Cooking Lessons

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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?