13 for 2013

Some of you may have read my post about resolutions. I, like most, can't keep those. Every year, though, I make a new "to-do list" for the year to come. This year is no different. I'm throwing some of my old "to-dos" in, seeing that I didn't accomplish any of them this past year.

13 in 2013

1) Start my own business (online or IRL. Etsy counts, right? Gotta start somewhere)
2) Have at least one date a month with Bran
3) Be healthier and teach my kids healthy habits
4) Sell some of my photography
5) Learn to crotchet
6) Leave work at work
7) Take a class/Learn something new
8) Visit 5 new state parks
9)  Go to an Arkansas game
10) Become more involved in church
11) Donate at least 10 items a month to Goodwill/Red Cross/Charity
12) Have date days with each of the kids
13) Complete 3 DIY projects for the house (closet doors/coffee table/TV console)

I tried to make this list more attainable than the last. All are things I've been thinking about or have done a little of in the past, I just have to put them into motion. No matter what the new year brings, I'm going to run with it!

From my family to yours, Happy New Year! May this be your year to shine.

DIY: "Vicks" Shower Disks

I've lived in the south my entire life and my entire life, I've had problems with sinuses and allergies. It was nothing for my mom to rub Vicks all over my chest before bed, just so I could breathe. Occasionally, we experience all four seasons in our great state, but most of the time it seems to be an extended Spring/Summer/Autumn. This doesn't bode well for someone with sinus/allergy issues. As of late, my husband and I have been looking for relief. The other day, he told me about the old Vicks Vapor shower disks and how well they worked before they were pulled from shelves. Surely I could make something similar. Right? Pinterest, of course, had me covered!

I found the recipe below and whipped them up in no time. Seriously! They took, maybe, 40 minutes start to finish.

DIY "Vicks" Shower Disks

2 C Baking soda
2/3 C Water
Eucalyptus Oil - 15 to 20 drops (Other recipes call for rosemary and lavender also, but I opted for the one I had on hand)

You will also need a muffin pan and muffin /cupcake liners.

Mix all ingredients together, fill muffin liners, and let set 12-20 hours OR bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.

I baked mine, but I'm also impatient.


*Update: I got more relief mixing the stuff up than I did in the shower. I'm headed back to the store to get more oil and see if I can go about it another way.

Resolutions

It will soon be that time again. My friend and I were talking about resolutions today over dinner. She was telling me that she had already chosen her resolution for 2013. I told her about mine last year. Instead of the traditional, "I'm going to lose that weight I've been resolving to lose for 10 years now," I decided to make a list. My 12 for 2012. I found it on an old blog, just to see if I had completed anything...I didn't do well. Here's the old post:

2012 Resolutions

Here are my 12 resolutions for 2012:
1) Have more dates with my husband
2) Spend more time playing with my kids
3) Live a healthier lifestyle
4) Do more things that make me happy
5) Support a new charity/cause
6) Learn not to stress over work
7) Take one day a month for myself
8) Make one of my (many) dreams a reality
9) Spend more time with my extended family
10) Love more, judge less
11) Take a class: any class
12) Relax
These are in no particular order. 2011 was a great year for me. I’m hoping 2012 is just as amazing. From me to you, I wish you all the best in the coming year. Start new. Open your eyes, hearts, and minds. ❤

I plan to reevaluate this list and work on my 13 for 2013. I know it's going to be another amazing year! 

Hola!

I've been busy, busy, busy (say that in your mind like Phil on Duck Dynasty says "happy, happy, happy")! The holidays are upon us and while I really wanted to post a lot of pictures and write blogs about all the great DIY projects I've done, that hasn't been my reality. This is one of the busiest times of year for those of us in retail. I'm trying to cherish all the time I can with family and create new memories/traditions with the kids. The littlest are old enough now to really get into Christmas. Saturday morning, while I was doing my hair, Adele pulled me into the living room to show me a commercial that had some fairy or princess or baby doll that she wanted. Thomas will walk through the toy store yelling, "Oh yea! That's awesome! Get that for me!!" It's cute now, but I dread this later.

In my dreams, I had planned to spend every afternoon and weekend working on projects or crafting with the kids. In reality, I've come home and sat my lazy butt on the couch. I do have a new project to start after Christmas, though. My husband is not nearly as excited as I am about this one. My dad, bless his heart, feeds me crafting/DIY needs by bringing home ideas and things for me to work on. The newest addition to our home? (Did I mention that it's OUR home?!) My dad brought an old stereo console that I fully intend to gut and turn into a TV console. I'm still trying to convince Bran that this is going to work out beautifully. Some day he'll see what I see.

Hopefully, I'll get a few things completed soon and can share pictures with you all. Until then, I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas.

I'm Really an Adult...

It finally happened. I am pretty sure we took the final step into adulthood. We signed papers for the house yesterday. We're officially home owners!

Anniversaries

My one month "non-smokiversary" just passed! Yay us! My husband and best friend also quit. I'm so proud of what we accomplished.

My one year anniversary in my (newest) position is quickly approaching. I really had my doubts, at times, that I would make it this far. Bottom line, though, my bosses love me and I kick ass.

It feels like there's been little time for updating lately. I spend most of my free time now playing with the kids or using my new camera, or both at the same time. I just can't help myself.

We're also in the process of buying our house. We've paid rent to my uncle for two years and finally decided this is where we're staying. It's exciting and scary all at once. We're living our dream one day at a time.

Doing What I Love

I *finally* purchased the camera I've been wanting. I'm now a proud DSLR owner!

Technicalities

I should be thankful that I work for a company that invests so much time and money into its associates/managers. I'm spending a week in Ohio on my company's dime.

While I'm sad that I'm away from my husband and kids, this trip has boasted some firsts (and its only Monday)!

1) My first flight(s) - Many tears were shed over this.

2) my first time to Chicago (Technically, I didn't leave O'Hare, but I was there)

3) The first time I've seen any of the Great Lakes - I flew over Lake Michigan

4) My first time in Dayton and Cincinnati, OH

5) The first time I've ridden a charter bus

Ok, maybe I need to live a little.

Anxiety

I'm typing this from the plane. The plane I had numerous panic attacks about. I got on it!

Here are my thoughts so far:
1) I don't like take off. I prayed for everyone on this flight and the people who made the plane and the landing mechanisms.

2) I'm above the clouds! Wait, I'm above the clouds. This is unnatural.

3) I have to do this 3 more times this week.

4) I hate turbulence.

5) I'm proud of myself (but I haven't made it to O'Hare yet)

6) I may be sitting next to 1997 Isaac Hanson

7) There's nothing on the wing.

Remembering

I can't believe it's been 11 years today. Every anniversary of 9/11 brings back the fear I felt that day.

I was a junior in high school and had just grabbed my seat in English class. Someone was going to each classroom telling teachers what was happening. Classrooms that had TV turned them on to watch the horror that was unfolding before us. This wasn't something my mind could wrap around. Every period was spent discussing what was happening in NYC.

I remember going to work at a grocery store that afternoon. Everyone was distraught. People were coming in and buying up groceries like we were about to be snowed in. I was scared and didn't know what to think or what to do.

I will never understand everything that happened that day. My heart is still with the victims families.

Stay-cation!

Today is the "official" start of my vacation. I needed some time away from work.

This week I plan to spend some time with my family, work on a few projects around the house, hit the gym, and jump head first into some photography adventures.

Doing What I Love

I've been interested in photography for as long as I can remember. If I had the resources, I'd spend all my free time shooting things.

These are some of the photos I've taken recently. These are all from my iPhone, but I still love them. 

August

I'm going to take a moment to vent. I apologize in advance...

It's been a hell of a month! August is almost over and I feel beat down, mentally and physically. I can't count the hours I've actually seen my family, there have been so few, because of work. We had our yearly inventory this month. It always beats me down. This was my first in my new position and being a salaried member of management meant they could work me to death. Most days I went in before anyone was awake and came home to quickly eat and go back to bed. On top of all this we've been trying to plan a surgery for my husband's grandfather and and trying to find assisted living housing for his grandfather and my grandmother. There's also been a looming court date (nothing either of us did, but effects us) and numerous other things. It's hard to run a house, work, take care of family members, and all that jazz where you're exhausted...and we are!

There are people in our lives that don't understand this and seem to think that everything comes back to them. Every comment I make, or we make, is not always about any one person in particular. I'm at a boiling point and I don't want to be there. I was hoping to transition smoothly back into some kind of normal after this week and it doesn't appear to be on the horizon.

I'll keep holding my head up and looking for the light at the end of this twisted tunnel.

The Simple Life

This is one of my favorite new places in our back yard. It reminds me to relax, let my worries blow away with the breeze, and enjoy nature's beauty.

Dirty Thirty

I remember my 21st birthday well. It was all around terrible, but I'm over that. My 25th is a blur. I had a 3 month old and all my time was spent on him. I will be 28 in a couple of months and I'm getting the "I'm nearly 30" jitters. I wouldn't change my life. Nothing at all. Ive learned a lot of lessons along the way and have become the (awesome) person that I am today. That being said, there are things that I thought would be different. Ok, not so many things, but things... I was sure I would know by now what I wanted to be when I grew up. I work retail management. More often than not, I really love my job. I have some serious responsibilities and some days it feels that the fate of my workplace depends on what I have or haven't done. I've realized, though, that this isn't my career. This is not the place I will be retiring from. I won't let that happen. Surely, by the time you're 30 you really know what to do with your life. Right? Someone tell me I'm right! I also wish I would have stuck with school. I'm not sure that it would have changed where I am now, but I wish I had gotten my degree. I had a person throw this in my face once. Funny thing is, I am much farther in life than they are. Eventually, I will get a degree. Two years ago I was walking 2-3 miles a day. I should have stayed with it. I was doing so well and I kick myself when I think of where I'd be had I kept trucking. I will start again. I will. I can't afford not to finally get in shape. My family deserves it. I deserve it. I will do it!

"You're only as strong as your weakest link."

I am my strongest supporter and my most negative. It's time to snap out of it, get my ass in gear, and do it! I need to make a "30 Before 30" list. I have a short time to complete it, but the motivation to do it.

This is Huge!!

I think I'm pretty, I don't want to fool anyone. I've always thought I had a pretty face, at least. This automatically makes me say, "You sure do have a pretty mouth." Don't ask. I do have body issues, though. I always have. My weight has gone up and down more than I'd like to count. I have an amazing husband (and kids) that tell me I'm beautiful all the time. Back to the reason I'm posting... Last year, I bought a bikini. It has a cute halter top and boy shorts and came with some shorts for coverage. I never wore it. Today, I pulled it out. I put it on, complete with the shorts and a trusty tank top. I walked outside and stepped into the pool and Bree said, "Take that off! You don't need to wear that." for the first time in my life, I shed the tank top and I felt COMFORTABLE. I didn't care what the neighbors thought, I didn't beat myself up! This is huge for me and a step in the right direction. If someone can't accept me for me, screw them! Here's to a fabulous summer...once this sunburn heals. ;)

I Needed This

Photos to restore your faith in humanity.

New Project!

Recently, our oldest daughter has taken an interest in my recipe book. She picks out a recipe, makes a copy and puts it in her binder. She picks mostly desserts. Really, what 11 year old wouldn't? This, and Pinterest, lead me to an idea...

A few years ago, my mom started a recipe collection for me and my sister. Our books contain recipes from mom, my grandparents and great grandparents. I cherish those recipes. When I pull one out, I can picture Granny in the kitchen. I'm nostalgic. Anyway...with the help of some free printable recipe cards, I'm going to make a family recipe book for Breanna. I'm so excited. I can only hope that she cherishes it as much as I do mine.

What are some of your favorite recipes?

Chocolate Chip Goodness

I regularly browse the interwebs while my husband and kids nap. It's some "me" time. Today, I was running across a few blogs and found a recipe for a single serve chocolate chip cookie. I thought of every thing I could to justify not making it right this second, but I couldn't find one. So here it is....


My first thought? It was really good. Second? I can double this for those certain days of the month!
Hop on over here and check out the recipe.
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Change

I've been thinking about making some life changes for some time now. The last few months have been hard on me at work, both emotionally and physically. I will soon be 28 and I wake up most mornings feeling like I'm 50. Most of this can be attributed to work. I have been with the same company for nearly 9 years now. I'm in retail management and spend most of my 10+ hour shifts walking concrete floors. In the last few months I've really noticed the toll it's taking on my body. Quite frankly, I need a break. Sadly, that won't be happening any time soon.

One of the perks of my job is that I get to work with my best friend. She, too, chose the same "career" path that I did. We're both second guessing ourselves. Maybe it's something that naturally happens at our age. Maybe 30 makes every female reevaluate their lives. Whatever may be causing it, I'm paying attention.

I regret dropping out of college. It wasn't for me at the time and by 23 I was making pretty good money. I wasn't concerned then. Now, it seems difficult to find anything that isn't retail or customer service without a degree. So, I've decided to go back. It's time to move forward. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to wait to return, but I'm going back!

I laid it on my husband today. Being the awesome person that he is, he said, "Let's do it!" Knowing I have his support makes everything better.

Another DIY Project

I love all things DIY. This is no secret. What I love even more are DIY projects that save my family money. Last night, while our son was sick and I was on watch, I spent quite a bit of time on Pinterest. I found a DIY liquid hand soap tutorial. I've been curious about this since my husband's grandmother had mentioned that she used to make it all the time. I decided to try it today and ended up making about 3 quarts of soap for around $1. How awesome is that?? We have two potty training 3 year olds that are constantly washing their hands. This will turn out to be a real money saver. Anyway, head on over to Savvy Housekeeping to take a look.

 Side Note: If you read the comments, you will see a lot of people had issues with theirs coming out too runny. I had the same problem. I filled my sink with ice water and sat my pot in it. After about 10 minutes and a stir, I had a great consistency. I filled my existing soap bottles and put them in the bathroom. I stored the extra under the sink.

Size Does Matter

Every year I get older, the size of my sunglasses get bigger. My kids weren't amused that it took me 20 minutes to decide between two pair the other day.

 

 I hate to see how big they are by the time I'm 60!

 

Break The Stereotype

I regularly, or regly as my 3 year old says, have to watch video for my job. It's one of my responsibilities. This morning, I was given a brief description of a person of interest to watch for. Let me stop here for a minute.

1) Try to remember as many details as possible if you want someone else to pick a person out of a crowd.
2) After about three hours of video, everyone starts to look the same.

Now back to the real reason I'm typing this...

The videos I watch don't have sound and you all look really funny when you're sped up 16x, but I have noticed something. We allow ourselves to be stereotyped. We have a lot of stereotypes in the south; we're slow, overweight, using food stamps, are uneducated...the list goes on. We stereotype others a lot here, too.

I've watched one hour of video. That's right, 60 measly minutes. In that hour I've seen people portraying the stereotype they so desperately want to break away from. I'm beginning to question if they really do. I've seen the Hispanic family of 15, including grandmother; the pretentious older white couple, who I'm sure has money because they look at you like you don't; the black family on food stamps with the overwhelmingly rowdy kids; the obese woman that walks straight for an electric cart, then gets angry that they're all in use.

The point of all of this is; if you don't want me to stereotype you, *and I do because it's part of my job, you should break the mold. Don't leave it there to shape your children.


*Part of what I do is watching people. I would say that 9 times out of 10, I'm pretty damn right about a person, at least what they portray to me. It's my job to be able to pick the suspicious from the every day Joe that just walked through my doors.