Amber's Inner Mind

Blessed

2012-01-26T12:00:00.000-05:00

I found this un-posted draft sitting in my post column, and I have no idea why I didn't post it. It's just as true today as it was 5 months ago when it was originally written.

I'm so grateful for my friends and neighbors, and the wonderful people I get to associate with on a regular basis. Lately, I've been very aware of how fortunate I am to know the people I know, and have the friends that I have. They definitely help fill the void of not having family close by. They are definitely my second family and I'm so grateful to have them in my life!

*Update: now that I'm over 2000 miles away from these people who I miss so much, I'm grateful that I have another set of faces, old and new, that sustain me and can keep me going.

I can only hope that I can do as much for them as they do for me no matter where in the country they may be.

Hiatus

2012-01-25T17:23:00.000-05:00

Wow... Have I been absent or what?! Life got busy, then it got overwhelming, then it got unreal. Let's just say that finding time to actually write about it wasn't even on my radar. There were times when I did sit down to write - and I have a slew of unfinished drafts to prove it - but now that I have some free time, I can't even remember the reasons for jotting down the few thoughts that made it on the screen, so they will probably remain unfinished drafts for the rest of their days.

I have new things to write about, though, and I'm anxious to be at it again. I hope I still have some readers and not everyone has given up on me!

(Erin... Thanks for the comment and the gentle nudge to get things going again.) :-)

Totally Made My Day...

2011-09-25T22:25:00.000-04:00

Earlier today, as I was going around to the Primary classrooms to give them the 10-minute warning before class was over, I happened to run into a few of our ward's young men. Just as I was turning the corner to open the door to one of the classrooms, I hear, "Hey, cutie." It had come from one of the young men. I didn't acknowledge the guys, because out of the corner of my eye, I could tell that as soon as the kid said it, he and his friends realized who I was and they quickly turned away and hit the kid that said it. I just acted like I hadn't heard or seen anything in an effort to save him from even more embarrassment, but I really wanted to say thank you and bust out laughing. It definitely made my crazy day a bit brighter.

Invention

2011-09-09T18:40:00.000-04:00

As I was going through my photos from the past couple of months, I found a photo that I took while I was on a plane to Utah a couple of months ago. It requires a little bit of a backstory...

When I was little - like, elementary-school aged - a friend and I came up with this brilliant idea for an invention. It consisted of a camera at your front door so that when someone came to your house, it would take a picture of them. We figured it would mostly be useful if you weren't home and wanted to know if someone stopped by, or if someone broke into your house and you wanted to snap a photo of them. We were super serious about it, but never did anything but draw pictures of it.

Imagine my surprise when I was looking through the SkyMall catalogue on the airplane and found this:

If you can read the description, it is EXACTLY what we had envisioned. Kinda weird, huh?

(Maeg, if you're reading this, do you remember when we came up with this?)

Gooey Caramel Popcorn

2011-09-02T11:16:00.000-04:00

My husband and I decided to try a 30-day "no sugar" challenge. The night before we kicked the sugar habit, I made a big batch of Gooey Caramel Popcorn to get my last sugar fix. It definitely hit the spot, as it does every single time I make it. I reminds me of growing up in my parents' home and my sweet, next-door neighbor that would make this for us every Christmas. Once I got my hands on the recipe, though, there was no way I could wait until Christmastime to enjoy this gooey goodness. Now I make it every few months. Here is the recipe for you to enjoy as well!

(almonds didn't make it into this batch because I didn't have any on-hand. I do prefer to have the almonds in there, though.)

Soooo Behind

2011-08-30T13:52:00.005-04:00

I am so behind in my blogs. I inadvertently took the summer off and now I'm having a tough time finding the motivation to play catch-up. My family blog is even worse off than this one! I keep telling myself that as soon as school starts for my 5-year-old, I will be able to really sit down and get back to business, but now that school has yet to determine an official start date, who knows when that day will be. I just wanted all y'all to know that I'm here. I miss writing, and I really want to get back into posting regularly. I have missed having this little outlet, even if no one reads it. I mostly miss having a place to post photos that I've taken recently. I have about 20 "draft" posts that I have yet to complete because I just started writing things before I had time to fine-tune them. If I end up posting them, things are going to be pretty random around here for a while!

As funny as it sounds, this little blog keeps me in touch with myself, and I feel like I've been too busy to do that lately. It will be nice when I can finally get back to remembering who I am.

(Why does it feel like I have written this same post over and over again, lately?)

Shots, round 3

2011-08-22T09:30:00.001-04:00

Today was my third round of cortisone shots.

I wish I could say they were getting easier, but they're not. Today, I even tried to be prepared by taking some good pain medication beforehand and having Brett there as moral support. The medication didn't end up working (if it had even kicked in in the first place), and though it was so nice to have Brett there, I think it made it that much harder to hold back the tears. Last time, I had no one there to comfort me, so what was the point in crying then?

As the shots were being administered today, I tried my hardest not to concentrate on them. I was squeezing my nails into my palms in hopes that that pain would distract me from the pain up top, but unfortunately, my nails were too stubby to even make a dent. About halfway through, I was trying to hold back tears and managed to hold all but one tear in. I felt defeated by letting that one tear roll down the side of my nose. I quickly wiped it away, hoping that no more would follow.

Read more »

Latisse

2011-08-08T09:58:00.000-04:00

I started using Latisse in July. I started applying it to my eyelashes and my eyebrows, and a small spot on my head just to see what it could do for my scalp. I heard it could take a while to see any definite changes, so I have to attribute my long, luscious lashes (and the progress I was seeing in the eyebrow region) to being a side-effect of the shots/Prednisone.

UPDATE:
The Latisse was actually starting to cause my eyelashes, and what little eyebrows I had, to fall out. I have since stopped using it and don't plan to resume it any time in the near future. It's very frustrating considering how much it cost me to get it.

Cortisone Shots - Round 2

2011-07-11T09:22:00.000-04:00

This is what my head looked like when I got home from getting my second round of shots. Can you see all the new growth I've had in the six weeks since my first round? All the lighter hair is new hair! The doctor didn't put me back on the Prednisone, so the shots will have to go it alone this time. Hopefully I will continue to have success with the treatment.

Craziness

2011-06-23T16:27:00.000-04:00

The last two weeks have been a doozie. Not to sound cliche or anything, but when it rains, it pours! It seems like a lot has happened, and thankfully, not all of it is necessarily bad. Just different. Posting has been very light lately and here's a small idea of why...

My two-year-old had his tonsils/adenoids removed along with tubes put in his ears. There were lots of errands that had to be run beforehand, along with a couple of pre-op doctors appointments leading up to the surgery. Now that the surgery is over, it's just a matter of staying sane enough to put up with his crabbiness and mood swings, along with keeping up with all the medications he's been on, not to mention trying to fight him to take all of said medications and getting him to drink as much fluid as possible.
Lots and lots of new hair coming in. My eyebrows have even decided to grow, despite not having done anything to spark the growth. I'm ecstatic! The only hard part is trying to get my "temporary eyebrows" to match up with the real thing without disturbing the new growth. It looks kinda funny, too.
The mother of all changes: I was called to be the Primary President in my ward. It's a big responsibility and one that I'm quite nervous about. I heard a quote somewhere that said "God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called." I just have to have faith that that's true.
A bout of the stomach flu for me and Eli. Brady got it the day of Eli's surgery, and then Eli and I got it a few days later. Eli seemed to fare a little better than I did (thank goodness! I didn't want to have to worry about him vomiting up the precious liquids he was supposed to be drinking), and thankfully Brett was able to leave work to come take care of us. I don't know what I would have done without him that day.
My parents had to put their German Shepherd, Marcus, to sleep. I was very sad to hear the news, but his health was deteriorating so quickly. I'm glad that he's no longer suffering.

Now I'm just trying to get things back to normal, or at least as normal as possible. I'm stressed (with the breakouts to prove it), sleep-deprived, and at my wits' end, but I think once Eli can get past this recovery period, things will get a lot better. Hopefully that will take no more than another week. Maybe I'll even have a chance to get back to regular posting!

Spontaneous Regrowth

2011-06-14T09:17:00.000-04:00

Here is a photo of the regrowth I've been experiencing in my eyebrows. This is just three weeks after my first round of shots/Prednisone. The doctor didn't even give me any shots in my eyebrows, they just started growing in on their own!

Summer Cooking

2011-06-10T09:00:00.009-04:00

Now that the weather has been warming up considerably, the grill and slow-cooker have become my new best friends. I hate the idea of using my oven, and standing over a hot stove isn't very appealing either. It also seems that my kitchen stays a lot cleaner when I can avoid the stove/oven altogether. A cool house AND a clean kitchen? Definitely can't have too much of that!

I know we all could use new recipe ideas now and again, so here are some recipes that I've made lately that are super yummy and haven't required heating up the house to make them.

"Copy-cat" Rumbi chicken and rice bowls - loved this so much. If you have a hard time finding the "Mr. Yoshida's sauce" the recipe calls for, I found mine at Costco. I love the sauce itself, so it was worth it for me to buy it in bulk.
Fajitas - So yummy! These are definitely going into our regular line-up.
Red Beans & Rice - Super easy, super delicious, and it makes a ton.
Chicken Cesar Croissants - rotisserie chicken, cesar dressing, Parmesan cheese, and romaine lettuce on a croissant. Easy as that!
French Dip Sandwiches - we topped them off with a little "champagne cheddar" from Costco and they were awesome. A definite do-again.
Pizza on the grill. Yes, you read that right. I just use a regular pizza dough recipe, roll it out to the desired size, put it on the grill sans toppings for a few minutes or until the dough is firm, flip it, then put toppings on and let it cook until done! So, so, so good.

That's probably a good list for now. I'm thinking I may have to do separate posts for some other meals we've been enjoying.

Happy Summer Cooking!

Total Breakthrough

2011-06-09T07:52:00.000-04:00

I've been waiting for this day. I didn't think it would ever come, but it actually did.

Dare I say, I actually enjoy running!

I've never been much of a runner. I only ever did it to stay in shape for sports, and even then, I tried to get away with as little as possible.

Last night I had a breakthrough, though. I had been itching to workout over the last few days and I wasn't going to let anything keep me from going to the gym. I'm so glad I went. I was doing my "Couch to 5k" stuff - running, then walking, then running some more - and when it got to my final walking interval, I just kept on running. It felt so good! Normally I would be dying by that last round of running, but I figured that since I was feeling good, why should I stop? I was hot and sweaty, but my legs just wanted to keep moving. It was a real milestone for me.

I'm looking forward to my next trip to the gym. I think I'm just going to get on the treadmill and run, not worrying about any intervals, and seeing how long and how far I can just go.

Goals - Six months later

2011-06-08T08:36:00.001-04:00

It's been six months since my initial "goal setting" for the year. It was quite the list. Some things I've stuck with better than others, but for the most part, I'm happy where I'm at.

Some of the more important things for me to strive for were being proactive about my health and taking care of my home. So far, my home is still the organized place that I made it back in January, and my health is improving significantly. I have been more conscious of what I eat, I've been exercising more often, I'm trying to get my hair to grow back, and I've even lost a few pounds. I just feel so much better all around. All of the progress I'm making has really made me want to stick to it.

My other goals like "be more girlie" and "take more photos" are going well, too. I can't remember the last time I DIDN'T wear makeup, and I had a lot of fun in February with trying to do something new every day. I didn't document it, but I actually succeeded in using a different eye shadow/liner/look every day of that month. As far as the photos go, I do take a lot of photos, but they always seem to be with my phone as opposed to my big-girl camera. Oh well. A photo's a photo, I guess! I've been really good about backing up my photos, too. That was another big goal I had.

Now for the bad news. I've been slacking in my scripture-reading, and I totally gave up on the child care goal (which I'm still totally okay with). You would think that because I enjoy reading so much, I should have no problems with reading my scriptures. I really need to make it a priority. Here's to continuing that goal!

Glitter Toes

2011-06-07T08:37:00.000-04:00

I love anything that sparkles.

I don't know why I have never done the "glitter toes" before. It was so easy and I totally love the way it turned out! The possibilities are endless! Now I just need to buy more glitter....

This is the tutorial I used.

Crepes

2011-06-06T12:51:00.000-04:00

I love crepes.

I love making large batches of them and eating them for days.

It has taken me a while to find a recipe I like, but I've finally decided on this recipe. I mix my batter a little differently than what the recipe says by putting everything together in a bowl and using my hand blender to whip it up. It makes it nice and smooth as compared to the recipe's way of doing things.

They can be topped with just about anything, but my favorite filling is Nutella and strawberries. It is so completely satisfying!

... but bananas and Nutella are equally as scrumptious.

Plans for the Weekend...

2011-06-02T16:54:00.003-04:00

A weekend to myself? What is a girl to do?

Brett is hitting the trails with a couple of buddies this weekend and I'm staying home with the little guys. I have been mulling over that idea for a little while, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself. Granted, I will have my boys, so I'll be quite busy as far as they're concerned, but once they are in bed? Hmm....

Here are some of my ideas...

- Harry Potter marathon, anyone?
- Glitter toes.
- Surfing the net from the comfort of my bed.
- Simple dinners with as little cooking as possible!
- Chick flicks.
- Blog renovation.
- Yoga/Pilates DVD from the comfort of my living room.

... just to name a few.

I'm open for suggestions!

(Yet another photo-free post. Maybe I should put "take photos" on my to-do list, huh?)

Treatments

2011-05-26T14:22:00.002-04:00

This past Monday, I did something I haven't done in years: I saw a dermatologist. I figured it was high time I saw someone and try to get some hair to grow back. Unfortunately, treatment options haven't changed much in the 17+ years I've had Alopecia, but the doctor and I figured it wouldn't hurt to try. We decided to start with the most basic course of action ("basic" being a relative term, of couse): cortisone injections along with some prescription medicine that is supposed to work alongside the injections. Man, I forgot how much they hurt. I had never tried injections on the grand scale that I had to this time. It was always on just little spots that my doctor was trying to kick-start. If it works, though, it will be worth ever single needle stick.

These arrows are pointing to at least 1/3 of the injections I received this go around. After waiting a few hours to take this photo, I was having a tough time figuring out which were needle points and which were freckles. There sure were a lot of shots, though!

On an even happier note, my mom happened to see my beloved dermatologist back in Utah the same day I had gone in to see this new doctor. My mom said Dr. Parkinson asked how I was doing and told her that he was going to write me a prescription for Latisse (you know, the eyelash growth serum stuff) and really wants me to try it. He even said that I can use it on my eyebrows in hopes of getting them to grow back, too. And, interestingly enough, he told her that they may come out in a few months with a version where you can use it wherever you need to get hair to grow (like a scalp, maybe?). I was so happy to hear this news because my new dermatologist didn't mention anything like this to me. Even after all these years, Dr. Parkinson is still looking out for me. I will be forever grateful to have had him as my doctor, even if it did mean losing all of my hair. :-)

I may be posting photos periodically of my progress (if there is any at all), so bear with me. I'm mostly doing this for my own documentation to see if anything starts helping. Wish me luck!

A bowl full of lemons.: May Silhouette Giveaway!!

2011-05-23T07:51:00.000-04:00

I really, really want this...

A bowl full of lemons.: May Silhouette Giveaway!!: "Im so grateful to be able to give away Silhouette SD machines on my blog. This week, I am offering another chance at a giveaway! This set ..."

Weekends

2011-05-22T21:30:00.000-04:00

Lately I've been noticing a trend: I look forward to the weekends because I feel like it's a rest from the regular goings-on of the week, but it's that same laziness of the weekend that makes my work during the week so hard!

Case in point:

The house is a disaster. The kitchen counters are covered with dirty dishes from the meals we cooked over the weekend, laundry has been piling up since Friday, the family room is looking extremely "lived-in," just to name a few.

It's not just the house, either.

Brett and I have made an effort to abstain from sweets during the week and save those indulgences for the weekend. We usually bring out the cookies, candy, and other treats on Friday night and don't hold back until bedtime Sunday night. We spend the rest of the week trying to undo the crappy feeling that has set in from the over-indulging of the weekend.

It's all a game of catch-up, and I'm really getting tired of it. I don't mind cutting back on the sweet stuff even more. It actually hasn't been as difficult as I had originally thought it would be. I like the feeling I have at the end of the day knowing that I made good food choices. The whole cleaning thing is another story.

This last week I did really well at keeping the house clean. I was even able to get the boys to pitch in more than usual. Home was a nice place to be! Now, as I look at the messes around me, I dread Monday because I know what will be taking over my day.

How do I find the motivation to keep a clean house on the weekends as well as during the week? I fear the answer to that question will continue to elude me...

Conflict Resolution

2011-05-21T15:17:00.003-04:00

First off, I have to preface this by saying that I come up with the oddest ideas for blog posts right before I go to bed and I don't feel like staying up any later in front of my computer. I usually wait until the next day and "sleep on" my wacky thoughts before I type them out. This is one random thought that actually remained in my mind by the next morning, so I thought I would write it down.

When a trivial issue arises between you and another person, do you ever think out in your mind how the conversation would go if you actually brought it up? I do it. All. The. Time. Granted, I have no issues of any kind with anyone right now, nor do I ever really have any at all. I didn't even have any gripes with anyone when this thought came to mind. It was just one of those random thoughts like, "My parents got a new dog named Gus, and I want to call him Gus-Gus like the mouse in Cinderella," or "I like cheese." Completely random.

Back to my point. I usually will think somewhere along the lines of, "if I said _______ to so-and-so, then they would probably react and say _______ in response. Therefore, I would say _______ to back up my thoughts." In having this internal conversation, I oftentimes realize that A) my "issue" is really a "non-issue," B) I forget what the issue was completely, or C) I come up with the resolution on my own, or I at least trick my mind into thinking that there was a resolution, and therefore I feel like my point was heard. I'm probably delusional, I know, but I just like to think it's some form of conflict resolution.

Welcome to the craziness that is in my mind!

(Don't ask me what Mr. Policeman Potatohead has to do with anything. He's just here.)

Who Dunnit?

2011-05-17T12:36:00.002-04:00

Last week, I finally bit the bullet and planted some flowers in my front flower beds. I'm so glad I decided to do it! I think it really improved the outside of our place, not to mention that it makes it feel more like home.

Well, unbeknownst to me, someone or something has it out for the dusty millers I planted. As you will see in these photos, someone/something didn't care for them very much. When we came outside to leave for church on Sunday morning, Brady noticed that something had happened to the plants.

The dusty millers are completely stripped of the fuzzy leaves. The surrounding flowers were left untouched, though (which I found odd).

For some reason, the majority of the leaves were left on the sidewalk behind my next-door neighbor's car.

I think it was a neighbor kid that destroyed them on Saturday while we were gone all afternoon/evening and we just didn't notice until it was light outside the next morning. Brett "bets his life" (his words, not mine) that it was a bird or other small animal. Maybe only time will tell. I just hope that the plants are able to recover and that I didn't go to all the work of planting them for nothing!

Dirty Floors

2011-05-10T12:53:00.005-04:00

I try to clean my floors regularly, but lately it has felt like they just won't get clean. I thought it was me, or my steam cleaner not pulling its weight, but then I realized something about my floors that I have never wanted to comes to term with before now: The linoleum/vinyl will always look dirty that no matter how hard I try to clean it. How awful is that?!

Here is my proof:

The area inside the square is a newer "patch" than the rest of the floors. Can you see how it's a little bit lighter than the area not in the square? The rest of the floor is dingier and more yellow, thus making it look dirtier. I promise I'm not going crazy! If you ever come into my home, just know that I really do try to clean the floors. :-)

Ugh.

So frustrating!

Date Night

2011-05-09T13:08:00.004-04:00

Have you ever heard of a "Pub Crawl?" Apparently, a bunch of people get together in teams and go from bar to bar gathering information/items as part of a scavenger hunt. One of my husband's coworkers, Bud (short for "Budweiser"), organized one and asked Brett and I if we would be the judges at the end location. Knowing that we are LDS and don't drink, Bud thought we would be good candidates for the "sober judges." For this event, there were 15+ teams, each with about 6 people per team, and they went from location to location in the Annapolis area. All Brett and I had to do was show up at the end meeting place, look over the teams' papers/items to see who came the closest to completing all the tasks, and we were done! It was awesome! We didn't even really have to be around all the drunk people. Ha ha! Bud even treated us to dinner for our willingness to help him out. I think it was the easiest free meal I've ever scored. Ha!

Please excuse my dorky expression.

I think Brett's friend, James, was glad to see us. He was the "designated driver" for one of the teams and was sooooo ready to be done with the event. He was a good sport, though, red cape and all.

After we were done judging and eating, Brett and I decided to go find me a Mother's Day gift - shoes. The shoe I was wearing had broken just as I had gotten out of the car at the pub crawl, so I was hobbling around on a bad shoe.

I really wanted some TOMS, but the only retailer of them in the area didn't have the ones I wanted, so we opted to hold off on the shoes and take in a movie instead.

Hooray for date nights!

Running

2011-05-06T10:32:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago, I started the "Couch to 5K" program. Sadly, by day 2 of week 2, my knees were out of commission. They started having so much pain, I couldn't even walk down the stairs in my home without feeling like my knees were going to give out on me. It stayed like that for at least 2 weeks and I was beginning to think I had done some sort of serious damage. Thankfully, the pain has now passed and I am excited to report that I was able to start the program up again! I picked up where I left off of in week 2, and it was a little bit disheartening since I should be on week 5, but I'm just glad that I can start running again at all. I guess all this exercise stuff was just a shock to my system. Hopefully my body can cooperate now that exercise is becoming more routine. It has felt so good to be more active again!

iPhone Photos

2011-05-05T07:45:00.000-04:00

I have found that I take as many, if not more, photos with my phone as I do with my big camera. I've been using the "Camera+" app and it is awesome! I absolutely love it. Here are some photos I've taken recently. You'll notice that I have an affinity for taking photos of food. It rules my life.

Mmmm... doughnuts....

A little snack for later.

One of the most beautiful sights I've seen in a very long time.

Can it really be? Yes! Yes, it is!

Thankfully, now that there's one of these wonderful restaurants within driving distance, I didn't have to sell my soul. It was touch and go for a while, though. (I should have added that to my "Cravings" post!)

*drool*

A beautiful tree on my street.

Apparently, I don't follow directions very well.

Sleeping mallards.

So excited that they sell this in the base Commissary now!

If you have an iPhone or iPad, I highly recommend this app. It's my favorite!

Cravings, Take Two

2011-05-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

Remember how I didn't have a photo to post of one of my favorite cravings a few posts ago? Well, my amazingly wonderful friend took me seriously when I said I needed another one so that I could take a picture of it.

Look what I found in my mail:

That sucker was huge! And oooooh, so delicious. Unlike my last apple, I decided I would share this one with Brett because I know how much he loves cashews. Before I knew it, he had inhaled at least half of this wonderful apple! That's what I get for sharing.

I'm already craving another one.

Eyebrows - A Tutorial

2011-05-03T08:16:00.003-04:00

It seems like everyone has tutorials on their blogs these days. I was starting to feel left out! Here's my unique attempt at teaching you something that you most likely will never need to know.

Step 1: When your eyebrows begin to look like this, it means it's time to apply some new ones:

Step 2: More than likely, you should be able to just rub off the remaining "temporary tattoo," leaving you with a nice, smooth surface.

Step 3: Find your sheet of eyebrows.

Step 4: Admire the handy guides on the backside (but if the photos are in black and white, just trust the writer that there really is a front and a back). Cut a pair from the bunch.

Step 5: Stick each eyebrow onto its respective spot. It will take some practice trying to remember where your eyebrows were in the first place.

Step 6: Wet and wring-out your handy "Rambo-esque" washcloth, and then affix it around your head. Wait 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Voila! You have now learned how to apply your temporary eyebrows.

Repeat as necessary, which will probably be every day. If I figure out how to make them last longer, I will let you know.

Nail Polish

2011-05-02T06:13:00.002-04:00

For the last week and a half, I've been sporting some light pink toenail polish. I thought that in honor of Easter and everything pastel, I would lighten up the paint a little. Let's just say that it was very short-lived.

Ahhh, red. Much better. I don't like the pale colors on me.

20 Goals

2011-04-30T07:37:00.007-04:00

I did it! I did one post a day for 30 days! That has to be some sort of achievement for me.

This is my final post for the challenge and yet another list. I think this will be my last list for a while! These are 20 goals that I would like to accomplish sometime in the near future, some of which I'm still working on from my goal-setting back in January.

1. Be more consistent at reading my scriptures. I've slacked off lately, but it has been helping that Brady wants to read scripture stories before bed. I get some sort of scripture-reading in most nights, even if it is a simplified, children's version.

2. Go to the gym at least three times per week.

3. Refinish, or at least paint, my kitchen table and chairs.

4. Make an apron for myself.

5. Stick to my food budget.

6. Stick to my budget, period!

7. Not miss a dose of my medicines/supplements.

8. Be more creative with my photo-taking opportunities.

9. Be better at expressing my appreciation for my husband and all that he does for me.

10. Be more patient with my boys.

11. Cultivate my talents (but I guess I should figure out what they are, first).

12. Write in my journal on good days in addition to the bad days.

13. Update my family blog more consistently. Some months I do so well, and others, everything falls by the wayside. I need to find a happy medium.

14. Be more prayerful.

15. Take time for myself, whether that's painting my nails, watching a chick flick, or spending time with anyone, sans kids.

16. Be more thoughtful.

17. Find something positive in every day.

18. Be myself.

19. Figure out why (according to a neighbor kid) my house smells like the freezer section of the grocery store. Air conditioner, maybe?

20. Figure out how to keep my purse organized. You saw it - that thing is a mess!

What I have learned this month...

2011-04-29T07:35:00.002-04:00

This has been a very full month with many eye-opening experiences. These are a few things I've learned:

Trust my body. If I feel like something isn't right, there could be a very good reason for that.
Over the last few months, I just haven't felt like myself. So many things just seemed "out of whack." I finally worked up the nerve to call my doctor and once we got some tests done, sure enough, I wasn't functioning normally. I discovered I was extremely anemic and might even have hypothyroidism. It's not surprising considering those kinds of things can accompany Alopecia, I just wish I wouldn't have waited so long to find this out. Now that I'm on the road to taking care of those things, I'm feeling a little bit better already, and I'm hopeful that I will continue feeling better and better. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that it will improve the hair situation, too. :-)

I am so grateful for new friends. (And old ones, too!)
During my husband's time in the military, it has been difficult making friends. We have been so transient that we haven't really been able to make very many long-lasting friendships. Since we've been here in Maryland, and mostly within the last few months, we have built some great relationships with people and finally feel like we belong. It's a little bittersweet because the majority of the friends we've made are in the military too, so we know that at some point or another, someone is going to have to move away. We will definitely have to make the most of the time we have together.

It feels great to exercise again!
I haven't been very consistent when it comes to exercising, but lately I've been trying to do something a few times a week. I haven't seen much change, but I definitely feel good that I've at least pushed my body in new ways. I just got a gym membership and I'm looking forward to having that resource at my disposal whenever I want. I think I will finally be able to get in the sort of shape I've been wanting to for such a very long time, now.

Spring in Maryland is gorgeous!
I've mentioned this before, but I can't get over all of the flowers and blossoms everywhere. I just want to stop and photograph everything! I rarely have my camera on me, though.

I have a 5-year-old.
I have a 5-year-old! As I was registering him for kindergarten a couple of weeks ago, it really hit me that he's not going to be home with me all day, every day. As nice as it will be to have that little bit of a rest, I'm sure going to miss that little guy! I know his little brother will, too.

Twitter is boring.
I follow a few people, and a few people follow me, but only one of those people do I actually know personally. It's pretty lame and I'm thinking of getting rid of it altogether (again).

I need to take more photos.
I hate when I don't have photos to go with a post. I really need to change that.

I don't know what to write about once this 30-day blogging thing is over.
Any suggestions?

Then and Now

2011-04-28T07:35:00.003-04:00

Lately, I have felt like I've been losing more hair. Having a shaved head, I would think I wouldn't notice such a change. I scoured my photo archives of last year to see if I was right. Sure enough, I found proof:

June 2010

and now:

April 2011

That's a pretty significant change for me in a year. I've had the same "pattern" on my head for quite a while, and it's just been recently that things have been changing. I'm going to see a new dermatologist in a few weeks, so hopefully he can help me grow that hair back, if not my entire head of hair. Every little bit helps!

Why I did the 30-day Challenge

2011-04-27T07:31:00.001-04:00

I like order. I like having a plan. I felt that this challenge would help me be consistent in blogging because it offered those two things. It also gave me topics to write about that I probably wouldn't come up with on my own. It has been fun writing about completely random things and hopefully allowing people to get to know me a little better. It has definitely helped spark other ideas for future blog posts, too!

I want to see THIS before I die...

2011-04-26T07:50:00.002-04:00

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NY, NY.
I should have had my chance to see New York City in all it's glory ten years ago, but due to some stupid airline issues, I had to miss out. I've never had a chance to go back.

Disney World (the photo I had stopped working.)
Believe it or not, I have never been.

{source}
Ireland.
I don't know what it is, but The Emerald Isle just calls to me.

{source}
Italy.
This is a photo of Venice, but I would really be happy with seeing any part of Italy.

I'm sure there are more places I would love to see, but I'm drawing a blank right now. What about you?

What would you like to see before you die?

In the bag...

2011-04-25T07:47:00.002-04:00

My sister gave me this purse. It's the biggest purse I've ever owned. I love it! It holds a lot of stuff, as you will soon see...

You can't even see into its depths completely.

"Matched." I'm still trying to find time to read it.
My mini Leatherman. It comes in handy so often!
A variety of gum. You can never have too much
An IKEA pencil. Yes, I stole a pencil. Guilty as charged.
Handy Manny stickers Brady received from the doctor. I had to put them in my purse as to keep him from placing them somewhere in the car, never to be removed.
Two rolls of film from 8+ years ago. Yes, I have kept them that long. I have no idea what is on them, if anything at all. I also keep forgetting get them developed, if you can't already tell.
Hand lotion that I really should use more regularly.
$.48
Lip glosses and lip balms that are always floating around my purse and my home.
Dry cleaning receipt.
My doctor's business card.
My BUNCO score card. I don't know why it made it into my purse.
A paperclip. You never know when you might need one.
My phone. I couldn't live without that baby.
Garbage. I'm surprised there wasn't more.
My pool/community center pass.
My wallet.
My checkbook (that never seems to get used).
A brush. Even wigs get tangled at times.
A mirror.
My bag for things like lip gloss and other girly things. As you can tell, the lip gloss never really makes it back in the bag.
My NSA badge that allows me to take Brett to work. I'll be glad when the weather is warmer so he can ride his bike, instead. :-)
Gift card for movie tickets. Still waiting for a movie worth seeing! Any suggestions?
My keys.

What's in your bag?

Easter Sunday

2011-04-24T09:24:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to break away from the "30 Days of Blogging" for a bit and focus on what a special day today is: Easter Sunday.

I am so grateful for the knowledge of my Savior. As I've been reflecting on His Atonement, I am in such awe that He would suffer that for me. As I watched General Conference this past month, I listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." Every verse hit me so strongly and touched me in a way it never has before. It has always been one of my favorite hymns, but I think this time, I felt a confirmation of the testimony I have of the words that were being sung. It says everything I wish I could.

Ashamed

2011-04-24T07:50:00.002-04:00

We've all done things we're ashamed of, right? I certainly have my fair share. As I reflect back on such instances, I can't help but feel embarrassment along with the shame. That definitely makes me hesitant to share anything at all. But, here goes...

During high school, I worked as a receptionist for my dad's advertising company. I was in charge of answering phones, making deliveries, and the mail, among other things. One day, there was a package that needed to go out. I had missed the regular FedEx pickup, and I hadn't really paid attention to the fact that that package needed to go out that day. I procrastinated dropping it off to the point where my dad had to rush to take it somewhere where they would get it out in time. I was in a lot of trouble. If I had been working for anyone other than my dad, it probably would have been grounds for a major punishment, if not dismissal. I felt horrible, especially since my dad had to cover my butt.

I felt so ashamed.

I have definitely learned from this experience, though. In times of procrastination, especially when it's at someone else's expense, I remember this past situation and end up getting things done A.S.A.P. I hated the feeling of letting someone down, especially my dad, and I don't want to feel that again.

Cravings

2011-04-23T07:49:00.003-04:00

Oh, how I love food. When it comes to cravings, there are a few things that always come to mind right away:

1 - Nutella. As far as I'm concerned, you could spread it on a shoe and it would taste good.

2 - Strawberries. My favorite vessel for Nutella, but I love them all the same even when they're on their own.

3 - Chocolate ice cream. I happened to have Double Fudge Brownie in my freezer, but any chocolate ice cream will satiate the craving.

4 - My mom's Steak Rancheros. I think I've attempted them once since I've been married, but they just weren't the same. I don't think I added enough butter.

5. (not pictured) Chocolate-Almond-Caramel Apples. Somehow my good friend knew that I had been craving one of these and surprised me with one in the mail last week. I wish I could have gotten a photo. It was Di.Vine. (Hey Ange, looks like you're going to have to send me another just so I can get a photo of it.) ;-)

What do you crave?

Why I'm Different

2011-04-22T07:49:00.004-04:00

Do you want to know why I'm different? We won't go for the obvious, physical reasons right now, but rather some other direction. I'm different because I have random thoughts like these:

I have been pondering the quote, "A clean house is a sign of a boring person." I completely disagree with it. An organized person, yes, but boring? No.
Sometimes the most random people show up in my dreams, so do you ever wonder if people have similarly odd dreams about you?
I would love to visit a remote place, away from any city lights, just so that I could see the stars in all their brilliance.
Flynn from "Tangled" really looks like Evan Lysacek, but Flynn is hotter.
I would love to be on "Dancing With the Stars," but I have no intentions of ever becoming a professional dancer, or a star.
I wish self-tanner didn't stink so much. And I wish it wasn't such a pain to apply. UV rays are so much more convenient, despite the negative health affects.
Where has Greek yogurt been all my life?
I can't wait for the new Angry Birds updates.

What do you think? Do you have different/random thoughts, too?

A Day in the Life

2011-04-21T07:48:00.003-04:00

On any given day, my kitchen looks like this. My husband and I enjoy cooking, so it's no surprise how quickly the sink fills up with dishes and the counter is covered in who-knows-what. It usually ends up being one of my first chores of the day, and I always feel accomplished once it's done, even if it's the only thing I really do get done. It's amazing how much nicer my day goes if I know I have a clean kitchen.

Once the kitchen is done, I may move on to cleaning the family room, surfing the internet, or keeping my boys from beating each other up. If I'm really lucky, I might even find the time to read. Right now I'm trying to get into "Matched" by Ally Condie. I just can't seem to find the time to really dive in. I'm sure once I get into it, I'll have it finished in no time, so I guess that's probably why I'm in no hurry. I hate finishing a book. That's means I have to find something else to read!

Genie in a bottle...

2011-04-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

If I could have 3 wishes granted, this is what I would wish for:

1. To have my Alopecia go away completely so I could have a luscious, full head of hair. (Yes, I would be that shallow).

2. Financial stability for my immediate and extended families. (Would that have to count as two?)

3. The ability to teleport. (No one said they they couldn't be FICTIONAL wishes. Ha!)

Yes, I was supposed to be a genie. Circa...1991?

Nicknames

2011-04-19T08:00:00.001-04:00

Oh, boy. This is going to be a fun one! I have so many nicknames. My family is notorious for not using any family members' real names, so it's no surprise that I actually have to explain why I have the nicknames I do. They're a little odd. There are three that I'm called most often: Sweetie, Skee, and Suzz. I have some other nicknames that aren't used as often - Am, Amby, Dolly, Angel, Amber Dawn-buri (long story) - so you're just going to get the 411 on my most-used names.

I guess there really isn't a story behind "Sweetie." That's just the nickname Brett decided to give me while we were dating and it has stuck ever since.

"Skee" and "Suzz" are a bit more complicated.

"Skee" is actually short for "Amber Dawn-Eskee." When I was a baby, I guess Polish jokes were the popular thing, so my parents decided that, as a joke, I was "the first Polish baby born to American parents." That's where the "Eskee" came from. It eventually got cut down to just "Skee," and my dad still calls me that to this day. He's the only one.

My mom, on the other hand, calls me "Suzz" (as in "buzz"). From what I've been told, it came from the first time I slept a 7-hour stretch as a baby. They started calling me Mrs. Rip VanSkeeWinkle. (There's the "Skee" showing up again.) It then got shortened to Miss Suzz ("Mrs." = "Miss-suzz" Get it?) Winkleman. Then my mom just started calling me Suzz. Still does.

I've always liked those nicknames because they were unique and had stories to go with them. When I played softball, my dad would always call me "Skee" and my coach thought it was the funniest thing. He started calling me it, too, but it never stuck for long.

Like I said, my family is notorious for crazy nicknames and never using the family member's real name. (I think I smell another blog post idea!)

To be continued...

Plans/Dreams/Goals

2011-04-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

Plans:

Exercise at least three times per week.
Visit nearby sights that I've never seen before.
Move to Utah if Brett deploys this winter.
Have another baby once life can be a little more predictable. (Maybe when Brett gets back from Afghanistan?)

Dreams:

Have a home of my own.
Visit Europe with Brett.
Earn a degree in Photography.
Raise my boys in Utah so they can be close to family.
Have a full head of hair at some point in my life.

Goals:

Be debt free by the time Brett separates from the Air Force in three years.
Earn a degree in something, but preferably photography.
Be the best mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend that I can be.

Switching Places for a Day

2011-04-17T10:41:00.001-04:00

Wow, this is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I sorta thought about trading places with myself, but ten years earlier. I then realized that if I changed anything, I might not end up where I am right now, sort of like the butterfly effect. I like where I am right now, so I definitely wouldn't change places with my 18-year-old self.

I thought about trading places with someone rich and famous just to see what that life would be like, but I wouldn't want to take the chance that I picked an "off" day and had to experience the negative sides of being "rich and famous." Of course, if I could spend their money and then take those things back to my real life, that would make the experience quite enjoyable. :-)

I thought about switching places with my baby nephew who is 4 months old. It would be interesting to experience what it was like to be a baby again, but then I remembered I would have to wear diapers, and that killed my interest on the spot.

This is going to sound silly, but I think I would ultimately enjoy switching places with a food critic for a day. I would hit up as many wonderful eateries as possible, not have to pay for anything, and then go back to my regular life without having to change much about myself. I would also get to skip out before I actually had to do any writing about what I actually ate.

In the words of the "chubby" sister in Ever After, "I'm just here for the food."

Something I CAN live without...

2011-04-16T09:00:00.001-04:00

Believe it or not, I could actually live without TV. Growing up, we didn't have cable, and the channels we did get had very bad reception. I just learned that it wasn't a big deal. If we had to start pinching our pennies, I would have no problems cutting TV out of our budget. Of course, that's probably easier said than done. Ha ha!

The "iPod Shuffle" Post

2011-04-15T07:46:00.000-04:00

"Your Happy Birthday" - Children's Songbook

"One Time Too Many" - PJ Harvey

"Family Prayer" - Children's Songbook

"Ever the Same" - Rob Thomas

"Africa" - Toto

"Innamorata" - Dean Martin

"Big Machine" - Goo Goo Dolls

"We Made It" - Busta Rhymes, ft. Linkin Park

"Fall Into Me" - Emerson Drive

"I Lived in Heaven" - Children's Songbook

Out of 2,918 songs on my iPod, what are the odds that three of these songs are from the same album? Weird. Also, this is a pretty eclectic mix of songs, wouldn't you say?

Blogger Confessional

2011-04-14T09:45:00.004-04:00

It's confession time! Yet another round of obscure facts about yours truly that you probably don't really care to know...

1 - I love Cheetos, but I think it's gross to lick the cheesy stuff off of my fingers.

2 - I let my boys watch too much TV.

3 - We eat entirely too much candy and other goodies in my household. We are okay with that.

4 - I love Gain dryer sheets so much, I would stick a box of them under my pillow so that by bedtime, my pillow had the overwhelming scent of the stuff. I had to stop doing that because it was making my neck break out in a rash. I was deeply saddened by that.

5 - I rarely do the dishes after dinner. They usually sit in the sink until the next morning when I feel like doing them.

6 - I always hope that people will comment on my blog, but I rarely comment on the blogs of anyone else. I should probably heed the "do unto others" saying, eh?

7 - I hate driving anywhere. I don't know why.

8 - On a science-class field trip in 8th grade, a fellow classmate asked me to write "Honk if you're horny" on my notepad so she could put it up in the window of our bus. I was so naive at that age that I didn't know what it meant or what she was doing with the sign. Later, once we got back to our classroom, my teachers found out it was me that wrote it. Amazingly, I didn't get in trouble because they were so shocked. In fact, they kinda laughed about it. I guess being shy, sweet, and a good student pays off sometimes.

9 - Since I couldn't put the dryer sheets under my pillow anymore, I would use the box to prop up my cell phone at night (I use it as an alarm clock) so that at least it would smell like Gain.

10 - I still don't know what I want to be when I "grow up."

A Letter to Someone

2011-04-13T09:43:00.008-04:00

Dear Mother Nature,

Because you aren't a real person, I feel like you are the best recipient of a "letter to someone about something you could never tell them in person." Ha! I'm so grateful for you during this time of year. I love how the birds wake me up every morning with their happy chirping. I love watching the robins that have returned, searching for worms in my yard. I love seeing the daffodils popping out of the ground - one of the first signs for me that Spring has sprung - and seeing all of the trees in bloom, especially here in Maryland where they are everywhere!

I've never experienced anything like it.

If you could please let the days warm up a little more consistently, that would be awesome, too. Not too warm, though. A gradual transition into summer temperatures would be just perfect.

These pasty, white leggies would thank you.

Sincerely yours,
Amber

"Do You Want to Know A Secret...Doo Dah Doo"

2011-04-12T08:33:00.000-04:00

"Do you promise not to tell? Doo dah doo..."
Sorry. Beatles reference. Couldn't help it.

This is my bedroom. I don't know what it has to do with secrets, but if you must know, I never make my bed. This is what it looks like 30 out of 31 days of the month, and if it happens to be a month that only has 30 days, then that month is completely void of ever having a made-up bed.
Sorry, Mom.
*hanging my head in shame*

For a REAL secret, one that we've only told a few people, Brett will probably deploy this winter for six months. It still isn't a for-sure thing. I'll post more about it when we know exactly what's going to happen.

On a happier note, see those framed flowers in the photo? They are from my wedding bouquet. My parents gave it to me and Brett as a wedding gift and it's one of my most favorite things ever.

Dislikes - Pests

2011-04-11T09:41:00.005-04:00

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I strongly dislike ants. I would rather find a spider in my house than ants. They are such a nuisance and they feel like that they have to invite all their friends!

{source}

Don't even get me started on cockroaches. I had never seen one before we moved to Florida and it freaked me out every time I'd find one, especially inside my house. It gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it. Blech!

A Past Relationship...or two...or eleven.

2011-04-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

I didn't have many relationships before Brett came along. Because of the way I was brought up, relationships in high school seemed silly and pointless. Once I went off to college, I dated quite a bit, but things never got very serious with anyone. It was probably due in part to a special relationship I had with a missionary...or two...or eleven. Let me explain...

I had lots of "guy friends" in high school and college. As the time came for them to serve LDS missions, I felt very strongly about being a very faithful writer to each of them. It got to the point where I was writing to 11 different elders, none of whom was I thinking of "waiting for." I admired these guys so much for the service they were doing, and I knew it couldn't be easy for them, so I wrote to them in hopes that it would give them something to look forward to. It was these guys that helped set the example for the type of man I wanted to marry someday. That's probably why a lot of my other dating experiences never amounted to much - I wasn't seeing the same qualities in the guys I was dating that these missionaries had. When Brett came along, I did find those great qualities I admired so much, and that's how I knew he was "the one."

It's pretty ironic that the first pictures Brett ever gave me of himself were photos of when he was a missionary. Go figure!

Someone/Something I'm Proud Of...

2011-04-09T08:00:00.003-04:00

There isn't much I can say I'm proud of, especially something that is purely of my own doing, but I have to say that I am proud of my cooking abilities. I can follow a recipe easily enough, I'm resourceful when I need to be, and it's very rare that something I make doesn't turn out how it's supposed to. (I know Brett is probably chuckling at this because of a certain mac 'n cheese dish that didn't turn out a few nights ago. Luckily it wasn't my fault... The recipe was just gross.) I'm grateful for a mom that was a great cook and a great example in the kitchen (among other things, but that's another story). She helped me appreciate the value of a home-cooked meal and spending dinner time as a family.

My first attempt at making cinnamon rolls from scratch, pre-frosting. I'm so proud of the way they turned out!

----------

I also want to give a little shout-out to my my brother, Dave. Just this week, he completed Basic Training for the US Air Force. I'm so proud of him for the decision he made to join the Air National Guard. I know it wasn't an easy one.

Congratulations, Davie! You made it through!

Monthly Goals

2011-04-08T07:21:00.003-04:00

I have one main goal this month: get into a good exercise routine.

The idea has slowly been building over the last few months, but I've just had a difficult time really committing to it. I have been watching Brett and noticing how all his hard work and conscientious eating habits have been paying off. I can tell his self esteem has been greatly improving with each pound and inch that he's lost, and I want that for myself.

I've been really into The Biggest Loser this season and seeing the progress each contestant has made is amazing. I've realized that if I want anything to change about my body, I have to not only get out and do something about it, I have to completely change my mindset. I can't keep wishing that my arms were more toned or that my butt wasn't so flat and flabby. I have to work for those things.

No more excuses. I'm just going to do it.

The Greatest Impact

2011-04-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

So many people/things have made an enormous impact on my life. The first thing that came to mind was my faith. I know I wouldn't be who I am without my Savior. He has always been a part of my life, and always will be. I could go on and on about the role Jesus Christ has played in my life, but I wanted to focus on someone else that has greatly affected my life. I do this because 1) I haven't really known what life was like before my faith, and 2) I wanted to choose something that changed my life more than I could have imagined.

Cue this little guy:

When Brady came into my life, I never knew how completely and unconditionally you could love someone/something. I thought I loved my husband that way (and I really do!), but knowing that little helpless child was completely dependent upon me made me realize that there were more important things in this world. I now had a major purpose in life: I lived to make a life for him where he could be healthy, happy, and have a life knowing he was someone very special. He just turned 5 a few days ago, and I can't imagine life without him. He makes me want to be a better person, not just a better mom. I'm very lucky to be his mommy.

Photography

2011-04-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

If it isn't already obvious, my main hobby is taking pictures. I'm no where near creative enough or well-practiced enough to call it photography, but I enjoy it just the same. Maybe someday I'll feel confident in my abilities, but if not, I still love taking pictures of my friends and family, and everything going on around me. I was so excited when I got my "big camera" almost 2 years ago and I love being able to have more control over lighting, focus, and depth of field. It is so fun being able to capture memories and knowing that I can have physical evidence of things that have happened in my life and those around me. Here are some of my most favorite photos...

My nephews

My little Eli

My little Brady

One of my most favorite subjects...

Gardenias growing in my yard in Florida

That was just a small sampling. I've learned a lot, but I still have a long way to go. Hopefully by this time next year my abilities will improve even more.

Seattle

2011-04-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

The first vacation Brett and I went on (besides our honeymoon) was a trip to Seattle for Valentine's Day. We had been married for six months and Brett was so excited to take me to a place that he had loved as a kid. (He spent a lot of his childhood living in Olympia, WA.) I hadn't ever been to the northwest before, and it was such a beautiful place to visit. I have such fond memories of this trip and I have been dreaming of the day when we can visit again.

Soundtrack to My Life

2011-04-04T07:00:00.001-04:00

My iTunes library was more extensive than I thought! As I was searching for songs that would be considered "a soundtrack of my life," - not thinking I would actually find any - I couldn't help but laugh at some of the titles I found. Some I chose for just the titles, some I chose for the lyrics, and some I chose because they remind me of a part of my life.

Here's what I came up with:

"A Long December" (Counting Crows) - I was born in December, so that is really the only relevance. :-)
"Stand" (R.E.M.) - I lived in the same house my entire childhood. I "stood" there for quite a long time!
"Unwell" (Matchbox Twenty) - Diagnosed with Alopecia when I was 11.
"Grade 9" (Barenaked Ladies) - I was finally getting out of the awfulness that was junior high school.
"Be True To Your School" (The Beach Boys) - I loved getting into high school and getting to play lacrosse!
"I Don't Want to Miss A Thing" (Aerosmith) - I decided during my junior year of high school that I was going to be as involved in my friends' lives and school as possible. I had nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
"When Love & Hate Collide" (Def Leppard) - Had my first break up (I did the dumping) at 18, and the guy actually played this song in the car as he was taking me home. Needless to say, he took it pretty hard.
"Gone" ('N Sync) - I went away to school without knowing anyone. It felt really good!
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" (Poison) - Felt the sting of my first heartbreak as a freshman in college. It was for the best, though.
"Someday My Prince Will Come" (Snow White) - After my second semester during my sophomore year at college, I realized that I wasn't dating the kinds of guys I really wanted. I wasn't going to settle for anything less than a prince.
...my prince arrived...
"A Plain Morning" (Dashboard Confessional) - The lyrics to this song remind me so much of my first week after going out with Brett for the first time. It's definitely not the title that fits this point in my life.
"Helplessly, Hopelessly, Recklessly" (Jessica Andrews) - Brett had me hooked. I didn't want to marry anyone but him.
"The Prayer" (Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli) - It was our faith and an answer to a prayer that started us on this crazy time in the Air Force.
"A Happy Family" (Children's Church Hymns) - Baby makes three! We were so excited to have our sweet little Brady.
"On the Road Again" (Willie Nelson) - The many moves we have made in the 7 1/2 years we've been married.
"Can't Get Enough of You, Baby" (Smashmouth) - Baby Eli joins the family and he makes our family complete!

And there you have it! A very loosely-based soundtrack to the life of me!

Bad Habits

2011-04-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

"Everyone is like the moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody."
- Mark Twain

Wow, where to begin. I have so many bad habits, it's hard to pick just one. Ha! If I must choose just one, however, I'm very bothered by my habit of picking at my blemishes. Gross, I know. I don't know how to make myself stop! It's a habit born out of boredom or nervousness. I know it makes things 10 times worse than if I would just keep my hands away. The only time I've ever felt like I could keep it under control was when I had acrylic nails. It was much harder to get to my skin with those things on, but the upkeep costs were getting ridiculous.

So, that's my bad habit. Along with being a little more informed - or maybe T.M.I (Too Much Informed) - you now find me just a little bit disgusting. Sorry about that.

I Cannot Live Without...What?

2011-04-02T07:00:00.003-04:00

As I was contemplating this topic, I couldn't decide if I wanted to go for humorous, sentimental, or just plain obvious. I decided to just go for all three:

These guys fit all of those descriptions. Life just isn't worth living without them.

Oh, and Nutella. Definitely couldn't survive without Nutella.

15 Things About Me

2011-04-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

Not my favorite photo of myself, but it's the most recent photo I have. It was taken about a month ago. I had just gotten this new 'do and I took a photo of it so I could send it to my sister and mom only to realize I didn't really like the color. I sent the wig back and got a different color, but I have yet to take any photos of the new one. Oh well!

Here are some random things about me:

1 - I collect Hard Rock Cafe hurricane glasses. I have 7 so far {Paris, London, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Santo Domingo}, and I have acquired them all personally except for one. The "Santo Domingo" glass was given to me by my sweet brother when he was living in the Dominican Republic. He had to make special arrangements for it to make it back to the States for me.

2 - I have Alopecia Areata, but you probably already knew that.

3 - I hate clutter and I rarely get attached to the things I own. One good thing about having moved so many times is that it allows me to go through our stuff before/after each move and I get to purge the house of all the unnecessary items. Sometimes I get rid of things prematurely, though, and find that I should have kept something instead of throwing it out.

4 - I consider myself "a jack of all trades, but master of none." I'm capable of doing many things, but never well enough to brag about them. Ha!

5 - I can't handle raw onions. If I feel the crunch of one in a bite of food, especially if it was unexpected, my gag reflex kicks in quite fiercely.

6 - I was once chased by a bear.

7 - I am obsessed with the smell of laundry detergent and fabric softener. My favorite is Gain, but I'm not too picky. I could stand in the laundry aisle of the grocery store for hours, or spend my days in my laundry room, but I realize that isn't very conducive to taking care of a family.

8 - I love pens and any excuse to use them. I'm big on making lists and love any excuse to write a letter.

9 - I'm addicted to buying makeup. I love trying new things, but I find that I tend to stick to my tried-and-true favorites and everything else just gathers dust after a while.

10 - I could watch Kiera Knightley's "Pride & Prejudice" over and over and over. Brett teases me about it whenever he catches me watching it.

11 - If I could do anything, I would love to learn ballet well enough that I could be "on point." I am always in awe of ballerinas and - NERD ALERT - I love watching documentaries about them.

12 - I have always been a very shy person, and it takes me a little while to open up and be myself. I tend to blend into the background a lot.

13 - I love to shop online. It's always so much more convenient than walking around stores and having to interact with other shoppers or cashiers.

14 - I used to have a cat named Fat-Fat that would call my name {"Mmmmbrrrr!"} in the middle of the night and bring me socks from the sock bin in my parents' laundry room. (My room was on the complete opposite end of the house from the laundry room.) I think his record was 21 socks in one night. Oh, how I miss that kitty.

15 - I would take cookies, brownies, or chocolate over any other kind of candy any day of the week. They are HUGE weaknesses of mine.

That's a bit about me!

30 Days of Blogging

2011-03-31T07:00:00.003-04:00

I've seen a couple of my friends doing this and I thought I would give it a try. I have been struggling to find things to blog about lately, so having all of these suggestions are sure to help motivate me. I figured that April 1st would be as good a time as any to start on Day 1 (and no, this isn't an April Fool's thing), so it should take up the entire month.

Here are the ideas for each day:

A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.
A picture of something you cannot live without.
A habit that you wish you didn’t have.
List 15 songs that represent your life’s soundtrack.
A picture of somewhere you’ve been to.
A hobby you have.
A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you.
Short term goals for this month and why.
Something/someone you’re proud of.
A story about a past relationship.
A picture of something you dislike.
A picture of your room & don’t cheat by cleaning it. Share a secret.
Write a letter telling someone something you could never tell them.
A picture of something you ate and 10 confessions.
Put your iPod on shuffle & share the first 10 songs that play.
Something you could live without.
Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why.
Plans/dreams/goals you have.
Nicknames you have & how or why you have them.
If you had 3 wishes, what would they be.
Share a picture from your day.
What makes you different from everyone else.
What is something you crave.
Share a story about your past that you are ashamed of.
What I would find in your bag.
Places you want to visit before you die.
Why are you doing this 30 day challenge?
A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
In this past month, what have you learned.
A picture of you today & 20 goals you want to accomplish.

Here's hoping that things can get a little more interesting around here!

Surprising Myself

2011-03-03T08:31:00.004-05:00

Tuesday night, I attended an activity celebrating the birthday of my church's Relief Society. The woman in charge of organizing the evening's festivities had requested a few weeks prior to the activity that we give her "interesting facts" about ourselves. I had a really hard time coming up with anything truly interesting and different, and the only thing I could think would stump most of the ladies was my Alopecia. Because I wasn't really sure at the time how this information was to be used, I decided to give her two facts: 1) "I can braid gum with my mouth," and 2) "I shave my head on a regular basis." I told her to choose whichever fact she felt best fit the occasion. (Little did I know, she would use both, but the gum-braiding wasn't a big deal to begin with.) I don't know what possessed me to reveal something so personal, but that was really the only thing I could think of that would set me apart from the other ladies in attendance.

As the night and the activity progressed, we got around to playing Jeopardy with the facts that the activity planner had collected. It was really fun to hear the many interesting things about the other women, but I was growing nervous of when my little tidbit of information would come up. Finally, someone chose my fact and I wondered if they would know right away who it was, or if it would be a shock. It was a multiple-choice question, and I think that given the fact that the "contestant" knew the other choices/women better, she figured out that by default, the correct answer had to be me. When she guessed correctly, I decided that I was going to "prove" my fact to be true. I lifted my wig to show my shiny dome and the small patches of hair that still need to be shaved away. I was very surprised at myself for being THAT open about my situation. Everyone was very kind and we just continued on with the game.

I think my biggest worry now is not that people are going to be weird in regards to my hair situation, but rather that they may think I was looking for some kind of attention. I'm certainly not that kind of person. I want people to know the "real" me, and sometimes it feels like the longer I hide behind my wigs, the harder it is to be without them. I guess I figured that in this instance, I knew the women would be accepting and there was no reason why I couldn't just put my bald head out there, and then move on.

Here's hoping that de-wigging myself was a good thing!

Giving up on a Goal

2011-03-02T20:31:00.001-05:00

At the beginning of January, I had made it a goal to complete my certification to become a Family Child Care Provider. I had gone through the training back in November, and then it was up to me to finish all of the paperwork, inspections, and what-have-you on my own. As I struggled to find the motivation to do any of it, I was realizing that I was growing more and more uneasy about the decision to do day care out of my home. I realized that the only benefit for me to doing this would be the money, and even then, it wouldn't be enough to really make it worth it.

I think I had come to this decision a while ago, but I was so nervous about telling the Child Care Office that I was no longer going to continue, not to mention the fact that I, myself, felt like a quitter. That has been my main struggle. Part of me said, "Just finish the certification. You won't look like you're a quitter, and then you can just put it behind you." Then on the other hand, I thought, "Why would I want to continue with something that I'm not going to have anything to do with in the near future? Why would I waste the time of the people that have to interview me and inspect my home?" It was a tug-of-war in my mind. I'll tell you though, finally having made the decision to discontinue the process has taken a huge load off of my shoulders. It was stressing me out quite a bit.

I just hope I haven't let anyone down in the process. I think that would make me feel worse than the thought of being a quitter.

Feeling Better (I hope...)

2011-03-02T08:23:00.002-05:00

I swear that the entire month of February consisted of me and my family getting over one sickness after another. We are still trying to get over things, but at least we can now function fairly normally. There have been several things I've wanted to blog about, but I just haven't had the energy to sit down and write about them, let alone do anything else. (I don't even have a photo to accompany this post due to the fact that I haven't even had the energy to pick up my camera. Blerg!)
I'm hoping that with it being a new month, I can have a renewed effort to finally get things back in order. New posts to come soon!

Steam Cleaner

2011-02-10T12:53:00.004-05:00

I'm a very easily entertained individual. My proof? I just bought a steam cleaner for my vinyl/linoleum (not sure what it is exactly) floors, and I'm actually excited about it.

Let's hope that it can make a difference in my horrible flooring. I hate having a color and texture to the floor that always looks dirty, no matter how hard I try to clean it. That's what you get when you rent, though!

Until Next Season...

2011-02-07T09:01:00.010-05:00

You'll have to forgive me. I know this won't interest half of you, if even that many.
The 2010 NFL season has come to an end and so has my family's Fantasy Football Challenge. Yesterday's Green Bay win was a bit bittersweet for me... I was happy that the Packers won (Aaron Rodgers is my guy!), but that also meant that I lost in the "Family Challenge" (another cake in my face this year). Oh well. It was inevitable. Being last year's champion, I knew it would be next to impossible for a repeat win.

Past Years' results (with explanations as to what this whole "cake {or pie} in the face" stuff is about):
2009 Season: My big win!
2008 Season: I lost really, really bad

This year's final standings (of the regular season)... I was 6th overall, but 3rd within the family. (1, 4, 9, & 10 are the other family members). Uncle Ron was the big winner, so he gets to do the whole smashing and bashing of the cakes.

I had to root for my main guys in the Super Bowl!

We did a new thing this year... Whoever won the Gridiron Playoff Challenge gets to be out of the cake smashing. The winner doesn't get to put cake in anyone else's face, but they don't have to have one smashed in their own. My father-in-law and I were neck-and-neck during the entire Super Bowl! I thought for sure I would win. I probably would have if the Packers would have lost, but it just wasn't meant to be. Here's to another cake in my face!

I'm already looking forward to next season. August can't come soon enough!

Kindle Cover

2011-02-04T13:38:00.003-05:00

My husband got me a Kindle and it finally arrived yesterday. I think he was getting tired of me always needing a new book because I go through them so quickly, or maybe it's because he just likes to do nice things for me, especially if it involves electronics. I think he was just as excited as I was to get his hands on it, though.

This morning, I decided it needed a case. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, if any at all. I then realized that I have a couple of bags-worth of scrap fabric laying around, and I was sure I could fashion a Kindle cover out of something I had in there. I set to work, and I'm pretty pleased with what I came up with.

It's by no means perfect (thus the reason the pictures aren't super detailed), but it will do the job quite nicely. I'm sure I could have found some sort of tutorial online that would have helped me end up with a nicer product, but it was fun to just come up with something from my own creativity.

If you will please excuse me, I need to put Boy #2 down for a nap so I can go enjoy my new Kindle. :-)

Beginning Crochet

2011-02-03T10:54:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Anna started teaching me how to crochet. We started with something basic - a rag. She showed me how to start it, and then do the next few rows, but then she had to go home and I had to finish it on my own. I guess it went okay. I certainly could have done worse! Once I was finished with the first one, I decided to start a second one to see if I could do it better. I think I'm showing progress! What do you think?

Just some photos - Ian

2011-02-02T09:54:00.001-05:00

My good friend Angela and her little family packed up and left for California the other day. They will be gone for four months and all's I can say is, it's going to be a rough four months! Oh well. I'm just glad they're coming back at all. Military life is an unpredictable existence, I tell ya!

While Angela and her hubby were busy getting ready to leave this last week, I had the privilege of watching their little Ian so he'd be out of the way. It was unusual for me to have a new subject to photograph, so I took full advantage and snapped some fun pictures of him.

His cheesy grin just kills me!

I thought about editing out the slobber, but then I thought, "I can't get rid of the slobber. That's totally Ian!"

A minute before, my 4-yr-old was standing up against this wall because he wanted me to take a picture of him. Ian decided he wanted to stand there too.

Ian loves my little Brady. Here Ian is looking lovingly up at him.

Have fun in Cali, Ian (and Angela & Nick)! We'll miss you guys!

Checking In: New Year's Goals

2011-02-01T11:09:00.004-05:00

It's now February!
That means we are one month into the new year, and I am one month into my new year's goals. I'm pretty happy with the progress I'm making so far:

I organized my house,
I read my scriptures more,
I found some exercise videos I like (and have used them),
I worked on my Child Care Provider certification (I'm still on the fence about whether or not I really want to be a Provider, but that's another story for another time),
I have been taking more photos,
I haven't come up with any new sewing projects, but I did finish a couple of existing sewing chores that I've had sitting around.
I have also started taking some skin/hair/nail vitamins in an attempt to do something for my hair. I don't think it will trigger any hair growth, but I know it's a step in the right direction.

With the new month, I've thought about some new challenges that will help me continue in accomplishing my goals. The first one has to do with my "being more girlie" goal. After organizing my bathroom this last month, I have realized how much makeup I have. It's pretty safe to say that I collect it. My goal this month is to use a different color/create a different look each day. I certainly have enough that this may not be a difficult challenge. I'm hoping that by the time March rolls around, I will have found a new love for some of my long-forgotten products and find ways to use them more often.

This isn't even half of my "collection." This is just the stuff I use on a more regular basis.

Also, in an effort to keep up the home organization, I'm participating in A Bowl Full of Lemons' Weekly Challenges.

This week's challenge is creating a Home Management Binder. I'm looking forward to this one because I have attempted versions of this at other points in time, and I haven't quite found a way to make it work. I'm hoping that this time I can make it stick. Hopefully I will have pictures to post toward the end of the week. Feel free to join me!

How are your goals/resolutions going so far?

Checking In: Organization

2011-01-22T13:56:00.003-05:00

I know I may look like a slacker, but I PROMISE I've been getting my organization done. I've just been a slacker when it comes to blogging about it. :-) Plus, the real important part is I'm actually getting things done, right?

These are the things I've been doing that may or may not be blogged about later (and boy, let me tell you, what exciting posts they will be! Not.)

Beneath the bathroom sinks. I have three in my home so it was quite the chore. I even went through all of my makeup and cleaned out my makeup boxes. (Yes, I have more than one. It has sparked a new challenge for me that I might post about next month once all this organization stuff is done.)

Medicine cabinets/medicine storage areas (in my house, they are one and the same). Again, there are three, so it took me a little while. I did it at the same time as the "beneath the bathroom sinks." It kept me from taking the mess up top and just shoving it under the sinks.

Refrigerator. I'm still waiting on this one. I've done the "Before" photo, but I need to do some grocery shopping so I'd rather do the organization all at once before introducing new items into an already-organized space.

TV cabinet. I don't have any before/after pictures of this because it was a space I decided to do on my own. It sorta worked out because one of the daily tasks from the Challenge was something I didn't need to do, anyway.

One of the other tasks was mail storage, but I don't really get any mail except for the "junk" variety, so that just goes in the recycle bin, anyway. No need to organize that.

Today's task was the master closet, but being the go-getter that I am, I actually organized/purged my closet AND my husband's on the day that I organized our dressers. I didn't take any "Before" and "After" shots of that, so I guess I'm just ahead of the game. *patting self on back*

So, that's what I've been up to lately. There are only a couple of days left in the "21 Days to Get Organized" Challenge and I'm so glad that I participated. It has definitely helped me stick to my organization goal from the beginning of the month and has helped me feel like I can accomplish something. I've been coming up with ideas for other challenges I can give myself that I'm hoping will help me stick with some of my other year-long goals.

Keeping Warm

2011-01-14T18:29:00.000-05:00

It's pretty safe to say that I've gotten my money's worth out of this little kettle so far this winter. It and Alpine Hot Apple Cider are my new best friends! I bought the kettle with some birthday money a few weeks ago, and I have been using it daily - sometimes even multiple times a day. It's tough for a bald girl to stay warm, I tell ya!

Organization Day 12 - Spice Cabinet

2011-01-14T15:56:00.003-05:00

Truth be told, this is a pretty boring post. Today was another easy organization task which I attribute it to my nifty spice rack and my lazy-susan. They are both fairly simple and straightforward, so they never really get disorganized.

Before:

After:

All I really did here was put all of the extracts and sprinkles in container, and put everything back on the lazy-susan that had migrated to other parts of the shelf.

All I did here was straighten the jars, and face all of their labels forward.

Yet one more chore to check off of the list!

Organization Day 11 - Freezer

2011-01-13T14:30:00.003-05:00

I am officially caught up with all of the organization days, and am now halfway through the entire challenge! It has felt good to get these tasks done, especially since a lot of them aren't things that I would normally think to do on a regular basis. Today's task was the freezer. It took me all of 10 minutes to complete, if that. It's a small freezer to begin with, but then throw in the fact that it's time to go grocery shopping - it makes for a very empty freezer.

Before:

After:

I mainly just had to throw stuff out. There were a few freezer-burnt items, unidentified objects, and a few gross things that no one was ever going to eat again. That made for an easy job today! And who knew that I had so much butter in the freezer? I think I inadvertently buy butter thinking, "You can never have enough!"

Organization Day 10 - Laundry Room

2011-01-12T14:18:00.000-05:00

You would think that since I just organized the pantry last week, the entire laundry room would have been fairly easy. It was, in a way, but I didn't realize how much "stuff" I had just lying around in there. It was good to purge the space of junk and to put things away in their rightful spots elsewhere in the house.

Before:

I was in the middle of doing laundry, so that definitely added to the cluttered feeling of the room. Luckily it was easy to remedy.

After:

I love having a clean dryer surface, minus the change box, of course.

Ahhh.... So much better! I have to say, the laundry room is probably one of my favorite places to be when its clean like this. I'm addicted to the smell of laundry detergent, so whenever I set foot in here and smell that wonderful smell, I like to hang out. Maybe that's why I don't mind doing laundry so much (putting it away is another story, though.)

I had a few not-often-used chemical-ish things that I wanted to keep out of reach of the kiddos, so I just placed them all in a bin so that I could keep everything together. I also found a basket that I could use for unmatched socks instead of an old USPS box that had been sitting on the dryer.

Organization Day 9 - Toy Room

2011-01-11T14:02:00.000-05:00

I wasn't too motivated to do the toy room. I usually have it as organized at it can be, and I'm waiting on my husband's promotion to kick in so I can get the shelves and bins that I've been really wanting. I straightened it anyway, however, so maybe I will just have to do a follow-up post of the real completed organization project. Here's how it went this time, though...

Before:

After:

I have so many visions of what I want to do with this space. My main idea involves having shelves to put all of the toy bins on, as well as all the little items that need a place other than the floor. I have the IKEA Expedit shelves in mind for that. They would be perfect!

Organization Day 7 & 8 - Pantry and Coat Closet

2011-01-10T17:05:00.004-05:00

Yes, I realize I have yet to post "Day 6." That's the day that should have been "dresser drawers," but I took the weekend off, so I'm a little behind. I just happened to get the "days 7 & 8," - pantry AND coat closet - done today because they are now one and the same. I killed two birds with one stone. Yay for me!

Before:

This is an old picture of where the new location of the pantry is going to be. I forgot to take a "before" picture today, but it basically looks the same.

After:

The pantry is gone, and I finally have a coat closet! I had been meaning to do this for a while, so it worked out that the pantry and coat closet "days" were right after each other. It's so nice to have a place to put my purse and diaper bag, not to mention a place to hang everyone's coats. Normally they just littered the floor of the family room. It's also nice to have more shelf space. See that big binder at the top? That's everything I have to do for my Family Child Care certification. Let's just say that it's a tad bit overwhelming.

The new "pantry." This will be a more convenient location than the hall closet was. I never realized how many condiments I had. They take up an entire shelf!

The new resting place for the hutch. This will be more convenient, also. I needed more storage space for my pots.

Another closet that I organized. There wasn't a before picture because I forgot. There really wasn't much change, though. I just moved a couple of things from this shelf and put them in the coat closet.

Here's hoping I can get caught up on my other organization tasks tomorrow!

Organization Day 6 - Dresser Drawers

2011-01-09T13:49:00.001-05:00

I finally got around to doing my dressers. I had lots of laundry that needed to be done, so I figured that instead of organizing just a small amount of what belongs in the drawers, I would wait until all the laundry was done and put everything in its rightful place. I'm glad I waited. I was able to get everything done, and it looks so much better than before!

Before:
Dresser #1

I will be so glad when I can get rid of this monstrosity. We bought it off of one of my husband's coworkers a few years ago. I'm at the point where I'm getting tired of having second-hand bedroom furniture, and I would like to have something of my own choosing. Until I can find something better, though, I will just have to make due.

Dresser#2

This dresser comes courtesy of my middle school days. It's been with me for that long! I would love to get rid of it and have just one dresser, but until that happens, my husband and I are stuck with this little guy.

After:
Dresser #1

This is mostly full of my husband's things, so we'll see how long the organization lasts. Hopefully he even notices that everything is organized!

Dresser #2

I purged a lot of junk from these drawers, and I finally have space for everything I need to keep in here.

Organization Day 5 - Under the Kitchen Sink

2011-01-07T16:00:00.000-05:00

I'm very limited on space under the sink, but that doesn't keep it from getting messy.

Before:

I pulled everything out to take inventory of what exactly was in there.

I then saw how nasty the floor of the cabinet was, so I wiped that up as well.

After:

The dish rags in the box were getting a little bothersome, so I found a new home for them elsewhere in the kitchen. Other than that, all I really had to do was wipe up the cabinet, and place everything back in a more organized fashion. Now, the kitchen sponges have a spot in the little basket instead of just littering the floor of the cabinet.

Bring on Day 6!

Organization Day 4 - Linen Closet

2011-01-07T15:00:00.000-05:00

This was a space that really needed some TLC. Lately it seems like I just shove everything in, not caring how nicely it's organized. This gave me a chance to not only straighten it, but to gather up things around the house that normally belong there.

Before:

I had bags of scrap fabric that needed a better home, and countless blankets and towels that needed to find their way back into this habitation.

After:

Ahhh... Much better.

Organization Day 3 - Tupperware Cabinet

2011-01-07T13:00:00.000-05:00

My "tupperware" cabinet was fairly organized, but I decided that I didn't really like the way I had it set up. I did a little re-organization of a couple of cabinets to make them more user-friendly - put more-used items in better reach than less-used items. I know it doesn't look like I did much, but now I have things just a little bit better accessibility-wise than they were before.

After:

Organization Day 2 - Computer Desk

2011-01-07T07:00:00.002-05:00

(I'm a little behind the actual "21 Days" group, so there will be a few posts all at once until I'm officially caught up.)

Okay, so I don't have a computer desk. I don't even have a surface where I regularly keep my computer, unless you count my lap. I did what Toni suggested, and I looked around my house to find another surface that desperately needed to be organized. There was no question that it was myy shoe cabinet in the front entryway. It's a catch-all for just about anything.

Case in point:

I put everything in it's rightful place, despite being tempted to just shove it into the drawer right there. That would have totally undone everything I did in my last project, right?

This is what it looks like now:

We'll see how long this lasts. My husband has yet to come home and that's where he dumps his keys/wallet/badge and whatever else is in his pockets. Let's hope we can keep it clean!

Day 1 of Organization - Junk Drawer(s)

2011-01-06T17:27:00.006-05:00

I tackled my junk drawers today. Yes, I said "junk drawers" with an "s." I have at least 3. I'm only documenting two because the third was already pretty organized. The other two, however... Oh boy. Just take a look:

Pretty bad, huh? They desperately needed a good cleaning, so it was a great way to start off my organization goals.

I started by taking everything out...

(Pay no attention to the mess up top. That's another project to be documented for another day!)

And throwing it on the floor...

And done! The drawers are clean!

Just kidding. I managed to find rightful homes for all of the items that needed a home, and threw away a lot of junk that seemed to have no reason to be there at all.

Here are the finished projects!

Whew! That felt good to get those done. On to the next project...

Getting Organized

2011-01-05T12:43:00.002-05:00

It's fate! Just yesterday I posted about how I want to get my home more organized, and today my friend posted a link to a blog that will help me do just that! (Yes, Brittany, I'm a copycat.) So this is the deal...

21 days to get organized. I'm a little behind, so hopefully I can catch up.

Wish me luck!

The New Year

2011-01-04T10:21:00.002-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about resolutions over the last week or so. I don't really like to make resolutions because I never stick with them. I would rather set goals and slowly work toward reaching them as opposed to trying to change a whole bunch of things at once, only setting myself up for failure in the end. These are some things that I hope to accomplish in the coming year:

- Read the Book of Mormon - cover to cover - at least once this year. I am ashamed to say that I have never done that. I'm sure that in all the studying I've done in my life, I've probably read everything in it, but not in order. I figured that if I can read an entire 3-book series in one week (I just finished The Mortal Instruments series), why can't I read a book that my entire faith is based on? This is one goal that I feel is probably the most important one I could set for myself this year.

- Finish up my Family Child Care certification. It seems like there are many things to get done, but they're not hard, so I just need to do it one step at a time.

- Make my home more organized physically. This is going to be very dependent on funds, seeing as how I need lots of shelving and storage containers, but I can make due in the mean time. Until I can acquire those things, I can find a place for everything, regardless of whether or not it's in its permanent home.

- Do more sewing projects. I would really like to make myself a skirt or two, an apron, and maybe some beanbag chairs for the boys.

- Take more photos. Lately it seems like I've just been pulling my camera out for special occasions, and sometimes not even then. I would really like to improve my photography skills, and I can't do that without taking photos.

- On that note, I need to back up my photos regularly. I learned a valuable lesson this last year about how technology can fail me. I don't want that to happen again.

- I would really like to start exercising. Recently I've been realizing just how out-of-shape I'm really in. I'm not fond of running, and I would just waste a gym membership, so I'm trying to come up with things that I would enjoy and be able to stick with. (Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated!)

- Be proactive about getting my hair to grow back. I haven't done any kind of treatment in over six years, and I figured it's time to try something. I can't just keep wishing that it will come back on its own. I don't think that's ever going to happen. I CAN do things that may trigger it wake up and start growing. Here's hoping!

- Be more girlie - wear makeup regularly, paint my nails, wear heels more often, wear fewer sweatshirts and lounge pants. This might sound silly, but I think it would help me feel better about myself. I don't necessarily feel bad about myself, but being in a house full of boys definitely makes me feel less like the "girlie girl" I enjoy being.

I think those are some good goals to start with. Here's to a productive year and the chance to better myself inside and out!

What are your goals for 2011?

If I could have hair...

2011-01-03T20:05:00.003-05:00

...it would be fun for it to look like this:

Just wishful thinking.

Replacement Hard Drive

2010-12-23T09:09:00.002-05:00

I'm finally getting my hard drive replaced.
Remember when it died a couple of months ago? Since that day, I've had a difficult time finding things to blog about. I think I have mourned its loss long enough, though, and come to terms with the fact that I didn't lose as much as I thought I had. There are plenty more memories to be made! I'm hoping that with this new (or new-to-me) hard drive, my desire to blog will be renewed. I mean, come on, it's been over 2 months since the last time I posted! I'm sure you've really missed me, huh?

On another note, I've rediscovered my love for one of my lenses, so I've been taking more photos. With Christmas just two days away, and New Year's on its way, there are lots of fun times to be had. That means lots of photos! (At least, I hope!)

I love storms.

2010-10-11T22:13:00.005-04:00

Fact: Taking photos of lightning is addicting.

It's always a fight to see if I can get a better shot, especially when it's so difficult to really get a good one. For me - a novice when it comes to photography - it takes probably 1 in 30 shots where I am actually able to capture a flash of lightning.

Most of the time, I don't even have my camera pointed in the right direction. That's when I tell myself, "Keep going. You're bound to get a good one!" And I end up standing outside until the storm passes, or my husband drags me inside, or it starts raining. (Hopefully I'm smart enough to know when I'm putting myself in danger, as well, eh?)

It's not just the photography aspect, though. I just love watching nature, in general. I've finally convinced my 4-year-old that lightning and thunder are things to marvel at and not be afraid of.

He will be very disappointed that he slept through tonight's storm, but hopefully the pictures I took will make him happy!

My Mantra

2010-10-08T14:38:00.003-04:00

Lately, I've found myself looking at the talents and abilities of other people and I am just in awe. Sometimes I think to myself, "I'd never be able to do that!" In an effort to not get down on myself, my mantra lately has been:

"I do have talents, but just like anyone else, I have to learn what they are and use them. They might not be exactly like anyone else's, but I do have potential."

Lost the will to blog...

2010-10-05T10:11:00.006-04:00

This may border on the over-dramatic, but it's been tough nonetheless...

Last week, my external hard drive decided to stop working (probably due to the fact that my 2-year-old knocked it off of the kitchen table). The hard drive housed ALLLLLL of my photos from the beginning of time (as my husband put it), or rather, the beginning of our marriage. It was pretty heartbreaking. Thankfully, I somehow had the inspiration to copy the majority of my original photos to Flickr the week before, starting with the photos from 2003 and making it to May 2009 before the hard drive crashed. I basically lost the majority of my photos from June 2009 to June 2010. My husband was able to salvage any edited photos from the last year, but I still lost hundreds, plus quite a few videos of my kiddos. It's just been hard thinking about all the things that happened in the last year, and having lost some of the physical evidence of what occurred.

I haven't felt like blogging because every time I think about adding photos to my posts, it reminds me of what I lost.

I guess in retrospect, I still have the most important photos, and it could have been worse - I could have lost EVERYTHING. I'm now trying to backup what I can and move on.

I'll try to get some new posts up soon!

Feelings of Fall

2010-09-20T12:41:00.004-04:00

The tree behind our house just starting to change.

It's been so nice having the temperatures cooler and there being a crispness to the air. Usually that crispness comes in the mornings, and by afternoon it's still around 80 degrees, but the weather is finally bearable. That means the boys and I have been on lots of walks, and we have been expending lots of energy.

The walks also mean the beginning of finding acorns in the wash:

I don't know why, but it just does.

New Phone

2010-09-17T09:49:00.004-04:00

After a whopping 4 days, I went back to having a cell phone. I got rid of my Verizon account (I was paying for service in an area that really didn't get any service), and switched over to AT&T. I didn't think I was going to make the switch so soon, but I'm so glad to have a cell phone again...

Especially since it's this little baby:

I'm having a lot of fun with its camera and some great apps:

And I've decided I need to spend some time reading the dictionary.
I'm addicted to Scrabble.

Fall is for Fantasy

2010-09-13T08:57:00.005-04:00

Yes, it is that time of year. Fantasy Football is up and running in my household. This past weekend marked the 4th year that I have been participating in my husband's family's fantasy football league. It all started as a way for me to show Brett support by participating in something he loves, but as it turns out, I really enjoy it as well. I also figured that as long as we would be watching every football game, I might as well have a reason to be invested in the games.

There's no telling how this season will go. I do know one thing, though: The family champion has never won two years in a row. So, instead of getting to do this again:

I will end up looking like this:

Here's hoping that I can break the champion losing streak!

Blessings

2010-09-09T12:43:00.006-04:00

The other night, I was feeling a little down-in-the-dumps about my lack of hair and how bad my skin has been lately. {Just typing that out makes me feel silly.} I was thinking to myself, "If I can't be blessed with hair, couldn't I have at least been blessed with good skin?!"
And right then, I reprimanded myself.

I then told myself, "Self, how could you be so ungrateful?!"

As I began to think more and more about that, I thought about how blessed I really am.

I have legs that can run...

I have arms that can hold my boys...

I have hands that can work...

I have eyes that can watch a beautiful sunset...

I have ears that can hear my boys' sweet giggles...

I have the potential to learn...

I have the potential to do anything I want to do...

I have people that love me...

I am blessed.

Who needs good skin/hair, anyway?

7th Anniversary

2010-09-09T09:58:00.009-04:00

I feel so out of it. I completely forgot to blog about one of the most exciting things that have happened to me in a while:

On August 6th, my hubby and I celebrated our 7th anniversary!

Now, I've heard of the 7-year itch, but for me, I think it's more like the "lucky 7." Every year, I realize more and more how lucky I am to be married to such a wonderful man. It's crazy to think about all that has happened in the last 7 years. Here's a little breakdown of just some of the exciting things we've done...

Times we've moved:
13

Number of states we've lived in:
6

Children:
2 silly boys

Number of times we were chased by a bear:
1

Visits to Seattle:
1 (but wish it were more)

Visits to San Diego:
2

Times we were stuck in Wyoming because of snow storms:
Once (and once was definitely enough for us)

Trips to Disneyland:
2

Times we've driven from Colorado to Utah:
too many to count

Amount of times we've driven across the country:
4

Visits to Cedar City, UT to Celebrate our Anniversary:
3

And that's where we got to spend this year. We left our two boys with Brett's parents and had 4 days to do whatever just the two of us felt like. It was so much fun and a much-needed getaway. It had been 4 years since we had a chance to do anything fun for our anniversary. We took full advantage of our freedom and saw plays, golfed, admired the natural beauty of the area, visited my old college stomping grounds, and visited with my family who happened to be in town with us.

It will be interesting to see what happens for us in the next 7 years. I know one thing is for certain, though: I wouldn't want to spend those years with anyone but my Brettsy.

Photo Shoot

2010-09-09T09:37:00.009-04:00

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take some family pictures for my sister-in-law and her sweet family. This was my first time ever doing this, and I think she put more confidence in my skills than I think they deserved. I'm happy with the way they turned out, even though I've realized there is still a lot for me to learn.

Here are a few of my favorites...

Missing Good Food...

2010-08-31T16:36:00.006-04:00

Today, as I planned my grocery list and menu for the next couple of weeks, I couldn't help but think about all of the good food I had while I was in Utah. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. If you're ever in the neighborhood, hit up a place or two. You won't be disappointed...

In 'n Out - Locations now residing up and down the Wasatch Front
(and in AZ, Vegas, and CA, if you're into that kind of thing)

Idle Isle - Brigham City, UT
The best place to find these:

These are what dreams are made of.

Maddox - Perry, UT
Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The homemade rolls and homemade raspberry butter are to die for.

Pepperbelly's - Kaysville, UT
I come here for one thing, and one thing only: the nachos. Mmmmm...

Mandarin - Bountiful, UT
The best. Chinese food. Ever. Try the sizzling rice soup. I could eat that for every meal for the rest of my life and never get sick of it.

Milt's - Cedar City, UT
Amazing steaks! The filet mignon is my particular favorite.

Others not pictured:

Osaka - Provo, UT
Delicious Japanese food. Their donburi bowls are a staple in my family. The owners know my family so well, we could say "we'll have the usual" and they'd know exactly what we want.

Cafe Rio - all over Utah
I've been known to crave their sweet pork burritos or salads. Best thing about the burritos is they reheat a lot better than the salads. It's hard to eat the whole thing in one sitting!

Preschool?

2010-08-20T11:47:00.003-04:00

I'm very conflicted as to what to do about Brady's Preschool situation. With all the craziness of moving and vacations and such this summer, I didn't get Brady on any waiting lists for Preschool. Now they are either too full, or too expensive, not to mention the fact that I don't have the means to get him to and from some sort of establishment during the day. I am opting to teach him at home with a program my sis-in-law is lending me, but I feel bad about him not having the social interaction an actual Preschool would provide. He's a smart cookie already, so I'm not worried about that sort of transition into Kindergarten next year, but do you think Preschool is absolutely necessary? Will he be okay? Am I a bad mom for keeping him home? I'm really struggling with this...

Home Again

2010-08-17T21:49:00.002-04:00

I arrived back in Maryland late, late last night.

Today has been a day to regroup, replenish, and restock. After having been gone for three weeks, there wasn't much in the fridge that was still edible.

I had a wonderful time in Utah, and I can't wait to start posting about the things we did. There were restaurants, amusement parks, swimming pools, and family get-togethers. Oh, and my first-ever photo shoot. I'm still in the process of going through all of the pictures of said adventures, so as soon as I can unpack not only my suitcases, but my brain as well, I'll have lots to talk about!

See you on the flip side!

Burger, Fries, and a Shake...

2010-07-27T17:08:00.003-04:00

and now it's in my hometown...

Mmm... I love Utah.