our favorites: a fancy giveaway!

our favorites: a fancy giveaway!

Weigh-In Wednesday

Uhhhhh....yeah, let's not. Lots going on...only worked out two days...did not eat "healthy", even in the broadest sense of the term. Hopefully, once I get over the stress and anxiety and my world stops spinning, I will be able to recommit to this goal of getting fit. Here's hoping....

Weigh-In Wednesday

I am following the lead of a friend of mine...Weigh-In Wednesday. But, I will not be revealing actual numbers because, as we all know, that is just too dang depressing! I will, however, disclose pounds/inches lost. I don't have anything to report, as I just started Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred yesterday. But, I did record my measurements and weight, and I look forward to seeing those numbers drop! Anyone else want to join in on this journey? Post up!

I Love Coupons!!

This past Wednesday, I did my first couponing trip to Wal-Mart. As I matched my coupons to the products and put them in my basket, I got very excited. When I was walking toward the checkout, I was so giddy and couldn't help but smile...I was so excited to see what the total would be!

I got 3 tubes of toothpaste, 4 travel first aid kits, 2 bottles of heartburn chewables, 4 containers of Greek yogurt, 3 packages of Japanese noodles, and 2 packs of dental floss.

Grand total: $3.24 !!!!!!

I was smiling from ear to ear! I also had to buy some socks for Adam, and the cashier said, "What? No coupon for the socks?!" I just laughed.

I can't wait to see what other deals I can find!

My Goals for 2011

Personal:

• Read through the Book of Mormon in a year
• Read at least 30 books
• Eat well
• Complete P90X
• Track health/fitness goals
• Blog regularly :-/
• Tackle 12 DIY projects (one a month)

Marriage:

• Once-a-month date night
• Once-a-week lunch dates
• Twice a year marriage "retreats"
• Read four books together
• Flirt everyday! :-)
• Be more in love than ever!

Children:

• Once-a-month outing with Daniel by himself
• Play as a family at least three times a week (games, Wii, etc.)
• Read together everyday
• Go to library story time
• Start preschool at home with Daniel
• Go on at least one "field trip" a month
• Take more pictures and videos!!
• Have FHE every week

Ministry/Friendships/Family:

• Have at least one family over for dinner each month
• Write one encouraging handwritten card or letter twice a month
• Be more involved in ministry/service opportunities
• Get together with both sides of extended family at least once-a-month

Financial:

• Continue to be full tithe payers
• Become more coupon savvy
• Complete all items on our current Financial Goals List

*Pay off Malibu

*Pay off all credit card debt

*Build up Emergency Fund

2010 Recap

January: Hello 2010! Adam's 29th birthday. Daniel's 2nd birthday--"Cars" theme, held at The Little Gym.

February: We found out we were pregnant with Olivia on the 14th...Valentine's Day!

March: I have no idea what happened in March!! All I know is Adam was still in school and i was at home with Daniel and another little boy, Rhonson, battling some serious nausea. Thank you Preggie Pops!

April: A trip to the Audubon Zoo with Gigi and Poppy.

May: Vacation to Florida (without Daniel). Missed him like crazy, but had a wonderful time...Thanks O'Neal Legal! After three long years, Adam graduated from LSU law school on Firday, May 28th. Woohoo!!

June: On June 4th at 2:30p we found out that we would be welcoming a baby girl! Celebrated my 26th birthday on June 6th.

July: I barely passed my Glucose Tolerance Test. MNO where I learned how to make cute bows for my baby girl! Adam took the bar exam on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, July 26th, 28th, and 30th.

August: Continued with prenatal doctor visits...had to start going for an ultrasound every to weeks to check my fluid (it was low).

September: Hosted book club at my house for And Only to Deceive. I had a great time! Continued taking Daniel to story time at the library and went to a special musical presentation. he really loved it! Jane took my maternity photos!

October: We found out Adam passed the bar on October 8th!!! October 22nd was my original due date, but Olivia was born by C-section on October 15th. We love our little ladybug!! jane took her newborn pictures the next week. Adam was sworn in on October 21st. Halloween: Daniel was an LSU football player, and Olivia was a ladybug!

November: Olivia's had her first trip to Pineville the weekend before Thanksgiving. We celebrated Thanksgiving with Adam's family that weekend because not everyone could be there that Thursday. Spent Thanksgiving Day in Pearl River with my family. My BIL got my sewing machine at Wal-Mart on Black Friday after almost being bit by some crazy lady!

December: On December 2nd, we picked out our Christmas tree...our first tree in 4 years!! My friend Lisa and I went to the midnight release of the Eclipse DVD. Olivia was blessed on Sunday, October 12th. Tons of Christmas parties. We participated in a photo shoot for a friend who crochets hats and scarves. On the 21st, we took the kids to Bass Pro to get their picture taken with Santa. On the 23rd, we went to the Lafayette Science Museum for a Star Wars exhibit...Daniel was amazed! On Christmas Eve, we went from Baton Rouge to Madisonville to New Orleans to Pearl River and back to Baton Rouge. We spent Christmas morning at our house, then headed off to Pineville.

It has been a long crazy year, but we look forward to what 2011 has in store for us!

So Much For NaBloPoMo...

Obviously, I didn't make it all 30 days. You go out of town for a few days, and everything falls apart. Oh well, maybe next year! We have been pretty busy lately, which is to be expected this time of year. We picked out our Christmas tree and decorated it--pictures to come (once I re-decorate the tree). We wrote Daniel's letter to Santa, in which he asked for a train, a bike, and "some other toys". For now, here are some recent pictures.

Holiday Wish List Meme

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family? To be together and happy!

2. What is your Christmas morning tradition? We have breakfast and open our presents, wearing our new pajamas that we opened on Christmas Eve.

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be? A house!

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money? We have family movie/game nights, listen to Christmas music, and drive around to look at Christmas lights.

5. What games did you play with your family growing up? As kids, my brother and I would sit in the hallway and play Hi-Ho Cherry-O, Chutes and Ladders, and Candyland. Nowadays, we play Trivial Pursuit at nearly every family gathering!

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood? We leave Santa presents unwrapped so the kids immediately see them when they wake up.

7. Where would you go for a Christmas-away-from-home trip? I would love to go to Europe for the holidays!

8. Check out GameStop and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year? An Xbox Kinect, Playstation Move, and more controllers!!

Wordless Wednesday

No Excuses

Guess Who's One....?

Sorry for the old picture...I can't find my camera cord to upload a recent one!!

One month, that is. It's our little ladybug!!! It's hard to believe that she has already been with us for a whole month, then again it is hard to believe she has ONLY been with us a month. It seems like just yesterday we were off to the hospital to have her, but it seems like she has been with us all along. Of course we are still making adjustments, but she fits so naturally into our family. Some of her one-month milestones are:

• Lifts her head while on her tummy
• Responds to sound
• Stares at faces
• Can track objects
• She even rolled from her tummy to her back twice! (probably a fluke, I know)
• Loves being sung to (especially Jewel's version of Twinkle Twinkle)
• Has a love/hate relationship with her nuk-nuk (pacifier)

We love this girl and look forward to watching her grow!!

Dreamer

DREAMS by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

I love this poem. When I first read this poem in middle school, it made such an impression that I memorized it and to this day have not forgotten it. I think it would serve me well to remember this poem more often and really try to live by it. Dreams come and go, they change, they remain the same. Some are childish, some are unrealistic, some are achievable. When I was younger, I dreamed of being a famous singer...mind you, I am terribly shy and would only sing into my hair brush in the safety of my bedroom. When I was in high school, I dreamed of getting a soccer scholarship and studying to be a doctor. When I was in college, I dreamed of getting out in the least amount of time possible!! When I got married, I dreamed of being a mother. After becoming a mother, I dreamed of placing in a triathlon and becoming a certified personal trainer. While watching Food Network everyday, I dream of going to culinary school and becoming and even more amazing chef. Now, some of these dreams have come true, some haven't...yet, and some never will. But I think it is important to always remember our dreams and keep reaching for them. I look at my children, and I just want them to know that they can do anything, be anything, achieve anything they desire. This poem makes me realize I need to be a better example in this area, and try to realize some of those dreams I put on the back-burner. Now, where is my hair brush???

Almost Missed a Day...

I said almost. Pretty tired and feeling like crap today. Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

Pet Peeve

I really hate blog giveaways that have 10,000 ways to earn extra entries. What if I don't have a Twitter account? Or if I don't want to comment on another post? Or follow your friend's blog? Or vote for your husband's co-worker's friend's cousin-once-removed's whatever in a contest? Why can't everyone just enter once and take their chances?

By the way, I just won a giveaway where I "earned" 4 such extra entries..... :-P

Wordless Wednesday...A Day Late

Long Day

It has been a very long day. Daniel has tried my patience and brought me to tears...then he turns around and makes me smile. My house is a mess. Every time I thought I would have a few minutes to myself, one of my beautiful, well-behaved children would start crying. I had a cold chocolate chip pancake and chips and queso for dinner. Dr. Pepper helped me hang on to my sanity...if only by a thread. A hot bath and a Nora Roberts book helped restore a little bit more of that sanity. Singing Olivia to sleep made my heart happy. Now, sleep is calling my name with hopes of a better day tomorrow.

Patience

My husband always tells me, "Patience is a virtue," to which I reply, "It's one that I don't have." It's one that I feel like I have even less of lately. Unfortunately, I am the kind of person who wants what I want when I want it...and that is usually right now. This is especially true when it comes to cleaning the house. Like any good wife, I save some of the work for my hubby. The worst thing he could possibly do when I ask him to do something is say, "In a minute." Why?? Because someone will drop dead if the dishes aren't done right this second? Because the earth will stop spinning on its axis if the trash isn't taken out before the next commercial break? No....because I'm me, and I will have a super mega anxiety attack of sorts if it isn't done when I ask. And because I just know that if it isn't done right this very second, it probably won't get done at all. Reasonable? No. Crazy? Perhaps... I guess it's a good thing he loves me anyway.

I find this post very ironic. Why, you may ask? Because I am also the world's biggest procrastinator. I'm just a walking contradiction...

Dream Home

This posting every day business is exhausting...I have no idea what to write about, so I went to the NaBloPoMo website to check out their prompt for today: What would your dream house look like? Where would it be? Who would live there with you?

I don't necessarily know what my dream house would LOOK like, but I definitely have some requirements. First of all, a HUGE kitchen complete with state-of-the-art appliances, gas stove, double ovens, lots of counter space, plenty of cabinets, a pantry, and a bar/seating area. The next must have on my list is an amazing master suite. A large bedroom with room for a king-size bed (yes, Adam, a king-size bed), a sitting area for reading or whatever, LARGE closets, and plenty of natural light from big windows. The master bath would have to have a large jacuzzi tub, a separate shower, and most importantly, his-and-her sinks! Sorry babe, but you make such a mess when getting ready in the morning! Next, the craft room! Or should we call it my haven...a place where I can go and create without worrying about little hands getting into everything! I would also want a large family room with plenty of seating and large windows, a game/play room for the kids, a theater room, plenty of guest rooms for visiting family, an in-house gym, an outdoor kitchen, a covered patio area, a pool with a hot tub, a tennis court, a sport court, and plenty of land and trees.

Where would it be? I don't know...

Who would live there with me? The hubs, the kiddos, maybe a pet or two...

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this is a DREAM house :-P

Meal Planning

I am going to tell you a secret...we are fast food junkies. And believe me, it is NOT because of the amazing food quality. Let's face it--between being pregnant, chasing after a 2-year old, and trying to keep my house from looking like a tornado passed through it, I rarely had the extra energy to worry about what we would eat for dinner, much less actually cook dinner. It was too easy to just stop on the way home from running errands or have Adam pick something up on the way home from work.

Here's the funny thing--I LOVE to cook. I love looking through cookbooks for ideas, and my TV is eternally tuned to Food Network (well, either that or Lifetime). I think part of the problem (aside from the lack of energy) is my tiny kitchen. Also, I am somewhat of a procrastinator...which leads to nothing being defrosted or not having all the ingredients I need. So, to try and remedy this problem, I have decided to try meal planning.

I have heard that meal planning will help you eat better and spend less. That is reason enough for me!! I came across this show on BYUtv called "The Food Nanny". Her approach to meal planning includes theme nights. She assigns every night a different theme, and you plan your meals accordingly. I like this idea because it gives me some parameters to work within. So, without further adieu, here is my meal plan for the week:

Monday (Comfort Food): Gumbo
Tuesday (Italian): Chicken Piccata
Wednesday (Fish/Meatless/Breakfast): Pancakes
Thursday (Mexican): Tacos
Friday (Pizza): Frozen Pizza (don't judge me!)
Saturday(Grill Night): eating at Mom's
Sunday (Traditions): Buttermilk Herb Chicken

I hope that this will help end the age-old question "What's for dinner?"

On another note: I am in desperate need of some quick, kid-friendly lunch recipes. All Daniel wants to eat is hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and cheese sticks. So, if you have any ideas, please send them my way! Thanks, in advance!!

LSU, Gumbo, and Random Tidbits

Random Tidbit #1: After last night's lame post, I tried to get some sleep to no avail. I chalked it up to the UTI, but I ended up passing what I believe to be a kidney stone. I'll spare you the details and picture...yes, I took a picture--but only to send to my mom to confirm the identity of this mysterious, jagged, little pebble. Anyway, after getting that out of my system, I felt much better. Unfortunately, I am now having a nagging pain in my right lower back. More kidney stones or all in my head??? I don't know...

Random Tidbit #2: A friend of mine (I won't mention any names--Jimbo) was just talking to me about kidney stones and drinking too much caffeine (which I do). Yes, I think you jinxed me. Yes, I blame you. :-P

Random Tidbit #3: Going to Wal-Mart early on a Saturday morning is a good time to go. I am not stupid brave enough to go to a store with 2 kids by myself yet. Since Adam can only accompany us on the weekend and the kids are already up at the butt-crack of dawn, I thought we would get up and go. Surprisingly and thankfully, it did not start to get crowded until we were checking out.

Random Tidbit #4: I love gumbo. I mean, I REALLY, REALLY LOVE gumbo. But, in all my years, this born and bred southern girl has never actually cooked gumbo. So, since we were grocery shopping this morning, I decided, on a whim, to buy the ingredients and try it out. It wasn't great, but it was pretty good. I will just have to tweak the recipe next time...

Random Tidbit #5: Just call me Doubting Thomas. I admit it...never in a million years did I think LSU would beat Alabama. Don't get me wrong. I am a Tiger fan through and through...come on, my son can spell Tigers before he can spell his own name. But, based on previous gameplay, I just didn't think it would happen. I did, however, actually enjoy watching this game. There were still frustrating points, but there were also some really exciting ones too. In short, GEAUX TIGERS!

Random Tidbit #6: I love cold weather. I am so glad it finally showed up in Louisiana. It always makes me think about the holidays and the smells of the season. <insert shameless plug> My favorite is my Holidays scented candle from Lagniappe Candle Company. The mixture of pine, cinnamon, and cloves always makes me think of curling up on the couch with a chunky sweater, wool socks, a warm blanket, and a steaming mug of hot chocolate...with marshmallows, of course.

Random Tidbit #7: I think I am going to go back for seconds of gumbo....