Dizzy

Happy Birthday, Lil' Sis!

2012-02-05T17:43:00.001-05:00

Photo Credit: The ever talented Bethany Roesler

She turned 2 yesterday. I love everything about my little princess. Like how when she smiles, she tilts her head to the side. And how she calls every snack food "cookies". And how she loves her big brother. And how she squeals with delight almost everytime she sees me. And how she sings ALL THE TIME.

Happy Birthday, pretty girl. Momma Loves You!

Finally!

2012-01-13T12:42:00.001-05:00

It snowed here yesterday, and all I've got to say is it's about time! I took the day off of work for health reasons, and spent the morning outside with my lil miss.

Homemade Holidays 2012

2011-12-15T14:22:00.001-05:00

So I made a few changes around here...hope you like it!

I've been busily working on Christmas presents. It's our 2nd DIY Christmas, and I have to say that I love it. I think homemade gifts are the best kinds of gifts.

Did you make any Christmas gifts this year?

That's What Pinterest Means to Me My Love...

2011-12-12T20:25:00.000-05:00

Hopefully you have Stevie Wonder in your head now...honestly not the worst thing to have stuck in your head, right?

Okay, so everyone is obsessed with Pinterest, myself sorta included. Here's the deal, Pinterest and I have a great love/hate relationship. Here's what I hate about Pinterest:
-It takes so much memory to run the site that my computer is constantly freezing while I use it.
-I will have people that repin my pins and I will get an email about it, but my recent activity doesn't always reflect those things.
-Apparently your Pinterest profile has a wall. Did you know that? I didn't until a very kind stranger commented on my profile and when I went to comment back, it took me half an hour just to figure out how to do that. And as I noted above, the recent activity doesn't update all the time, so I have no idea of knowing if my comment actually made it to this person's wall. Yeah.

But in spite of those things, I do love Pinterest. Here's why:
-Pinterest inspires me to be a better homemaker. I see all the great easy recipes, cleaning and organizing tips, mealplanning sites, etc. and it makes me want to do better in my own home. I have been trying 2 or 3 new recipes a week, all of them have come from Pinterest. I've been wanting to switch from chemical cleaners to all natural ones for a while, but I finally started to make the switch after seeing a recipe for homemade dishwasher detergent (mix equal parts baking soda and borax). I am starting to enjoy doing everyday tasks because Pinterest is always giving me new ideas on how to manage my home.
-Pinterest inspires my creativity. I love crafting, and Pinterest is brimming with craft tutorials. More than once have I seen an easy craft, decided I wanted to try it, and actually completed it in the same day. It also inspired me to break out my ModPodge to repurpose some boxes into cute storage containers. A month ago I saw a pin for crochet school, and now I know how to crochet. Love it. :)
-Pinterest helps my closet. I've been inspired by outfits I see on Pinterest and now look at my closet a bit differently.

So there. The obligatory "this is how much I love Pinterest" post. Below are a few of my favorite pins so far. If you aren't on it yet and would like an invitation, comment on this post with your name and email and I will send one your way.

Frito Chili Pie - Holy Crap Delicious. Hubby loved this.

Source: pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com via Nancy on Pinterest

Super Cute Outfit Idea-I have very similar pieces and recreated this outfit over the weekend.

Source: simplyme091909.blogspot.com via Nancy on Pinterest

I'm also seriously contemplating a dramatic pixie haircut...plenty to choose from on Pinterest.

Source: life.com via Nancy on Pinterest

DIY Photo project...would bring a ton of color and personality to our boring drab apartment.

Source: smallchichome.com via Nancy on Pinterest

Here's the dishwasher detergent recipe...I store mine in a gallon container.

Source: kingdomfirstmom.com via Nancy on Pinterest

Pinterest also has it's fair share of humor...

Source: roadkilltshirts.com via Nancy on Pinterest

My family loved this recipe for Hawaiian Chicken.

Source: shannonhaynes.blogspot.com via Nancy on Pinterest

Free pattern for crochet blanket. Super cute :)

Source: crochetme.com via Nancy on Pinterest

And since Pinterest is making this process of embedding photos extremely difficult, I'll post more later. Happy Pinning!

Stroller Seat

2011-12-02T08:40:00.001-05:00

After my children mutilated the seat on our doll stroller, I sat down with some scraps and made a new one. I used the straps and elastic from the old one, so the cost was less than $1.

Rolled Rosettes

2011-10-02T22:01:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, I'm posting a project that I made. It's a super easy, quiet, no skill required craft that is super cute and super versatile.

It's a Rolled Rosette!

It's so easy, I could do it. And you could easily make 5 or 6 while the kiddos are sleeping.

I used this tutorial for inspiration, but I cheated a little bit and used FabriTac instead of sewing them.

I glued mine to an aligator clip and pinned in my hair for this photo, but I'm thinking this could be super cute pinned to a sweater or a purse.

However you wear it, you will look super crafty!!

Enjoy!

Surprise!

2011-09-30T14:59:00.001-04:00

Here I am!

Worst. Blogger. Ever.

2011-09-06T22:05:00.000-04:00

That would be me, folks. I've been crazy busy with working 2 jobs and taking care of my family, blogging has been on the back burner.

WW Update:
I'm the worst dieter ever. No, probably not ever. But I really do stink at dieting. I've lost 16 lbs, and that happened about 8 weeks ago. I'm really struggling lately to stay on plan. And forget about exercise. It doesn't happen. I'm hoping to follow through with the 30 Day Shred starting in about 5 minutes, and I spent some time tonight preping healthier lunches and snacks. Can't someone just lose the weight for me? I'll give you a cookie!

Sigh.

Going so fast...

2011-08-15T21:35:00.005-04:00

Is it really mid August already? And has it really been a month since my last post?

Yikes. Here's what's been happening in my dizzy little life.

I sang at a beautiful wedding for my friend Brittany. She was STUNNING and the ceremony was amazing, especially when their parents came up after they lit the unity candle and prayed with them. So amazing.

I went to BAND CAMP! I don't have any pictures, but I can describe it in a three words. Hot. Long. SUNBURN.

I've been working on my photography skills. Learning to take good photos is just as important as knowing how to edit them. I'm in love with my camera's burst feature. I'm in the market for a new camera soon, and as much as I would love to look for a fancy schmancy camera, I know that it's not something I'm going to be able to use well. So if you have any recomendations for a good point and shoot camera, please let me know!

Looking forward to some party planning (Aiden will be 3 in a month). He's requested the train cake below and lot's of things that are "green like Percy", the green engine from Thomas the Train.

Coming up: MORE BIRTHDAY STUFF!!! Stay tuned!

Angel...

2011-07-14T10:26:00.004-04:00

Yes, this is my daughter eating breakfast on the table. I'd like to point out that I did not put her there, and that the yogurt is not hers, it's Dizzy's. So imagine my surprise when I found my sweet little angel sitting on the table eating her brother's breakfast. And yes, I let her stay there long enough for me to get my camera and take a few pictures.

Sigh. How do you not love this face? Even if she is a little stinker...

Green is my favorite color.

2011-07-11T10:56:00.005-04:00

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I'm not very eco-friendly. I recycle paper and cardboard at work, but that's it. Want to know why? (This is probably the most embarrassing part) It's not very convenient to recycle at our home.

I'm also addicted to shopping. I'm guilty of thinking that I need something that is definitely not something I really need.

I saw this video on one of my favorite blogs, and it blew my mind on so many levels. The crap that I buy has so much impact on so many levels...it honestly makes me sick.

So the video is a little long (for a youtube video) but I think it's worth the time to watch it. I'm thinking some more posts about changing my consumer based lifestyle are coming soon.

The Kate Middleton

2011-07-04T19:46:00.003-04:00

This pic didn't work out in my earlier post, and I had to share it with you. Truth is that I'm too lazy to fix it in the other post. So enjoy. :)

Happy Birthday America!

2011-07-04T19:42:00.005-04:00

We celebrated our independance yesterday with our family at the beach, and today, we celebrated by doing laundry. Then my husband exercised his right to bear arms and "went out and shot stuff". I took a nap. Hope you had a great holiday weekend.

Do I Dare...

2011-06-24T11:55:00.002-04:00

My mane is too long. Do I dare go for this?? We shall see...:)

Sunshine.

2011-06-20T22:49:00.001-04:00

This girl is pure sunshine. :)

Try It On...

2011-06-18T20:34:00.005-04:00

I've been looking around online for a new hairstyle. I usually have no problem just having my hair chopped off, but for some reason I'm a bit nervous. I found this really fun page on the InStyle website where you can try out celebrity hairstyles.

Well, I just had to share a few with you...

The Charlize Theron

The Carey Mulligan...

And last but not least..

The Kate Middleton.

Which one do you like best?

Just a Moment

2011-05-26T12:23:00.003-04:00

I'm taking a quick moment out of a very busy day (working (SOOO busy!!), Lil' Sis' doctor appointment, and OV graduation) just to say thanks.

Thanks for reading my blog.

Thanks for showing up every once in a while.

Thanks for commenting.

I know that I don't share anything of real great importance, but I just want you to know that I appreciate you.

Thanks.

I'm out of Control!

2011-05-24T15:40:00.004-04:00

Somedays I feel so out of control with my diet it's unreal. I can do really well during the day, then as soon as those babies are in bed, I'm in the kitchen rooting around for a snack. I'll justify it with a dumb excuse, like "You didn't use all your points today, you can eat that bowl of cereal, no biggie." Then after I'm done eating it I feel like junk.

I have this approach to exercise where I know that I'll never do a workout and regret that I did it, where if I don't exercise when I should, I will regret not doing it (read it a few times, it'll make sense eventually). I need to have a similar approach to food. I will not regret skipping the late night snacks, but I will regret it if I choose to eat it.

I read this on a blog the other day and it's something to think about:

"(ask) yourself what you would do if your child came to you and he or she was tired, or crabby, or scared, or lonely, or bored. Would you make them feel better by shoveling food into their mouths? Or would you try to understand what was really going on and give them emotional support and love?"

Hmm...worth thinking about next time I go for that late night snack.

WW Update:

Starting Weight: 181 lbs.

Current Weight: 172 lbs.

(9lbs in 9 weeks. It's okay, I wish it was more...)

Goal for the week: Eat more 0 point foods. Which translates into more fruits and veggies!!

A Gift to Share...

2011-05-19T14:53:00.003-04:00

I made wallpaper for my work desktop, and I wanted to share it with you! To download, right click on the image and click "save image as" to save it.

Wish I could say that this was inspired by reading CS Lewis, but it's actually inspired by one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists, Brooke Fraser.

Summer Lovin'

2011-05-12T12:30:00.000-04:00

It's going to be 84 degrees today, and I'm super psyched!! We're going to get a wagon this afternoon, then we'll be out strolling around the block.

I'm up to my eyes in colorguard auditions...tell you the truth this may be my toughest year yet. So many little things to consider...it's gonna be rough.

WW update...most of my pants are now too big. Woohoo! I'm down 8 lbs, hoping to make it 10 by the weekend. My treat for 10 pounds lost will be a new pair of shoes. I'm looking into getting a pair of Reebok Easy Tone shoes. Anyone have some? Thoughts?

SICK

2011-04-26T19:46:00.003-04:00

So, Easter Sunday in my house didn't go exactly as planned...Husband started throwing up on Saturday night, Mr. Dizzy started during the night, Lil' Sis' had diarhea...needless to say it was a mess. The Easter Bunny did not visit our house that day, and frankly I don't blame him. I had planned a photo shoot of my cutie pies in their Easter finest, but honestly they spent most of the day in nothing but diapers.
We decided that next Sunday will be Easter for us, and we'll take some photos then.
In the meantime, pray for some good health for our family. We're still feeling a little weak!

Tooth Fairy Pillow

2011-04-22T11:25:00.001-04:00

Check this out. So stinkin' cute I can hardly stand it.

Lesson Learned

2011-04-17T20:48:00.004-04:00

Sooo...not my best Weight Watchers week. I didn't gain, but I also didn't lose. I started out the week doing great. I weighed in on Thursday (I think it helps me to weigh in every few days, even though my official WW weigh in is on Sunday only), and already I had lost 2 pounds. Woohoo! And to make it even better, I hadn't tapped in to any of my weekly points or activity points for the week.

So, Friday came, and my hubby ordered Pizza Hut for lunch, which I found out after I had come home from work shortly after noon. My brain said, "Eh, one piece won't hurt you. You deserve it. Consider this a small reward for a job well done." One piece didn't hurt, it was slices 2 & 3 that caused me trouble. And the glass of Pepsi (not diet) that I drank with it. And the late night slice I ate later. Sigh.

Saturday I went to our church's annual women's conference, where we have something called "the grazing table". Everyone brings a snack to share and anytime you want something you just help yourself. Well, this year the only healthy thing on the table were apples. Let's just say that I didn't eat an apple.

So, the moral of the story for me is 1) one bad choice leads to another bad choice to another bad choice and so on, 2) my rewards need to be things not edible (new shoes or a mani/pedi or something else). Hope everyone has a great week full of good choices!

Product Review!3

2011-04-12T18:57:00.004-04:00

Product Review! I'm reviewing Clairol's Nice & Easy Color Blend Foam. Watch my video below for my thoughts about the product. Please excuse my bad lighting and sound. I used my webcam to make this...

Here are a few more things I think you should know...

The color I used was 6A-Light Ash Brown. Just FYI.

If you get any on your skin, use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to take it off.

There was something else, but I can't remember, so it probably wasn't that important. :)

Again, if you have any questions about my experience with this product, feel free to email me (price.nancy{a}gmail.com) or comment below.

Obsessed.

2011-04-08T18:03:00.004-04:00

If I wasn't obsessed with food before Weight Watchers, I definitely am now. All I can think about when I look at food is "How many points? How many points?". That's probably a good thing, but it makes me feel like my entire life revolves around what I eat. There's my gripe for the day. And I guess as long as we're talking about WW, I should tell you that I've lost 3.5 lbs so far. :) Although I may have just gained it all back last night when I took my best friend out for dinner at Brann's. Oh well, I'm still learning! Starting Weight: 180 lbs Current Weight: 177.5 lbs

Caving in.

2011-03-28T21:54:00.004-04:00

I joined Weight Watchers online this weekend. I've finally decided that it's time to stop messing around and it's time to get serious with my weight loss. I'm going to post updates, so stay tuned! Starting weight: 180 lbs. Goal: 130 lbs. :-)

Follow my blog with bloglovin

2011-03-21T22:46:00.003-04:00

I love me some bloglovin! Click on the widget in the sidebar to follow me (and all your favorites) on bloglovin!

Amoxi-what now?

2011-03-16T20:50:00.003-04:00

Mr. Dizzy woke up Saturday with a fever, kept it all day Sunday, then on Monday he went to the doc. Ear infection. His first one. Poor baby.

Now I've been spending my time forcing amoxicillin (sp?) down his throat and not blogging.

I'd also like you to know that I gave up caffeine for lent and have been succesful so far at keeping it away. I would like to strangle people sometimes, but I just breath, say "goosfraba", and move on. (It's rare that I get to reference Adam Sandler movies here, so I took the opportunity)

Happy Thursday!

It's a Major Award! Maybe it's a bowling alley...

2011-03-06T15:18:00.007-05:00

I've been awarded the Stylish Blogger Award by Anne at Serendipity! She also happens to be my aunt, but she swears it's not because we're related.

Part of the award is that I'm supposed to share 7 things about myself. I feel like I've been blogging long enough that I've shared all this before, but here goes!

1. I have a love/hate relationship with doing laundry. I love when it's done, but I hate doing it in the first place. Our apartment building has a laundry room, but it's expensive and the washers and dryers are old and in poor shape. I usually drag all my laundry to my parent's house, but it's not always time efficient. When we finally live in our own house, I am going to splurge and by the highest capacity, most energy efficient washer and dryer available.

2. I like watching Sesame Street with my kids because it's educational, and I still find it entertaining. I remember this clip from when I was a kid, and now Aiden loves to sing along to it.

3. "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." True. In my world though, it doesn't have to be Christmas. I sing loudly for all to hear ALL. THE. TIME. Usually show tunes. This does not always make others cheerful...

4. I get annoyed when bloggers I love don't update their blogs daily, yet I can't even manage once a week most of the time.

5. When I do something stupid, I tend to not only refer to myself in the third person, but by my maiden name. (ex. "way to go, ")

6. I let my kids watch way too much tv. Well, my husband leaves it on most of the day while I'm working, and when I get home it's a good distraction while I make dinner (translation: keeps them out of my way and happy at the same time). I validate this by telling myself "at least it's Sesame Street and Sprout, and not Spongebob." We're working on reducing the tv time.

7. I could care less about Charlie Sheen. I know this does not make me any different than about 95% of the population, but I thought I would share anyway. That is all.

So who am I going to bestow this honor upon now?
I'll leave a comment on your blog. Just copy and paste the badge above and post it to your own blog. Then tell us all 7 things about yourself. :-)

Coming Soon...

2011-03-03T15:54:00.003-05:00

I've got some exciting stuff in the works coming soon!

A new craft (I actually did this one myself, believe it or not!), product reviews, and lots of cute baby pics!

Are you pumped? I sure am!

Before you go away, make sure you head over to Red Plus One and say congratulations to my cousin on the birth of her adorable baby girl!

Lunch at Sam's Club

2011-02-25T17:44:00.001-05:00

Help With Meals

2011-02-15T11:05:00.004-05:00

I'm the worst meal planner ever. No joke. I tend to arrive at dinner time with absolutely no idea what I'm going to make. Dinners in our house tend to be very basic and just cover the basics. We don't have "Wow, this was so good we should eat it all the time" moments very often. I'm terrible at grocery shopping. I don't make lists and I often forget something(s) that I needed.

Dave Ramsey recommends E-Mealz, and I think I'm going to give it a try.

What do you think? Does it look like a good plan?

Quick Country Cobbler

2011-02-08T12:40:00.003-05:00

It's very rare that I'm in the mood to bake something, so last night when the mood struck me I pulled out this super easy recipe and made it. Then husband and I proceeded to eat half of it with vanilla ice cream. Not the best way to keep on track with my diet, but I'm tellin' ya, it was worth it. (not really, but you know what I mean)

No picture because I never think of it until after I've finished and it's almost gone. Sorry!

Quick Country Cobbler

1/2 cup butter (melted)
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup milk
3 cups fruit (fresh, frozen, canned, whatever - peaches, cherries, and berries work well)

Combine butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, and milk. Blend by hand and pour into 8x8 inch pan. OPTIONAL--Combine fruit with a little sugar (unless fruit was frozen with a sugar syrup). Pour fruit over batter. Bake at 375 for 30-50 minutes (depending on the fruit you use).

Helpful hint: bake until the top is not jiggly at all. If it jiggles, it means it's not done.

Last night I used peaches and strawberries. It was phenomenal.

Try it. You'll be glad you did!

Edit: WW Points per serving: 7 (reduce by using a whole wheat flour, and low fat milk)

You say it's your birthday...

2011-02-06T12:08:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday, 'Lil Sis!

Time for an Upgrade

2011-01-22T19:53:00.001-05:00

Yes, I'm changing my layout again. I can't help myself, I get bored easily. Bear with me while I make some adjustments. :-)

Blast from the Past

2011-01-15T17:11:00.003-05:00

Dizzy boy and his cousin at 2 months.

Awkward and Awesome Thursday

2011-01-13T14:05:00.004-05:00

I'm playing along with Sydney at The Daybook and doing a "Awkward and Awesome" post.
Not sure that this will happen every week, but today I was in the mood.

Awkward

Watching a salt truck slide through a red light. Awkward or ironic? Both?

A stranger talking to my baby girl in a store and calling her “he”. It’s especially awkward when Lil’ Sis’ is wearing pink head to toe.

Having my toddler come up randomly and poke my boobs. In public.

Attempting to get out of the car without taking off my seatbelt. I was unsuccessful.

Awesome

Wesco fountain vanilla coke. Seriously, the best ever.

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. Not kidding. I actually look forward to doing it.

5 years of marriage. Tomorrow. J

The Red Lobster we will enjoy when we go out on Saturday to celebrate. Can anyone say “Cheddar Bay Biscuits”?

For Laughs

2011-01-11T22:39:00.002-05:00

Step 1: Click here.
Step 2: Laugh your head off.

2011-01-11T21:26:00.004-05:00

Good thing I didn't resolve to blog more often, cause that would already be an epic fail.

I wanted to share with you how amazing God is, and how he protected my baby tonight. I made it seem like it was not a big deal on Facebook, but seriously, for a moment, I thought my baby was going to die.

Dizzy was playing by the sofa and accidently knocked over our floor lamp. The lamp fell and the glass shade broke. It landed inches away from Lil' Sis'. I saw the lamp fall from the other side of the room, and it was like slow motion. I was sure that it would land on the baby. And when it didn't, I was sure that she would have a huge shard of glass stuck in her somewhere.

This is how I know that God was protecting her.

She has a small scratch on her toe. That's it.

Thank you, God, for protecting my baby.

9 Things

2011-01-01T11:40:00.003-05:00

I was aiming for 11 (11 for 2011), then ended up with 9. Not calling them resolutions because they never last. Here's what I hope to accomplish in 2011:

1) Take better care of my body.
2) Create organization in my home that makes more sense.
3) Potty train dizzy boy.
4) Re-style my wardrobe.
5) Start saving money for my kids for college.
6) Watch less tv/read more.
7) Take more pictures of my kids.
8) Make some career/school decisions (more on that later)
9) Make an effort to look nice everyday. (harder than it sounds)

Adios, 2010!

2010-12-31T21:19:00.003-05:00

My brain is going a million different directions right now, I'm not really sure where this post is going. It would probably be for your benefit if you fastened your seatbelt...

Today was such a crazy day, I don't know that I even want to review it. Here are the notable events for the day...
1) Worked a half day, accomplished much.
2) Went grocery shopping, cut my trip short when I started feeling dizzy (I'm dealing with a nasty cold)
3) Tried to catch a short nap this afternoon, failed because my dizzy boy bonked me in the head with a cup.
4) Shared a wonderful meal with some dear friends.
5) While at friend's house, Dizzy boy fell and hit his melon, left with a lump about an inch long and half an inch wide.
6) After thorough examination by DH (he's almost an EMT), he concluded that he does not have a concussion but I'm keeping him up later just in case.

Geesh.

2010, it was great. Really. I had my daughter, Jack started school, my mom wasn't hospitalized at all, Dizzy turned 2...it was a good year. I'm not going to miss you though. Sorry.

Here's to 2011! Let's pray for a great year!

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

2010-12-30T10:39:00.002-05:00

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in.

I am lost...

I am helpless.

It is not my fault.

It takes forever to find my way out.

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don't see it.

I fall in.

I can't believe I am in the same place.

But it isn't my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it there.

I still fall in...it's a habit.

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

I walk down another street.

-Portia Nelson

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T22:09:00.002-05:00

I pray that you were blessed today!

At our church, we inherited a Ugandan saying where they say, "God is good, all the time, all the time, God is good, because that is His nature, WOW!" I'm reminded of this today as we celebrated with our family today. I hope that when you think about the good God has done in your life, your first response is "WOW!"

Merry Christmas.

Love,
Nan

Fears

2010-12-23T19:33:00.002-05:00

I check my blogroll everyday, and I have to confess that sometimes I just don't feel like reading some of the blogs on my list. Sometimes when I post, I wonder if anyone is going to read what I'm writing. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't want to be that blog that you don't feel like reading. I know I can be a bit schizophrenic sometimes with my content (weight loss, crafting, fashion, kids, etc...) but that's my life. I just hope that you all keep reading, whoever you are!

See you Later!!

2010-12-21T21:10:00.004-05:00

No Make It Monday this week...It's my last minute crunch for Homemade Holidays!

I'll hopefully post before the end of the week.

Style Confessions/New Year's Resolution #1

2010-12-17T09:46:00.005-05:00

I've been obsessed with style blogs lately. And although I don't always share the same taste in clothes as these ladies, I do have a lot of respect for the fact that they have their own style. Their clothes reflect their personalities wonderfully, and I'm soooo jealous of that.

Confession #1

I'm terrified of prints. Okay, maybe not terrified, but my mind automatically sees a print and labels it as "not versatile", which means my wardrobe is full of plain colors.

Confession #2

I'm also terrified of skinny jeans. Not that I'm ashamed of my legs, but I'm concerned that my heavier top half would only look bigger when I'm wearing skinny jeans.

Confession #3

I keep clothes that don't fit just in case they fit later. I know that's not so great, but I can't help but dream of the days before babies when I was a size 7. Getting rid of those clothes is like saying that I'll never fit into them again. :-(

Confession #4

I still wear maternity clothes. Not preggers, just like that they conceal my leftover tummy.

Confession #5 (probably the most important)

I hate most of the clothes I own. I bought them because I thought they made me look good, but they don't make me feel good. I now realize the importance of wearing clothes that make you feel good.

With all that said, my first new year's resolution is to develop more personal style. To find and wear clothes that I love.

I'm going to be following Kendi's advice over on Kendi Everyday for tips on how to Create a Working Closet, then go from there.

Thought of You

2010-12-16T15:44:00.001-05:00

Taza over at Rockstar Diaries posted this video a few days ago, and I can't stop watching it. It's incredibly beautiful.

Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

Make It Monday: Quilt Square Scarf

2010-12-13T15:08:00.002-05:00

Not much to say today. Take that back, I have a lot to say but not much time to say it. This is what my weekend looked like.

Friday: Errands and a Dr. appt. for Lil' Sis.

Saturday: Laundry and Children's musical at church (I was in it. Lot's of fun!)

Sunday: Worship Team in the AM, making sense of my home in the PM, splitting headache throughout.

Monday: Work, Dinner with Family, Cookie Exchange in the PM.

It's 3:15 ish right now, the cookie exchange is at 6:30, and I still have to finish baking cookies. Sigh.

This Make It Monday craft is definitely on my to-do list, it's so cute!!

Quilt Square Scarf from Happy Together.

This would be a great way to use up some scraps!

Make It Monday: The Buttercup Bag

2010-12-06T13:10:00.003-05:00

Last night I finished my first Buttercup Bag, and I was so excited to post the pics on here, and then I remembered that it's a Christmas present for someone who (I think) reads this blog, so I can't post my own pics. Sad.

This is super cute, and SUPER EASY! Seriously, if I can do it, so can you.

It took me about 2 hours start to finish, and the end product couldn't be any cuter.

Free Pattern from Made by Rae.

Homemade Holidays: T-minus 20 days...

2010-12-05T08:19:00.002-05:00

I had a minor freakout last night thinking about that. I have 6 presents finished and 9 to go. Which means that I need to do the following:

1) Sew during the day. I've been waiting until the kids go to bed to sew for safety reasons (pins, scissors, iron, sewing machine), but I can be more careful with where I leave things so there is no hazard.

2) FOCUS!! I've already confessed on here how easily I get distracted...

3) Stop writing this post and start sewing already!

And now, a photo of my little girl. Happy Sunday!

Dancing in the Minefields

2010-11-30T13:47:00.003-05:00

I love this. Hope you enjoy it!

Feelings

2010-11-29T14:50:00.002-05:00

Feelings about going back to work after a week off:

This morning-Yippee! Adult humans to speak to!!
This afternoon - Boo. Ready for another vacation.

Feelings about my Handmade Christmas projects:

Good. 15 gifts total to make, 5 done. Still time. Not worried. Yet.

Feelings about the dinner I ate last night:

Thank you Jesus. Really, besides my children that may have been your best work. Just Kidding. Sort of.

Feelings about the government and unemployment ending:

Thank you for sustaining my family. You could never understand how much I appreciate it. I pray that you lawmakers will never have to feel what it's like to lose your job when you have a wife and child at home, plus another baby on the way. Because of your faithful deposits into our bank account, we have not been in need of (almost*) anything. (*medical expenses, don't worry, out debt is paid)

Feelings about my daughter taking 3 steps this week:

Stop! Stay a baby forever please. Thank you.

That's what I'm feeling today. :-)

Make-It Monday: Hair Pretty's

2010-11-29T13:22:00.004-05:00

My philosophy when it comes to hair bows is that you can never have enough. I love that Lil' Sis has long enough hair to rock the "Pebbles" look, but it isn't the same without a 'hair pretty', which is what we call them around our house. Here's a super easy tutorial for felt hair pretty's, perfect for the little ladies in your life, courtesy of Jess at Craftiness is Not Optional.

She also has the option of making a little bow tie. Seriously cute.

Enjoy!

Make It Monday: Yarn Wreath!

2010-11-23T18:28:00.008-05:00

Yes, I am fully aware that it is not Monday. I spent the better part of Monday in Grand Rapids at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Outpatient Clinic with Mr. Dizzy. Don't panic, he's fine. Well, besides having chronic diarhea since, uh, forever. Take that and add the fact that he's not gaining weight like he should, and your doc sends you to the specialists (who were wonderful, kind, so patient, so helpful, and so loving to my precious boy). He's being tested for celiac disease, which would be an okay diagnosis. I just don't want him to have to be the kid who can't have birthday cupcakes at school because they make him sick, or that can't have a happy meal once in a while because he'll be sick. Sigh.

And then there was Tuesday, Wednesday, and today, Thanksgiving.

This would be a perfect craft to welcome guests to your home for the holidays.

I first spotted this on Etsy, and then found a diy tutorial. I've seen wreath forms at the dollar store, and yarn is available for very low cost ($2-$4 per skein).

Ready for it?

It's a Yarn Wreath!

This one is available from knock.knocking. for $70. Or you can make one for less than $10.

Check out the tutorial over on Take Heart.

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Falling Off The Wagon

2010-11-21T20:23:00.002-05:00

I'm so bad at following through with things. I'm not proud of this, but honestly, I get bored, and it doesn't take much to throw me off course. Specifically, I've fallen off the weight loss wagon, and I need to get back on. I'm proud to say that I've basically quit fast food (except for the occasional $1 coke and southwest salad from McDonalds), but I need to step up the exercise. As much as I wanted to keep myself accountable on this blog, it really doesn't work for me since I don't have to post if I don't want to.

I've also decided to set smaller goals for myself. For example, last week I bought a pair of super cute Silver brand jeans at Goodwill for $2.99 and chose not to try them on because my toddler was attempting to jump out of the cart. I tried them on at home and they almost fit (a little tight in the waist and thighs). I want to be able to wear them comfortably in 2 weeks, which I'm thinking is about 5 lbs.

200th Post!

2010-11-19T11:00:00.004-05:00

Isn't it awesome that my 200th post is about nothing amazing, just letting you know that I forgot a very important ingredient in my Ranch Mac & Cheese recipe below? I think I'm okay with that (the 200th post thing, not the missing ingredient thing).

Anyway, check below to see the revision.

And now, some balloons. See, I can be festive.

Ranch Mac & Cheese

2010-11-18T19:33:00.004-05:00

I like a challenge. And in my opinion, homemade mac & cheese is a challenge. I've tried so many recipes and have not been able to master the mac. Although this recipe is not a traditional mac & cheese recipe, after making this one I feel like maybe I'm making steps toward a great mac & cheese.

Ranch Mac & Cheese (adapted from Taste of Home) (Updated 11/19)

16oz. elbow macaroni
1 c. milk
1/4 c. butter
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. lemon pepper
1 pkg. ranch dressing mix
1 cup colby jack cheese
1 cup sharp cheddar
1 cup sour cream**
1/4 c. ritz crackers, crushed
1/4 c. parmesean cheese

Cook macaroni according to package directions. In meantime, mix milk, butter, seasonings, and ranch mix together in a large saucepan. Heat through. Add colby jack and cheddar. Stir to melt.

Drain pasta. Add sour cream to cheese sauce. Pour cheese sauce on pasta. Add crackers and parm. Mix together. Enjoy!

I imagine that if you could bake this if you want, just pour into a baking dish, sprinkle with crackers and parm and bake.

I would also like you to know that my toddler gobbled this up like he would never eat again. If only he would do that with broccoli...

Enjoy!

Make It Monday: Button Bouquet

2010-11-14T20:31:00.004-05:00

I adore this button bouquet from Dollar Store Crafts. It's very springy, but how cute would it be with leaves instead of flowers?

Homemade Holidays: For the Princesses

2010-11-11T18:08:00.003-05:00

I highly doubt that my nieces read my blog, so I'm going to share their Christmas gifts with you, and even the tutorial I used to make them.

My 2 beautiful nieces both love princesses, and they both love dress up, so I decided to make them each a tutu. I'll post some pics later, as the lighting was really bad when I finished them. One of them I made just like in the video below, the other I made with a elastic waistband. I also chose to buy tulle off the bolt instead of on a roll because it's cheaper. To finish off the gift, I'm going to get some princess wands, tiaras, wings, whatever else I can find at the dollar store.

To make your own tutu, watch this:

2010-11-08T17:44:00.000-05:00

Sharing a laugh.

Make-It Monday: Paper Ball Ornaments

2010-11-08T14:56:00.003-05:00

My Monday was off to a rough start. 4:30 wake up time, my toddler in time out twice before 5 am, just realized a few seconds ago that I forgot to put my contacts in (whoops!), yeah. It's been one of those days.

I'm looking forward to going home and working on Christmas presents. Since I'm not going to post (all of) what I'm planning, I thought I would share some cute craft ideas each Monday, and because I also forgot my creativity hat this morning, I'm going to call it "Make-It Monday" until I can think of something better.

There's nothing better than a simple craft with supplies that are (or can be) readily available. If you like to scrapbook, you could probably do this with no problem right now. If you don't scrapbook, you could find all the supplies you need at a major retailer (Target, Meijer, Walmart) if you feel intimidated by JoAnns or Hobby Lobby. I must admit that I'm one of those people who is a little overwhelmed by craft stores (can you believe I used to work at JoAnns?).

Anyway, here it is.

Paper Ball Ornaments

You can find the very simple tutorial at Design*Sponge.

This is a holiday specific craft, but you could use some fall-ish themed papers and use them as part of your fall decor.

There's nothing like a super cute, super easy craft.

Homemade Holidays

2010-11-05T23:17:00.003-04:00

It's not a new concept, but it's definitely new to me! I'm planning to make all the Christmas presents that we are going to give this year. Note the important word in that last sentence: planning. I'm still in the planning phase of this, but I'm going to do my darndest to actually complete it.
I would love to track my progress here, but unfortunately, many of the recipients of these gifts look at this blog and I don't want to give everything away. I'll post some pics after Christmas.

Here are the guidelines I'm following:
1) Everything must be handmade.

Yup. That's about it.

Have you started prepping for the holidays yet?

Wish I'd thought of this!

2010-10-31T21:16:00.004-04:00

On the go baby change kits. I think that sums it up pretty well.

Check them out on lovelydesign.

I've been scouring the web for cute diy gift ideas for Christmas (can't believe I just used the C-word!), and I keep finding things like this that I want to make for myself. Must. Focus!

Marcel the Shell

2010-10-28T22:41:00.002-04:00

This is too cute.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

My favorite part is when she talks about having a dog.
Enjoy!

This is the best reason...

2010-10-18T12:24:00.004-04:00

...to go to NYC I've heard in a long time.

3 words:

"Elf the Musical".

I'm not joking. Thank you, Mr. Thomas Meehan (writer) for taking 2 of my favorite things (Elf and musical theater), and creating what is sure to be a theatrical masterpiece.

The only problem: limited run.

Anyone up for a trip to the big apple before New Years Eve? :-)

OV Colorguard!

2010-10-15T23:26:00.001-04:00

In honor of our last home football game of the season, I give you,

The Orchard View Colorguard!

5 pretty girls!

They called this pose "mysterious eyes". So funny!

I've got a fever,

2010-10-07T15:01:00.004-04:00

and the only prescription, is to sew some baby stuff.

I'm not really a sewer. I dusted off my sewing machine last week so I could make flags for my colorguard. I forgot how to thread the bobbin.

I can make my way through a pattern, but I always struggle. But for some reason, I can't stop thinking about making clothes for my babies. I keep finding these sewing blogs where they make really cute bias skirts, jersey pants, and mod dresses, and I'm smitten. Once I'm done sewing flags for the season, I'm planning to start some projects. First on my list is jersey pants for both kiddos, followed by legwarmers for Lil' Sis'.

Kojo Designs

2010-09-27T15:40:00.002-04:00

I discovered these ladies by accident, but now I'm hooked on their blog, Kojo Designs. I'm especially in love with today's post, where they made shelves out of old text books.
Super cute!

Colorguard!

2010-09-22T07:24:00.005-04:00

Marching band season is in full swing, so I've been spending a lot of my spare time working on colorguard stuff. I know I'm kind of a nerd when it comes to guard stuff, but I can't help it. Here's my favorite guard video right now. It's the kind that makes me miss being in guard...

Someday I'll be brave and post a video of my guard... :-)

Very Funny...

2010-09-02T22:02:00.004-04:00

Afternoon at the Campground

2010-08-26T21:44:00.000-04:00

Jack, Mom, and Dizzy Boy

Upside Down!

Me & Lil' Sis

Papa & Lil' Sis

SPAM, SPAM GO AWAY!

2010-08-26T14:14:00.002-04:00

I've had a major issue lately with spamers commenting on my blog. This afternoon I was searching for a solution to my problem, when I discovered that the great folks at Google have stepped up security so this shouldn't be an issue any more. Thank you, Google, thank you.

Catching Up

2010-08-11T21:34:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted in a while 'cause life is busy. But here's what's happened since I last posted.

I went to band camp. Taught some kids some flag work. It was fun.

I didn't lose any weight, but I didn't gain any either. Eh.

My daughter is now sitting straight up without assistance. And not only can she sit up, she can pull herself into the sitting position. She's a baby rockstar!

I took my kids to the doc last week for checkups, and my son only gained 1/2 pound in the last 2 months (our goal is at least 2 pounds per month). So, we'll be going back in another month for his 2 year well child (2 years! Wowza!!) and we'll see if he's done any better. If his high metabolism and high activity level didn't help him with gaining weight, the fact that he's now in the toddler stage where he doesn't want to eat will definitely make it harder.

I think that's all for now. Hopefully life will slow down soon...probably not.

2010-07-24T14:53:00.000-04:00

My sweet little girl!

Happy Birthday, Jack!

2010-07-18T20:23:00.004-04:00

My hubby turns 24 tomorrow.

Jack, I'm so honored to be your wife. I love you more every day, every month, every year... Here's to 100 more happy birthdays!

It Was a Bad Weekend

2010-07-12T21:31:00.002-04:00

For weight loss, that is. I gained 3 lbs. My dear husband has tried to cheer me up by saying that it's okay to break from your diet once and a while so your body doesn't get used to the diet and it stops being effective. I'm sure he's right, but I don't think it should be only 3 weeks in.

Sigh.

Starting weight: 180 lbs.
Current Weight: 175 lbs.

Must Read.

2010-07-11T21:44:00.003-04:00

I'm sure I've posted about how much I love the Stuff Christians Like blog before, but I can't help myself from posting about it again.

If you're a crafty christian, read this.

If you're a worship leader, read this and this.

If you're neither, read them anyway. Funny, funny, funny stuff.

Shared Spaces

2010-07-08T22:10:00.002-04:00

For a shared room, I love these:

Both from Pottery Barn Kids.

Random Product Review: Baby Spoons

2010-07-08T21:47:00.003-04:00

I know, a spoon is a spoon, right? Wrong!! This is probably the wierdest post I've written in a while, but as I was feeding my daughter tonight, I was thinking about how much I love the spoon I was using and how I should review a few different spoons on my blog. I'm going to blame the wierdness on sleep deprivation...

Gerber Soft Bite (no pic, but click on the name for a link)

I bought these because I like the soft coat and that it's not very deep. It's the perfect size for my 5 month old's mouth. My only issue with these is that they are not very durable. They stain pretty easily and do not do well in the dishwasher.

Take & Toss Infant Spoons

By the name you would think that these are not going to get great reviews. Anything that was made to "take & toss" isn't going to be a great product long term. But surprisingly, these are probably my 2nd favorite spoons. They, like the Gerber spoons, are the perfect size for baby girl. They don't have the silicone coating, but the plastic is formed so that the edges are not sharp and the spoon is not deep. They do well in the dishwasher, and they are very affordable, so if one accidently finds it's way into the garbage, it's no big deal.

IKEA mata flatwear

My mom gave my daughter this set as a Christmas gift, and I must say that the spoon that is included is my favorite. It makes me sad that I only have one. The spoon is actually flat with a slightly rounded tip, but it holds enough food for a perfect size bite. It's perfect for little baby mouths. I need to look and see if they sell just the spoon so I can buy more. The other items in the set are also very cute, although my daughter isn't in love with the molded plastic bib and is too small for the sippy cup. The bowl has a suction cup bottom to stick to the surface of the table/tray so your toddler can't knock it off during a "I don't wanna" fit. (never happens in my house...eh-hem.)

So there you have it. :-)

2010-07-05T20:43:00.000-04:00

Pretty Baby!

Week 2

2010-07-05T10:30:00.002-04:00

It's been 2 weeks, and I'm down 6 lbs! I'm noticing a definite change in my legs and in my waist.

I've discovered Exercise TV on demand, which is full of great workouts, like DCC Yoga, Celebrity Shed, and Tank Top Upper Body. If you don't have On Demand, check out ExerciseTV.tv. They have tons of free workouts and free exercise plans available.

Trying Again

2010-06-28T21:09:00.004-04:00

So a few months ago, I posted that I was going to be doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred in an attempt to lose the weight I've accumulated from 2 pregnancies in 2 years.

Epic fail.

I'm no good at dieting. I've never had to do it before, and I don't have enough self control to stick with it.

One of my co-workers told me about a website that can help you in your effort to lose weight. SparkPeople.com is like Weight Watchers, but it's free. You open a free account, answer some questions about your goals, and it sets up an exercise and diet plan for you. It has a place where you can log what you've eaten, how much you've exercised, and your weight and measurements so you can track your progress. And it's very user friendly.

I'm going to give it a shot. We'll see how it works.

I've also decided to post my progress here as a way to stay motivated.

Here's my beginning stats:

Starting Weight: 180 lbs.
Goal: 125 lbs. by January, 2010 (this allows for just around 2 lbs a week. I hope it happens a little faster though...)

Please pray for me as I start this journey. It's so much more than losing weight, it's creating a new lifestyle for myself. It's taking care of the body God gave me. It's learning to really love myself, no matter what size or shape I am.

Blue Eyes

2010-06-28T21:08:00.000-04:00

Pray for Gideon.

2010-06-23T15:33:00.002-04:00

I would like to introduce you to Gideon, a very courageous 3 year old who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. I don't know Gideon personally, but I know that he needs your prayers! I encourage you to read his blog from the beginning, as it is a great example of how amazing God is.

Parents Magazine Contest

2010-06-16T22:17:00.001-04:00

Vote for Lil' Sis' in the Parents Magazine Cutest Baby Contest!

Click here.

New Look, Again

2010-06-11T14:39:00.002-04:00

I'm so tired of spam. I think it's from my old template. So thanks to the new Blogger Template Designer, I'm sporting a new look. Sorry that I keep changing. But change is good...:-)

What to Wear...

2010-06-10T22:53:00.003-04:00

I'm singing in a friend's wedding on the 26th. I've been looking everywhere trying to find something I like that's both appropriate for the occasion and affordable. She's having an afternoon wedding, not formal, but should still be dressy. I finally found a dress today.

All I need now is a great pair of shoes and some accessories
(which I'm terrible with, by the way). Any suggestions?

I'm Still Here.

2010-06-10T13:33:00.002-04:00

Just thought you might like to know, since I fell off the radar for a while. Life has been busy! Plus my laptop battery is dying a very painful death, so my at home computer time is limited.

I hope you've all been well! I'll be posting again soon.

Wallpaper Games

2010-05-17T11:25:00.001-04:00

What do you think of this??

Wallpaper Games

Future Bedroom

2010-05-11T21:46:00.005-04:00

Been thinking a lot lately about houses now that we have 4 people living in our small-ish 2 bedroom apartment. Jack & I have already agreed that no matter where we end up, we will have a washer & dryer and hardwood floors.

Anyway, I'm loving charcoal gray for the master bedroom in my dream house.

Failure to Thrive

2010-05-09T20:54:00.004-04:00

At my son's latest well-child appointment, the doctor informed me that he's "fallen off the growth chart" when it comes to weight. For height, he's in the 50th percentile, which is good. But the weight, well, it's not good. He hasn't gained any weight in 8 months, so he was diagnosed "failure to thrive". It sucks.

Part of me wanted to tell the doctor to take her medical degree and stick it somewhere, because I know my son, I know what he eats, and I know that he is not "failing" at anything. Instead, I began peppering her with questions. Questions about why this could be happening, could his frequent BM's have anything to do with it, could it be genetic, etc. The doctor answered my questions with more questions, and in the end all she could do was to order tests and write a referral. So, last week Mr. Dizzy had some blood work done, and soon we'll be seeing a GI specialist at Devos Children's Hospital.

I keep reminding myself that most likely he's just going to be a small kid. But there's still a part of me thats worried that it's something serious, like cystic fibrosis or something. I'll repeat what I said above, it sucks.

The Hardest Part is Letting Go

2010-04-30T21:24:00.002-04:00

I decided a week ago that in order to help my weight loss (which hasn't been going well, by the way), I would stop drinking pop.

Oh how I miss thee, Coca-Cola.

Summer Wardrobe

2010-04-27T22:27:00.004-04:00

Here's some of baby girl's summer wardrobe.

From Carters.

From Old Navy.

From Baby Gap.

Clean Slate

2010-03-30T22:16:00.002-04:00

I needed a new look.

Hope you like it!

Patent Leather Shoes

2010-03-29T20:44:00.005-04:00

One of the best things about having a girl is all the cute clothes!

Kendal's Easter dress.

We have the dress, the white tights, and the purple bow for her hair. All that's missing is the white patent leather mary janes.

Pretty Girl in a Pretty Dress

2010-03-26T09:47:00.003-04:00

So Appropriate.

2010-03-18T13:49:00.003-04:00

I just finished reading Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows for the 5th time.

Look what I found on Etsy today.

:-)

Is it just me,

2010-03-09T21:46:00.004-05:00

or is this hilarious. Maybe I'm just sleep deprived...

My Birth Story

2010-03-04T21:08:00.006-05:00

One month ago today, I gave birth to my beautiful daughter, Kendal. Here's how it happened.

On February 2 (Tuesday), I started having irregular contractions. They would be 10 minutes apart for a while, then they would stop (talk about frustruating). I went to bed that night, praying that I would wake up in labor.

Guess what? I did not wake up in labor. :-(

My contractions did start again on Wednesday morning, and were consistently 10 minutes apart for most of the day. I went to the Dr. in the afternoon, where she was planning to strip my membranes if nothing was happening. After telling her about my contractions and after my internal exam, she decided not to. I was 2 cm. dilated, 60% effaced, and based on how I described my contractions, she figured that my active labor would start soon.

With her affirmation that something would happen soon, I went home and made some final preparations for my labor. I did some cleaning and finished packing Mr. Dizzy's things.

One of the best ways to induce labor is to walk, so I decided that I wanted to go to the mall and walk. We took our last outing as a family of three to the mall where we had Sbarro's and walked around the mall. It only took one lap for the contractions to go from 10 minutes apart to 7 minutes apart. We went home and put Dizzy to bed, and then I filed our taxes. No joke.

Contractions continued through the night, until 4 a.m. when they went into overdrive. 5-7 minutes apart, so intense that I almost forgot to breathe. I put the last few items in my hospital bag and walked around the apartment in an effort to make them more consistent. I called my mom at 6:00 a.m. when they were 4-6 minutes apart. We got to the hospital at 7:00 a.m.

I was 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced. They admitted me and the labor continued. It was my desire to eventually have an epidural, but I wanted to wait until I really couldn't take it anymore. I decided to labor on a birthing ball. When I was in labor with Dizzy, the birthing ball was really helpful in relieving pain. This time, however, it was not. So I caved and asked for the epidural**.

Once I was heavily medicated, I felt so much better. I was able to close my eyes and rest, and before I knew it, I was 8 cm. dilated. 20 minutes later I was fully dilated and ready to push. So I pushed. 3 times. And we said hello to Kendal Grace. 6 lbs, 15 oz, 20 inches.

There are some things in life that you never forget. I will never forget the sounds of my babies first cries. I will never forget those first few moments after labor where my babies laid on my chest and were instantly soothed. I will never forget how incredible it feels to love something so much so quickly.

**To any expectant mothers who are reading this:
There are so many options when it comes to labor and delivery. My advice to you would be simply to educate yourself and enter the labor experience with an open mind. No one can predict what will happen during your labor, and making major choices before you go into labor could just be setting yourself up for disappointment if something doesn't happen the way you plan.

I'm Joining the Club

2010-02-27T22:20:00.004-05:00

It seems like everyone I know is trying to lose weight. Well, I'm joining the club.

After 2 pregnancies in 2 years, I'm ready to start losing the weight. My goal is to get back down to 125 lbs.,which is about what I weighed on my wedding day 4 years ago. I'll be doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and not eating junk. That's it. I have about 45 lbs to lose (about 30 lbs from my pregnancies and 15 lbs from marriage), and I'm hoping to lose it in 2 months. Wish me luck!

I may or may not post my progress here, we'll see. :-)