listamania

Lists keep my life organized. I actually love making lists. That alone feels like as much as an accomplishment as crossing the things off the list does.  Where I meet my road block is when my procrastination takes over and then no amount of list making can safe my life.  So I have a list that I've been working on since before we moved into this house over a year ago. I call it my never ending lists.  Its about 5 pages long in my little purse notebook and I keep adding to it as things come up that I need to replace or get for the house.  The I have my list of projects I want to do, along with the list of things I will need to do each one.  Then I have my shopping list. By shopping I mean clothes.  In the past I have - well to be honest is happens a lot not too - a bad habit of buying a lot of this and that which never comes together to be a cohesive wardrobe so I'm always in need of something.  When I out and about its impossible for me to see a shirt and visualize what in my closet it would go with and buy it with that outfit in mind.  My buying is usually take a chance on a piece that I like and hope I can work it in somehow.  I also have an event list.  My current event list is my to-do list for my sister's bachelorette party.  I have been known to make expense lists so I know what bills I need to pay in specific order. Of course there are grocery lists too.  I haven't found a app on my phone that would make my list making easier, but even if I did, writing a list is SO much easier than typing one in my phone.  I guess I'm just traditional like that.  At Christmas I have my gift list as well as a Christmas wish list.  (I check that more than twice.)  When we had Kylie I had name lists before we narrowed it down.  I have general errands lists and favorite blog lists....and now, I have a list of lists.  So, I ask myself, does this make me more efficient or responsible?  Generally, no. 

baby book entry

Kylie's baby book ended at 12 months and i pretty much stopped filling it in around 9 months...and now I feel like there is so much going on I need to document it. 
The girl is smart. Real smart.  She wants to talk like the rest of us big people and she tries so hard.  Of all the words she can say clear as day, her favorite are no, move, mine, my turn and go.  Hmmm.  She can sweeten the deal with some hi's, byes, Blue (of the famed Blue's Clues), more, cat, mommy and daaaaaddy.  She draws it out like that when she says daddy. Especially in "hiiii daaaaaddy."  Its priceless.

She "sings" The Itsy Bitsy Spider to herself.   It sounds nothing like it, but the hand motions give it away.

She loves to hear secrets.  Tell her you'll tell her a secret and her ear is infront of your mouth in a heartbeat.

She loves shoes and hates socks.  Socks cannot be on her feet if shoes aren't.

She is a climber.  A regular little monkey.  With that comes no fear.

I made a video out of pictures of the first year of her life set to the song Fireworks by Katy Perry.  She will set that thing to play on the ipad and let it play over and over and over and over. 

Speaking of ipads, she has mastered the operation of our phones and how to pull up the app she wants.  Some times we find her in the computer room sitting at the desk "working."

She can show us her eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, hair, and bellybutton.

She knows her animal sounds.  She even made one up for squirrels.

I. love. her. 

another fresh start

Last year I was pretty sure that a blog was going to be the therapist I never had.  Unfortunately, I committed to it about 2 seconds longer than I committed to an actual therapist. So another year passed and I wanted to renew my devotion to this thing but I knew it would be the first "resolution" to go so I'm taking a more laid back attitude about it, promising to get to it when I can.
As I traditionally do right before new years, I made some new year's resolutions:
1. simplify
2. lose weight and rededicate myself to a gym routine
3. buckle down and study for my certification test
4. choose a creative outlet and be more selective with my projects

The first one was probably the most important and it will set the tone for the rest of my resolutions.  In the few months before and during the holidays I was completely overwhelmed, but had too much momentum to stop before it was all over.  As always, I went over budget and managed to stretch myself so thin that instead of quality, it was quantity.  Not Again.  This go round I'll be taking it down a notch, thankyouverymuch so I can try to enjoy the holidays instead of pray for them to be over.

I do have one aspect I don't have very much control over, and that's the hub's work schedule.  I miss him.  I mean I MISS him.  I feel like its been ages since we have had a leisurely, adult dinner.  And when we can actually get away is never the same time we can find a sitter.  Sigh...  But I'm not hear to complain this time, just to check in... 2011 is here.

holiday craziness

It has been CRAZY.  I think of blogging at least once a day but I never get around to it.  I've been neglecting a lot of my favorite (and not so favorite) past times due to the happy little homemaker alter ego I'm fostering.  Right around thanksgiving something was in the air that rustled up my creative juices.  I had a supply list a mile long of thing I needed for projects I wanted to tackle. Among them were yarn ball Christmas wreaths, recycles sweater scarflettes, Anthro inspired scarfs, and nursery wall art, just to name a few.  I went into craft overdrive and came out with some cool scarves, a front door Christmas wreath and a gift for my friend's new baby's room...and more to come!

The wreath was a quick project involving yarn and dollar store ball ornaments.  Timing in everything on this projects because it keeps the cost of supplies low.  The most expensive part of it was the yarn.  The pretty gold yarn was perfect, not too bulky but the cost of the red and green was more in line with my budget.  All in all, I covered my foam balls in yarn and got to hot gluing and ta-da!

The scarf, I was really excited about it was my kind of project.  Minimal complication and the potential for a very cute outcome.  This project introduced me to the world of sewing with elastic thread. Oh my.  So many cool tricks! My first stab at the scarf was a success (IMO) and i knew I had found my pillow case project of 2010. (Last year, in my excitement to learn how to make pillow cases everyone received a pillow case from me for Christmas- What can I say? I was excited.)  I turned out only 2 scarves so far, but I'm going back to the fabric store tomorrow for more.  Here is my prototype. The key was to find just the right material that

was light weight and had some fluff but also warmth.  I'm still looking, but the one in the picture was the best of the two. 

The nursery wall decor turned out well.  No pictures of that yet, since its a gift, I don't want to show it off until its been gifted. I'm happy with it and it was a project that could literally be done in any theme or colors.

And then the failure: the recycled sweater scarflette.  Ahh, not so much. Everything about it was easy in theory, but I made a bad selection in sweater to recycle and it was all down hill from there. I'd try it again, but since I had such luck with my full size scarf, the scarflette just seemed silly!

I had good luck in the kitchen too.  The last few Thanksgivings, I had been floundering, looking for a signature dish that would be as popular as my mom's sweet potato casserole or as much of a staple as my aunt's broccoli cheese casserole.  I dabbled in risotto last year which was a total bomb (thanks for nothing Giada!) and for some reason my FRESH green bean casserole was persona non grata when it came down to fresh vs canned...so this year I looked and looked and found it: THE most mouth-watering butternut squash recipe EVER.  I was all to delighted to see it get gobbled down.  People cautiously or maybe politely took a serving of it...but to their surprise it was good!!  I brought it for our pot luck dinner at work and again, it was a hit.  Part of me wants to keep the recipe to myself, would that be wrong?

My annual bake-a-thon starts this coming week.  I've identified the recipes I'm going to make 3 new and 2 old.  Good looking sweet recipes were harder to come by this year for some reason.  So I'm going to go with what I know works and do the shortbread again and of course the thumb prints (because it would not be Christmas without them), and chocolate biscotti.  The new confections will be unveiled at a later date, and maybe even with some pictures!

As much ad the holidays inspire the heck out of me I still can't wait until they pass and the stress level decreases and my bank account recovers.  I keep telling myself that after the holidays I'm going to do something for ME, and I will...but only in between the showers, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, new babies, and work.  It doesn't leave me a lot of time, does it?   

progress

When I was a mere 18 months old my parents, concerned about my swollen, stiff knees took me to my pediatrician.  Several x-rays, specialists and hospital stays later I was among the youngest diagnosed cases of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Up until I was 13 I still had the braces that I wore that resembled those that Forrest Gump had and just this past week, I shredded 28 year old x-rays of my little body that my parents had been hoarding somewhere since I was one and a half.  I was treated with injections and pills, treated to monthly blood work trips (that I became an absolute pro at - my left arm and an excellent vein for pricking), and a panel of doctors that were, I guess, pretty fascinated by me.  Add in an unexpected and never before seen reaction to the treatment I was on...I was pretty much a regular in the med center.  I went through school being particularly careful and avoidant of most high impact physical activity.  Swimming was my thing, sorta.  Around 7th grade with my flare ups in remission for several years they closed my case and considered my arthritis dormant.   Into my 20's I danced my nights away and later dared to take part in high-impact step aerobics. Loved it.  Then I had my baby.  Postpartum I was hit with the most painful mornings, swelling, and misery that I've known oh so well.  I went back to my specialist and what do you know? A flare up.  I must admit the drugs not are far more intelligent and effective and in a total of less than 3 months I was back on my feet and able to maneuver comfortably again.
Now, its a year later and pain isn't my enemy, its time.  Keeping up with a fitness routine is among my top 5 priorities but time is working against me. I have to be realistic.  As much as I'd like to hit the gym every day, I know that I won't so I have to make very good use of my time, the 3 days a week that I make the time to do it.  The couch to 5K program is blowing up at this time and while I've NEVER dreamed of being a runner, I decided to give it a shot.  It was amazing. Running, in small increments to make it manageable...brilliant!  Its such a great, almost cleansing feeling after I've sweated it out for 30 minutes. (Only 30 minutes makes it even more appealing.)  To know that I have the tolerance to run, even for just a little while, and more importantly, to do what I've never been able to do before, is a great feeling.  And I like it!  I may be getting a little ahead of myself in week 5 of 9 but I'm even browsing around for a fun run to do with my new found skill.  That's when I stumbled upon the Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run.  Unfortunately, its only in San Antonio...but running for a cause?  Bingo.  I can't wait.  I wish I the doctors that knew me as a sad, scrawny knock-kneed toddler could see me now. 

falling into place

It was just this afternoon when I was riding back from Port Arthur with my coworker and it has just turned 1:00 pm and it was quite clear that my work day was over.   How do you make a Friday even better??  That's how.  I went home to my hubby who had just brought home the newest addition to his precious (albeit earned) collection of bicycles.  He was still glowing a little from the test ride he had taken at the bike shop.  I had an hour and a half to kill before my doctor's appointment and I got to spend it with him.  Normally, he would have already been on his way to or already at work (and so would I) but it hit me: it was falling into place. Our jobs have finally allowed us to be close to home...and those same jobs are making it possible to continue to make this house a home and this family to grow.  I can't remember another day that I was afforded such personal freedom by a job.  A JOB gave me freedom...I've always known jobs to do the opposite.  Its pretty awesome.  So its now a mere 4:53 in the evening and I'm waiting for Kylie to sleep off a late nap before we have our first of many Friday Mommy/Daughter girls night.  I'm happy.

Here I YAM!

GASP!!!! I’m coming up for air from the crazy life I’m leading these days.  I don’t even know where I’ve left off.  At least once per day I think of something I need to mention or talk about and I leaving a mental note for myself just isn’t cutting it.  I’m thinking right now of like a gazillion points to make but at the same time my mind if collapsing on itself. So let’s start with my new job.  Love it.  There was fear.  Never the kind that made me wonder if I had made the right choice, just fear of the unknown.  It is a small office of a rather large company, but small offices can be more cliquey than anywhere else but its not too bad. My coworkers are pretty awesome and the guy who is training me is phenomenal. I have, and will learn a lot from him.  The paycheck is really nice and so are the hours.  Being close to home is a blessing, and with our schedule changing again because of Nick’s new job, being nearby is a must.  Kylie is a little weirded out by her schedule in the morning. It used to be get up and rush out of the house, but now we have a nice long leisurely morning before school.
I've been casually following the Couch to 5k program.  Never have I been a runner. In elementary school we used to do walk/jogs around the green belt.  Putting aside the fact that only like 4 students totally could actually sprint the whole loop, actually expecting a 5th grader to exert themselves in such a way is completely unreasonable.  So here I am 20 years later trying to prove to my left and my gym teachers of yesteryear that I CAN run 3 miles.  Surprisingly the knees are holding up.
I have not been to productive with the crafts lately...except for surfing my favorite blogs for projects to add to the to do list.  I think is going to come down to a week's worth of evenings to be devoted to craft projects.  I'll commit myself to that right now for the week if the 14th.
Kylie is still a little spitfire.  In the last two days she has been making more organized vocalizations.  I think the language explosion is about to happen for her.  I really can't wait to hear what she has to say.  Right now, she says dog, bath, duck and door with so much gusto you would think its Christmas morning. Conversely, she is grunting (or whining) and pointing a lot too. 
I guess I needed to surface real fast before 2 months passed with no post.  With the holidays coming up I feel like the next 6 weeks are going to be such a blur.  Life already goes too fast as it is.