The Simple Things

Man oh man.

I love the simple things in life.

Like the night last week when I wandered into the kids room, and they were sleeping so soundly.

But I knew that the small pile of toys next to my sons bed was telling me that he stayed up longer than he should have.

This pile is so him right now.

He needs those cars to play with all the time.

The book is showing his growing love of Superman.

The bear....he still needs a snuggly to feel safe.

I love that bear.

That's Cookie Monster underneath Baby Bear.

I'm sure the two were wrestling to see who got to stay in bed with the boy.

Neither won.

The boy is wiggly.

I fix his blanket 5 times a night.

My daughter shows independence by sleeping at the bottom of the bed.

It makes me laugh all the time.

She fights me if I ask her to sleep the other way.

I don't mind really.

It's cute.

That is her bear Roxie behind her.

They are best friends.

Roxie is usually dressed as a Disney Princess.

Rapunzel.

Cinderella.

Ariel.

She usually has roller skates on.

I love how the simple things in life make them happy.

In turn it makes me happy.

I linked up with Mama Kat today!

You should too!

Last minute...

One of my best friends is getting married.

All 4 of us are in the wedding line.

My daughter as an "Honorary Bridesmaid".

My son is the ring bearer.

Hubs and I just get to stand there and smile, because we've been through it all with these two.

Both of them are flight attendants, and so they are gone a few days every week.

Sometimes more.

This has made it tricky, especially for the bride, to get things done.

Now that she's home until well after the wedding and honeymoon, we finally have time to sit down and work on the guest book.

She and I loved the idea that we found on Pinterest which originated from Martha Stewart Living.

{I told you I was addicted to Pinterest}

So we decided to do a very personalized version.

We're making a coffee table book.

We started with 11 days to go till the wedding.

We are doing this together.

We're not done yet.

We have 8 days left.

All the photos will be added to the book after the wedding.

She wants to use at least some of those photos for it.

The idea is that everyone signs on their birthday &/or their anniversary.

It's not confined to one year.

There is no Monday through Sunday.

She can browse through it for every month and make sure her cards are ready to go and sent.

There will be pockets in between the pages to put cards into.

Or whatever else she wants.

She loves the personality of it all.

Like I said, we are not done.

But I want to show you what we have so far.

Here is the cover, and the whole book when it's closed.

I still have stitching to do on some of the pages.

Like April's.

I love how creative I've gotten to be with paper scrapping.

It's hard for me to paper scrap, since I can use so many different things digitally to make a page look amazing.

We have several months that don't have the calendar portion yet.

But the ones we do have, are amazing.

October's is my favorite.

The bride got super creative here.

This project is organized chaos.

We still have programs to work on too, but we'll save that for next week.

After all of us girls head up into the canyon to go camping this weekend.

Then we'll get back to work.

This book should be done by Friday.

So what do you think?

Do you think we're nuts?

Do you like it?

Any suggestions on what to add?

I used Mama Kat's Writing prompts generator to help me today.

I was going to show you all anyways.

I just probably would have waited till it was done.

I'm glad I didn't.

Electronic Devices

I live in a "computer geek" home.

We have our Android phones.

Android tablet.

Laptops.

We have our Wii that streams Netflix.

A great television.

And an old iPhone.

My kids are SURROUNDED by electronics all day long.

I only had tv growing up.

Sometimes {like now} I'm on my phone or my laptop.

My kids play in their room, and are usually pretty good.

I'll sometimes put a movie or Netflix on for an hour or two, so that they can be entertained while I have some self proclaimed "ME" time.

Or I'll let them play on the iPhone or with the Wii.

All of these decisions end in disaster.

You think I'm kidding.

For some reason, it causes my children's attitudes to go into the toilet.

I'm not letting them play anything that shows disrespect to adults.

I'm not letting them watch television that shows kids throwing tantrums.

But the outcome is always the same.

When my kids are asked to "turn it off" and come help out with something, that they normally help out with, I end up with a tantrum the size of my house.

The only way to get them to come off of this ornery high, is to make them take a nap.

I get that kids are supposed to throw tantrums.

But these are not normal tantrums.

They are epic, ear shattering, and Earth ending.

I'm afraid of what my neighbors upstairs/next/behind us think.

So I try to avoid my kids using these gadgets.

But, man, is it hard!!

Especially right now, when I want to avoid the heat of the day, but their toys are getting "boring".

They have nothing to do.

They are in my face a lot.

How do you guys do it?

Do you limit time, or avoid it all together?

Do you have this same problem as me?

Do yours require snacks for the entire time they sit in front of the tube?

How on Earth am I going to survive my summer with sanity in tact?

I've linked up to the following blogs:

Mama Kat's Writers Workshop

Feels Like Home Sunday Best

Day 6: 10 Summer Don'ts

I live in beautiful, DRY & HOT Utah.

Summers here are horrible come about August.

The heat will kill you.

It is a desert after all.

Yes, really.

Every summer I do some things that I probably shouldn't.

So in hopes of not repeating those things, I'm writing them down.

A couple of them I added because they go along with my 21 days to a change.

1. DON'T stay out more than an hour without sunscreen. You are not 17 anymore. You DO actually burn. {man I miss just tanning instantly!}

2. DON'T let the sweat on the back of your neck happen. Use scrunchies or bobby pins for your hair.

3. NO, you cannot wear jeans while outside. You must wear shorts or skirts. It's too darn hot!!

4. DO NOT attempt to go anywhere without sunglasses. You'll go blind.

5. DO NOT suffer from the heat. When all else fails go to the mountains or the pool.

6. DON'T forget to drink water. Then drink more than you think you need.

7. DON'T stay inside 24/7. The kids want to be outside. Please refer to the other DON'Ts above to have a good time.

8. If your belly shows, and it's not a swimsuit, it is a DON'T. {even if it is a swimsuit, it is a don't. At least for me.}

9. DON'T forget to work out EARLY in the morning.

10. DON'T forget to go camping, LOTS.

This post was brought to you by Mama Kat and her Thursday Writer's Workshop!

.:The Marshmallow:.

Let me tell you about my first car.

Not my parent's car I got to drive in high school.

Yes, I was LUCKY to drive that car.

It was a 1984 Pontiac Firebird with an 8 cylinder engine.

Much like this one, except in grey.

It was such a nice car.

I cried the day dad sold it.

Yes really mom.

{source}

MY first car I owned was my Dodge Neon.

My "Marshmallow" as I so fondly called it.

It was white with grey bumpers.

Not many of those ones out there.

I knew that if I wrecked it, it'd squish like one.

But man did I love it.

I got a STEAL of a deal on it.

Do you remember those commercials???

LOVE the "Hi."

It was a '95.

with like 20k miles on it when I bought the thing in '98.

I was 18 and working 40 hours per week.

Man oh man, it was a good deal!

I drove it EVERYWHERE.

I didn't care what my friends and I were doing, I was driving.

I loved to drive!

I took it on several road trips.

California, Montana, Idaho.

The Marshmallow survived until 2002.

It had over 100,000 miles on it.

Just as I predicted, when you get in a wreck, it smooshes.

Especially the front end.

The radiator was at a 45 degree angle when I got out of the car.

I was fine.

Luckily.

Even though I was not wearing my seat belt.

{Did you all hear my mom just yell at me through the computer?

I'm pretty sure I did.}

I'd hydroplaned into the woman in front of me.

I was 22.

I had no kids yet.

Hadn't even met my husband.

The wreck made her 6 year old puke.

I felt HORRIBLE.

Her Mercury wasn't even damaged.

My heart broke.

I loved MY car.

I was going to have it forever.

Sadly, I'd also just paid it off 2 months before.

I'd put a new engine in it after a belt blew and the pistons destroyed the engine the year before.

I was still paying my dad back for that!

I did get my money's worth from the insurance company.

Some days, I still miss my Neon.

Rest in peace dear Marshmallow.

This post was brought to you by Mama Kat and her Thursday Writer's Workshop!

If my mom were a blogger....

Yanno, it's been discussed that mom should start a blog.

Many a time it will be said that Mom has so much info she puts in her brain and then throws out at my sister and I when she sees us, that she needs to start putting it on the internet so that I know what she knows! And she says she wants to start blogging, but then....nothing.

Well this week I'm taking Mama Kat's Writing Workshop prompt to call her out on it! {Again}.

Mama,

You know and read and hear tons of stuff about herbal medicines, gluten free eating and other health related topics. You need to write it all down! Get it out there for the masses to read and consume and love.

It will be hard. I'll probably be your only follower for like, 2 weeks. Then you'll get a few more, and a few more and more. And then there will be more of us that know what you know. And if it helped one other person, then you'd have succeeded, yes?

So start blogging. Send me your link.

Kay?

Love you,

Me

I am participating

Sentimental

I'm {overly} sentimental.

I cry for silly reasons.

I hold on to things to remember moments gone by.

I come by it honestly.

The women before me have done the same.

Movie Stubs.

Fun trinkets of the past.

Things we just love because it's awesome.

Old clothes in hopes of one day fitting into them again.

Then I read this article: Letting Go of Sentimental Items.

It has rocked my world.

I've been trying to purge because of moving into a smaller place.

I'm having a hard time parting with STUFF that's been sitting in storage totes for years.

The furniture and some of the things were easy.

but....

That blog post got me thinking.

A lot.

Maybe I don't need my T-shirts from high school and junior high.

I don't need that plastic coffee mug one of my sorority sisters put my name on.

{and I don't remember who either! sorry!}

I don't need every outfit that my children wore in their first year of life.

And every year after.

I love those clothes I used to wear...but I will never fit in them again!

Some of them are so worn anyways that I wouldn't want to!

I have all the memories I could possibly want!

I have TONS of photographs if I need a reminder.

But this purging is going to take hundreds of baby steps.

It's going to take a lot of time and a lot of mental preparation.

And it's going to take many trips to Good Will to give it all away.

But that's okay.

Because I am not my stuff.

My memories are not going to disappear if the stuff does.

Thank goodness.

image source: http://keep-calm-and.tumblr.com

I am participating

My 10 Must Haves for Spring!

Mama Kat this week asked what are 10 our our Spring Must Haves!

Because I'm a sucker for a list, and also for anything new, I figured I should play along and show you all what pretty {and functional} things I'm after.

Most of them are just pretty.

A few are functional.

All are linked to where I got my images from.

Including some Etsy sellers.

I am not one for jewelry. I have had babies that pull and tug for probably 5 of the 7 years of being a mom. So I gave up on jewelry. But I would wear it for this! LOVE this pendant. I'm a sucker for damask.

I'm also a sucker for an adorable skirt or dress. I love the line and shape of this. The bow at the waste and the black band at the bottom. Seriously stunning.

Last spring my dad and mom gave me some beautiful irises to plant in my garden. Since we are moving, I'm taking some with me to put in my big ol' pot.

I LOVE looking at them.

I'm also a big green thumb. And the flower pots at Ikea have always screamed my name. I love their clean look. I will be growing herbs this year. Yes indeed!

This book is AWESOME. I checked it out from the library before, and just haven't gotten around to buying it. But I need to. The idea for the making bread is genius. And simple. And oh so yummy!

I am in LOVE with these boots. Completely outrageous at $350 *gasp* but oh so beautiful. My girlfriend is getting married in the late summer, and all her bridesmaids are wearing boots. We just get to choose which ones. I wish I had the money to make it these ones.

Yes Really.

Is it damask? Then I'll love it. Is it pink too? SOLD. LOVE this laptop sleeve. I really do need one, but where do I take my laptop between my desk and couch? Nowhere else. Usually.

With our move, and the sale of one of our 2 cars, D and I are learning that we need to probably purchase a second mode of transportation. We really like the idea of bikes for each of us. {the kids already have some} He works so close to home, D could walk or bike. And I'd love to be able to go somewhere if he had to take the car. Totally a great solution.

For the kiddos when biking to our destination is just too far.

Lastly, I'd like this room. Wrapped in a bow and dropped off for me at my new house. All of it. The paint, the bright bursts of color. Every little thing.

Young House Love is a new blog obsession of mine. Oh goodness, I love reading what they are doing with their home.

There is my list of things I'm drooling over. I'll probably snap up the bike and trailer and of course the pots, but the rest of the list will have to wait until I have money for myself.

Babysteps.

I participated in the following link parties!

Finding Balance in the RIGHT NOW.

Right now my life is just a freaking mess of chaos.

We are getting ready to move at the end of the month. Thankfully, we don't have to be out of our current place until near the end of March. It's a blessing really. However, I'm still feeling swamped due to the fact that I want as much as possible to move when we have the help.

On top of it, I have my normal mommy duties, of taking care of the kids, cleaning house, laundry and maintaining everything else I do on a normal basis.

Thats when my Etsy store and my digi-scrapping take a hit to the bottom of the pile.

I feel kind of bad to be honest. I'm such a tease on my Facebook page, about getting things listed, but I have every intention....and then it falls flat behind packing, painting, cleaning, taxi driving, folding and cooking.

So, I'm sorry I've been such a tease.

On my Facebook page, I have a list of what I have in stock. I'd love to send you some of what I have. Just email me and I will let you know how.

But for now, my Etsy shop is going to remain empty, but only until after I get out of these boxes...but before I get to Disneyland.

So, I'm thinking mid-March...

Fair enough?

Bold

In the last 3 months, I have been learning to be bold in my faith.
My church offers a class called "Outreach" where you learn to teach others what the Bible says about Jesus Christ.

This is not an easy class.

As a Christian for 6 years, you'd think that I'd have the Gospel message down pat. That I'd know what to say. But telling people about my faith has been one of the hardest obstacles to overcome. My hands get clammy, I freeze. I worry about the questions that one might pose, or that I'd say the wrong thing.

This class has been amazing for me. While I still have those fears, I've learned that it's okay. If I'm bold in my faith in God, and what He's done for ME, He will help me with the rest.

Amazing right?
Yes.

I take my final for class Sunday. I have memorized almost all my 45 verses, and I have built a better friendship with the gal I'm taking this class with. I have learned more about sharing the Gospel and about God's grace. I've learned so much. But most importantly, I've become closer to my Savior, Jesus.

If you're interested in seeing the Outreach diagram in action, please view this video:

The Diagram from The Rock Church on Vimeo.

Thank you Jesus for going to the cross for me, and for helping me overcome my fears.


This weeks topic {BOLD} brought to you by Mama Kat:

It's been a long time....Mama Kat's Writers Workshop

So I haven't updated my blog in FOR.EV.ER. {think Sandlot}

And well, it's time that I start making my blog work for me! I plan on doing many things this winter that will help out my family. I may have a blog name change. I may not. I am GOING to open an Etsy store. I probably won't sell on eBay though.

What does this have to do with you or today's post? Not much. I'm just chattering. :) Thanks for reading my chatter.

Now, onto the more important part of my post, I'm doing Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop today. {are you?!}

The point? Choose a prompt and write. Sweet! I can do that!

The prompt I have chosen is: The perfect fall photo…share a picture that defines fall for you in your neck of the woods.

In Utah we don't really have Fall, per say. I mean, there's a 2 week blurp in there after Summer where the leaves start to turn and the weather gets cooler, but it USUALLY dumps snow on us around Halloween.

This year was different. We got a light snow in October, and some horrendous rain, but really, Fall hung out for about 2 1/2 months this year. It was A-MAZING! This is the second year we went up Little Cottonwood Canyon to see the colors. Last year we did it on October 2nd, and there was already snow up there. This year we went up October 16th and there was no snow yet, but it was chilly, but not freezing!

Here is up at the top of Snowbird. Behind us is the Salt Lake Valley. It was beautiful!

We only got our first real snow storm this week. If this became the pattern in Utah, I'll take it. I love Fall in Utah!

You should play along this week with Mama Kat!