Monthly Roundup

Maybe I should start a monthly round up.  Found the idea on Ali Edwards’ Blog here.

 

So…ROUNDUP TIME

1. What books and/or magazines did I read this month? I read Warring Spirits by my friend April Gardner.  Wonderful book!  Wonderful followup book to her first book, Wounded Spirits.
2. What movies, television shows, plays, etc. did I watch this month? I really don’t watch that much TV. I haven’t watched a movie in FOREVER. But I have been watching the Biggest Loser weekly. It is so very inspiring!!!! I look forward to each weekly episode.  Peyton hasn’t been into any one show lately, but Ryan loves Backyardigans and Fresh Beat Band.  Eric’s favorite shows are still the same pretty much, that one show (top secret) that he has watched for years, and a newer show is popular right now called Gold Rush.
3. What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends?  Thanksgiving! (of course).  Eric and I also went to a marriage conference at the beginning of the month.  I thought that it was kinda fun, I’m not so sure if he agreed.  :)
4. What gifts did I give and/or receive? Eric got me a bracelet for my birthday, with one bead on it. And I’m using that bracelet as my weight loss bracelet. Each time I lose 5 lbs, I’m adding a bead to it. So far I have 3 beads. I’m down 19 lbs.
5. What special or unusual purchases did I make? I bought Peyton an Angry Birds game from China. He had to earn this game, it wasn’t too expensive, but he had to earn 10 stars before I would buy it. Of course, during the 2 weeks it took him to earn those stars, Amazon sold out of the game and I then had to purchase it from China on eBay.
6. What illnesses or health concerns did I have? Ryan and I both had a pretty bad upper respiratory infection. I missed 2 days of work.  Ryan was sick for over 2 weeks, the nights were very rough!
7. What were my accomplishments this month? I’m back on track losing weight. I lost approximately 5 lbs this month. Didn’t gain it all back during the Thanksgiving week. Didn’t lose focus while I was sick, just kept going.
8. What were my disappointments this month? Family. My sister stooped to new lows. Found out my brother may have some issues as well, he is going to go home with my dad for a while to get away from some of the things here. Wish I didn’t get migraines, so I could lose weight faster, but that is something I’m learning to deal with.
9. How did I do on my goals for the month? Did ok. Didn’t set too many goals. I tried to blog daily, I did ok.
10. Anything else noteworthy to include? 
1. Mr. Taylor passed away on Nov 11th.  (11/11/11). 
2. My sister ended up in the hospital very sick.  I almost didn’t go to see her, but decided I should do the right thing, and what I should do instead of trying to treat her the way she would treat me.  She was in ICU for almost a week.
3. Heather kicked her out about a week ago (mid-Nov).  That is probably a good thing, but that started a bad trail of events that will eventually catch up with her. 
4. Eric went to another dentist, again this month.  I can’t believe how much it might cost us to fix the problems the dentist he went to when we first got married 10 years ago caused.  Sigh. 
5. My dad earned his 5 year sobriety pin this month!
6. The back of our house still has damage that we are fighting with the gutter company over for them to come fix.  It is getting old.
7. We started the star system for Peyton so he can earn things he wants.  He wants a LOT.  This way he can earn a few things! 
8. I discovered pinterest.com a while ago, but in the last month or so I’ve really started using it more.  I wish I had more time to work on all the cool things that I see on there.
9. We haven’t been going to church as much and I’m missing that!  
10. Eric got his new iphone 4S and I am still jealous. 

The monthly roundup involves more than just answering questions.  It also involves backing up your monthly pictures, ordering prints, backing up the blog, etc.  Maybe my goal for the next month will be to figure out what I would like my monthly goals and roundup items to be.  I’m pretty set on doing Project Life.  I’m just trying to figure out exactly how I will do that.  As I type this monthly post, I’m thinking that this monthly round up might fit perfectly into what I want to do with Project Life and the two might just go hand in hand together. 

Goals for December.

- Lose 5 lbs

- Take more pictures (with the real camera, not my phone)

- Put up a tree

- Do some sort of memory capturing of our December activities

Thanksgiving

I think I have mentioned this about 10 times in the past month, but it should be mentioned again.  I feel like I’m failing miserably at capturing our moments right now.  Eric and I are both in this phase where we really don’t like our pictures being taken.  But with Ryan being the age he is, I’m not taking a ton of pictures, if any, and the ones that I am taking aren’t that great.  I need to do better.  I HAVE got to do better or I’m going to regret it one day.  I think Project Life might be my answer.  Maybe???

I also discovered this website today.

https://www.liveon.com/

Don’t know if I’ll take the time to check it out yet, but it seems very interesting.  Very neat.  I would love to capture more stories!  More of my grandma’s (both of them) stories before they pass on, more of my story now, etc.  And the idea that liveon has seems like a neat way to capture the memories. Go check out their website, and watch the video!

It would also be nice if I somehow had my pictures better cataloged as well.

But instead of constantly beating myself up on my blog, I would like to say that I have done a few things successfully.  We had a nice 4 day weekend.  We picked up lots of pecans in the back yard (best crop since we have lived here), I didn’t overeat at any of the 3 meals we had, I have made a nice long list of activities for Peyton to do during the Christmas season, and Ryan has been very sick – but I’m HOPING he is getting better (please!!!). 

Family drama all around as well.  With my Dad, Sister and Brother – all in different areas, but still. 

Also, Peyton has been playing Angry Birds on my computer.  And it has messed my monitor up.  I hope the damage isn’t permanent.  The burn in is horrible, and only after a few days of playing.  Wow.  My computer is getting old and I do need a newer one, but I was going to be giving this one to him.  Didn’t expect that game to do this to the screen!  I can’t edit photos with my colors all out of wack!!!!  Bummer!

Thanksgiving Projects

I was thinking of making something like this for our Thanksgiving Banner (we do a banner for every season).  I will probably just do a hands banner, and I was thinking of doing it at the Grandparents’ houses with all the grandkids so the hands would be different sizes and then we could put it away and take it back out yearly for a special banner each year.  Love the idea!!! 

*found on Pinterest it was originally posted by Jess on her blog here: - http://lovelylovelythings.wordpress.com/2010/11/28/thanksgiving-craft-ideas/

I was also thinking of doing a special Thanksgiving Scrapbook for my Dad’s side of the Family.  Not to put pictures in, but for us to write things in yearly.  Thanksgiving is the one time of year we are all able to come together each year.  And each year we have the ONE family picture.  We have been doing this for about 10+ years.  So I think it would be neat to put those all in one place, and then have a few pages to add each year where we put what we are thankful for, sign out names, maybe put ages, favorite “something” right then, and a few facts about about that year.  Maybe even do handprints or something for the great-grands.  Over time, this will be something speical to look at.  I wish we would have started it ten years ago when I first got married.  I am the oldest grandkid on that side (both sides actually) and all my other cousins are just starting to hit 20, start college, one had a baby this year, etc.  So we are starting to branch out some and I think it will be nice to capture some of those things.

If I accomplish this task, I will definitely blog about it!!!

Today, during Ryan’s nap time (which is right now) my goal is to map out Peyton’s crafts for Christmas!  Wish me luck.  You can get sucked into the great abyss of Pinterest very quickly!!

What happened???

So what happened to my November Blog-a-thon?  I was doing so great???

Well I’ll tell you exactly what happened.  Upper Respiratory Infection and Migraine for days!!!  I literally didn’t get out of bed all day Monday and Tuesday, and Sunday and Wednesday weren’t all that great either. 

It just isn’t fair that I have to have migraines on top of everything else.  They always make all of my sickness, whatever they are, the migraines always make them so much worse!

Well I’m off to bed early, to build my self back up and hopefully make it through another day at work.

Project Life – 2012 here I come

What is project life???

If you have never heard of Project Life, check out the summary of it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHJ5pox_s2M&feature=player_embedded#!

One of my favorite bloggers (who I mentioned in my post yesterday) talked about her project life scrapbooks today on her blog this past Tuesday.  Which is better known as Project Life Tuesday on her blog.  http://www.themomcreative.com/2011/11/its-back-project-life-tuesday.html, which has a great video here!

So I have decided that I’m going to be doing the Project Life this year coming up – in 2012. I was having trouble deciding between the traditional or digital versions, but the one thing that kept coming up was the fact that I wanted to tuck memorabilia and the like into the book. Watching the video of Jessica’s books helped me make my decision.  I’m going traditional!

I might not do every single week.  I think that would be WAY too much for me to keep up with. So I might chose a week a month, or every other week, a monthly layout, etc. Not sure yet. But if I do a week a month – or even 2 weeks a month I’ll get to stretch out the use of the kit/supplies across a few years.  Also, buy going the traditional scrapbooking route, I can use many of my current supplies to supplement the kit, I can add pages as needed, etc. 

I’m getting pretty excited about this.  If I can keep up with this on my own terms (once a month, twice a month, for special occasions, etc) it MIGHT just take place of my old scrapbooks.  At least during this very crazy stage of my life!

Another thing that I think is really going to help me keep up with this project – my phone.  I’m so glad my phone takes decent pictures.  Because unfortunately I’ve been using it way more than my SLR for photos lately.  Unless I’m doing a photoshoot of the boys or it is a family function or holiday, I don’t typically take out my real camera, which is pretty sad.  So maybe doing this project will break me out of my funk in that department.

Oh, and another thing about me (I should have added this to my 32 things at 32 post) – is that I tend to be a pack rat when it comes to birthday cards, invitations, my boys art, etc.  If this gives me one place to put most of those things that are special almost immediatly – well maybe they will keep from piling up on my counter and scrapbook/computer desk and actually be paired with the memory from the event!  We shall see.

This is where you can buy all the stuff:

http://www.beckyhiggins.com/products/

And here are a few websites I have found while googling for inspiration:

http://theobanions.blogspot.com/2011/11/30-days-of-thanks-day-6-project-life.html

http://gluestickgirl.typepad.com/moments/project-life/

We have a winner!

We have one winner of the shutterfly cards.  Katie!  I will get you your code shortly.  I’m going to keep the contest open until Sunday and open it up to my mom’s group on Facebook!  I have a feeling I won’t have trouble giving away the other two sets of cards!  We shall see!

Thanks so much Katie!

11/11/11

Happy Veteran’s Day

I think my personal November Blog Challenge is going pretty good so far.  Today is the 11th day of November and this is my 11th post.  I think today I’m going to blog about my favorite blogs.

These I’ve been reading FOREVER.  And these are all my favorites right now.

http://intentionallykatie.blogspot.com/

http://www.stephaniehowell.com/my_weblog/

http://blackflipflops.blogspot.com/

http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/

http://stacyjulian.com/blog/

http://www.themomcreative.com/

http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/

http://aliedwards.com/blog/

And if you haven’t discovered Pinterest – your missing out.  Wait, maybe your not.  Your just missing out on the ‘look at all these really cool things I could be doing but I don’t have time to do’ things.  But if you have time to do things, then go get an account because then you can be inspired!!!

32 things at 32

So, today is my 32nd Birthday.  Time has really flown since I had kids.  Actually, I can’t believe I’ve been married 10 years, or been out of college almost 10.  Seems like I graduated just a few years ago.  But I’m sure everyone says that.

So I thought I would do a 32 things about me at 32 post.

1.  I’ve started drinking coffee.  Probably not a great habit, but when I stopped drinking soda I really needed caffeine still.

2.  I’m enjoying iHeartRadio app on my phone.  The 4 stations that I’ve been listening to the most (that I created) are, Bon Jovi Radio (big surprise there), Guns N Roses Radio, Jessica Simpson Radio, and Backstreet Boys Radio.  :)

3.  Speaking of phone.  I got the iPhone in July.  LOVE IT.  LOVE!

4.  I had Ryan shortly after turning 31.  And I can tell a huge difference in my body (sleep deprivation, losing weight, getting sick easier, recovery period, etc) this time around vs last time.  If this is the difference after 30 I really am scared to know what will happen after 40 when everyone says that is when losing weight and all that really changes!

5.  I haven’t scrapbooked AT ALL in over a year.  Which is just sad.

6.  I still drive a very cool minivan. Ha.  And love it.

7.  I haven’t been as active at church lately.  Feel guilty about that sometimes, but I think that is more from expectations of those around me, not from within, so I’m trying to follow what I think I need to do not what others expect of me.

8.  I’ve lost 15 lbs in about 3 months, hoping to lose more!  About 240 days until the beach, using that as motivation.

9.  I love doing crafts and stuff with Peyton. 

10.  I didn’t do my garden this year, hope to do a small raised bed garden next year. 

11.  I still have all my craft stuff in boxes from when I boxed up Ryan’s room over a year and half ago.  Sad.

12.  Last Dec I made a big change at work, move to a new area, and I’m so happy that I moved when I did.  Most days I’m very happy that I moved.

13.  We moved my Grandma Stella into a retirement community where she lives in the independent living area.  I try to go by and see her about once a week.  It is hard some weeks, but I love going to see her!!!

14.  Just finished 3rd place in the biggest loser competition that I helped host with my friend Celese and myself. 

15.  I’m starting to get grey hair.  Actually I’ve been getting grey hair for a while, but it is starting to get to the point I’m considering dying it.  But I’m kind of scared!

16.  Nike is still the only kind of tennis shoes I wear.

17.  I want a new pair!  Or 2!

18.  I shop at Kohl's way too much probably, and I love Amazon.  Eric gets upset because I have a box on the steps daily almost.  (but I’m SAVING MONEY!!!)

19.  Ok, I’m going to be honest here, I’m having trouble coming up with 32 things!

20.  Still reading???  I’m not a very good cook and I really stink at meal planning.

22.  I’m loving being a momma and wife.  I actually just put down a promotion/lead job at work (which I’m hoping was the right decision) because I was afraid it would take me away from my family.  I know it was the right decision for our family, so I have to just stick with that decision and not look back.  But it is hard because it might not have been the right career move.  That is the hard part about being a working mom!

23.  I’ve become a very bad blogger. 

24.  Did you notice I skipped 21?

25.  My migraines are still horrible!  The last few months have been really bad.  They have been affecting my weekly life again (almost daily at times) and it is frustrating.  I really empathize with anyone that has to deal with this.  I recently read a book that defined it as a disease.  I had never heard it diagnosed as a disease, but I really wish they could come up with some answers!!

26.  I’ve been couponing again.  But I’ve decided to pretty much stick to just Publix this time and not go crazy with hunting down tons of deals all over the place.  My first three trips were decent.  Trip 1.  Spent $94 got $58 free.  Trip 2.  Spent $46 got $49 free.  Trip 3.  Spent $26 got $54 free.  So I’m improving.  This time I’m also focusing on only purchasing foods we will eat, foods that aren’t completely unhealthy, or foods that I can donate at church or Peyton’s school if they are practically free.  Last time I also spent lots of time figuring out what to buy where, this time I have discovered this handy website called iheartpublix.com and the lady is a gem – she maps out everything for you.  Wonderful.  So I prepare on Friday nights, then early Saturday mornings when I’m typically up with just Ryan, we go to the store.

27.  We are still huge Falcon fans.  I’m glad that Eric has kind of taken a chill-pill for college football though.  Planning our whole fall schedule around football was pretty hard and pretty impossible at times.

28.  Eric and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in May and I just opened a special savings account to start saving up for a special trip for our 15th anniversary.  I would really like to do something special, go somewhere for a week or more.  Somewhere on a boat or plane.  Or both!!!  I think we need to put aside at least $20 a paycheck for now, then when it gets closer to the date and we have a price estimate I can increase the amount, use some tax return money, etc.  Planning this far ahead will hopefully help us have a dream vacation.  Now to just figure out where that will be. 

29.  My tumor has been in remission for over 3 years now.  Praise the Lord!!!

30.  Yellow is still my favorite color.  But surprisingly pink is coming in pretty close to second lately…

31.  I really want to do Project Life next year.  I just can’t decide if I should do it digital or traditional.

32.  I mentioned earlier that I got the iPhone in July.  I think this is worth mentioning twice.  I think this is one of the best inventions of all time.  Smart phone.  Touch screen.  Being an engineer I really admire the ingenuity of Steve Jobs and Apple. 

33.  I figured since I cheated and skipped one I could add an extra one.  I’m a server administrator now.  After being a developer for 10+ years, I really didn’t think I would like this.  After about a year I’m finally figuring it out and starting to like it. 

But those are a few things about me at 32.  Honestly, right now I’m still having a hard time balancing reality and the wonder woman I have built up in my head.  It is hard sometimes to live up to my own expectations.  But the older I get, the more I’m learning to be happier, love myself more, forgive myself more, and grow!  I look back to the person I was just a few years ago and I can tell how much personal growth I’ve had, and I can really tell how much I have matured and grown in certain areas.  I have plenty of areas to work on still, but I’m looking forward to this next year. 

Blessings!

Christmas Cards

This is probably the 5th year in a row that I have ordered my Christmas Cards through Shutterfly.  And every year it gets harder and harder to pick the design because I LOVE THEM all so much!  And guess what, this year I was chosen to give away 3 sets of 25 free prints from Shutterfly!!!!  Isn’t that just awesome????

Well…enough of my talking.  How can you win?????  Well you have to help me decide which of my cards you like best.  Because I CAN’T decide!  It is really hard you know!  So leave a comment, let me know which card of mine you like best, and you will be entered.  You can also go to Shutterfly and look up a design that you like on their website (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards) and let me know what the name of that design is and you will get a 2nd entry.  So 2 entries per person max.  Deadline Friday, November 11th.   extended to Sunday, November 13th!!!!  (I extended the deadline because I only had one entry as of Friday night! – so only 2 more sets to give away)

Now, the fun part.  Well, actually, getting both of my boys to both look at the camera AND smile WHILE wearing Christmas attire seemed a bit much – so this was as close as we got to a Christmas photo shoot, but I think they are good enough.  So, really, making the cards WAS the fun part. 

This one was designed using the “Pretty Pattern”

This one used “Snowflakes Ribbon”

 

This is “scalloped cheer”

 

*back*

this one “Ready, Set, Glow”

 

*back*

OK, those are my top 4 favorites.  I think I made about 10 total.  What I love even more about Shutterfly’s cards this year (especially the folded cards) is the ability to have more than one picture on the card, and to customize the cards.  I LOVE this feature.  I don’t have to pick just one picture.  You can even chose the template you would like.  For the back of these cards I had at least a dozen options to chose from – with lots of text, one big picture, lots of small pictures, etc – so you can really make it fit whatever you imagine for your card.

And a look at my card last year.  Lots of great complements!  I’m pretty sure I saw this one in the card gallery still.

And shhhh but that is the same outfit Peyton is wearing in the pictures this year.  Gotta get lots of good use out of those nice church outfits you know!  But look at how much bigger he is now!  Sniff sniff.

So, good luck, leave your comments on this post to be entered in for the free code for 25 cards!  And remember to tell me which one I need to pick!!!!

And if you haven’t heard the news.  Becky Higgens and Project Life is coming to Shutterfly in 2012.  I’m VERY excited about that news.  You can read more about that here…

giveaway

Guess what, I’ll be doing a give away on my blog on Friday!  That’s right!  How exciting.  And since I don’t  have near the reader-ship that I did at one time, that means the few that still read have a much higher chance of winning!

What am I giving away???

Well, It is very cool, from Shutterfly (I love them) and it will help you this holiday season.  I plan to post more details Wednesday!  You can comment on the post Wednesday and I will draw a winner Friday.  How fun is that????