping me up. Argh!

So, I'm going to have to challenge myself. My biggest hang-up with W.W. is tracking. I just can't seem to do it. I mean when I do track what I eat it's during the day while I am at work and that's easy, then I get home and it all goes down the toilet... wait that didn't sound right.... I mean out the window. So I'm just going to have to challenge myself to track, and I'm counting on you, gentle reader, (I don't know if you're gentle, but it sounded nice) to keep me in line. I will post again on how I'm doing with this... feel free to leave scathing comments if I fail miserably.

pedometer: 11519 miles:5.44

5 things

2009-04-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

5 Things I am proud of myself for today

1. 5 minutes early to work
2. wrote 5 articles today (only needed 2)
3. wore my pedometer (as of 4:30 today 5424 steps)
4. Ate responsibly.
5. Encouraged a student

5 things I could have done better

1. used less "embellishing" when telling stories...
2. Organized my workspace
3. Smiled more
4. Read my scriptures... but there is still time
5. waste less paper.

Wanted: Clothes line

2009-04-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

It's such an amazingly warm and sunny day I decided to dry some of my clothes outside in the fresh air. It's crazy how expensive it is to run a dryer. I am trying to think of some way to have a clothes line outside without having to put in posts.... My landlady would have an aneurysm. I only put out some hand towells and bath mats today, but it would be nice to dry all my clothes this way this summer. I've been racking my brain about how to save money on our energy bill- and I think if I had an indoor line down in the basement and an outdoor line outside it would help to cut back on the massive amounts of energy this is wasted by the dryer...

I am also excited to start gardening a little. I have found the ideal sunny places in my back yard and I want to get some of those hanging "over the rail" type planters to put on the back fense. It's my hope that having them off the ground will discourage weeds and also cats...

I am not a big fan of cats- at least not my neighbors cats- who use the yard a litter box. I have heard that dishsoap and vinegar with some lavander mixed together and sprayed around the permiter will help discourage cats from our yard... I'm thinking of trying it. :)

Hurray for Spring. I am feeling my spirits lift every day!

A Montana sunset

2009-04-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a pretty short fuse. I get frustrated when Hudson whines and Jason is thirsty and doesn't like our choices of beverages. It was generally chaotic in the house and I just needed to get out. So I went for a walk, ignoring Hudson's plaintive pleas to join me and set off at a brisk pace around the block.

It's April- but here in Northern Montana, we still get the occasional snow flurry. But last night was beautiful! It was almost 8:00 and the sun set was pink and orange and stretching across the horizon. At first all I could hear was my swirling thoughts and the slapping of my flip-flops on the pavement, but then I heard a birdcall and it made me stop. It was the most beautiful sound in the world at that moment, and it took me back to the shady Soos Creek Trail near my childhood home. I used to walk the Soos Creek Trail with my friends or with my dad all the time- it's a beautiful preserved wetland that is home to all sorts of birds and animals.

I stood in front of someones house for a long while, probably making them pretty curious, and just listened to the birds. It really cleared my head... Not to mention that I felt pretty good about getting some exercise.

When I came back in, Hudson wrapped his little arms around my legs and said "I thought I lost you! I don't ever want to lose you again!"

It made me laugh, I hadn't "stormed" out, I just said I was taking a quick walk and would come right back- Jason had reassured him that I'd be back in a minute- Hudson just has a flare for the dramatic!

It's amazing to me what a little fresh air, a sunset, and some birds can do for the spirit.

2009-04-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

Some things on my mind this morning-

1. Morse code
2. Northern Exposure (1990's television show)
3. Cherry Lime-aid
4. Soy milk
5. Bloons Tower Defense 3
6. Weight Watchers Walk-!T Challenge
7. The March of Dimes
8. WIC Appointments

A NEW BLOG!

2009-04-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

I have a blog dedicated to my sweet and spunky 3 year old, and one to my cathartic poetry... which am I surprised some of you have actually perused... but don't have one just for me. I journal all the time in what has quickly amassed to the Chronicles of Kelly- a rambling, disjointed litany of complaints or accolades depending on my mood- but I want a blog with a pretty background darn it! And I want it to be out there ----> you know, in the great vastness that is cyberspace. I know I have a few online fans of Hudson's that have at times questioned the fact that there are rarely any photos of me (unless Hudson is on my lap) and also very little news of what I am doing. I don't know if I can handle juggling this many blogs- I have a feeling that there may be long stretches without posts, but oh well. Cyber space has room for one more person's rambling.

I actually wanted to dedicate this blog as a way of publicly acknowledging my goals and making myself more accountable for them. So, dear reader, you will probably discover that I am continually getting stuck in Alma, forever losing and gaining 2 or 3 pounds, and have a to do list that always includes dishes, laundry, and organization...

Here's to the launching of my new blog... I hope I keep it up.