Updates on goals

So, I realize some of these are quite lofty and I haven't even started, but I am making some progress. Behold the honesty of my "resolutions" fulfilled and not. ha.

Self:
*Sew something weekly, even if it is just *one* ornament for Christmas next year -- I have been sewing or crocheting or something every week
*Complete one unfinished project a month -- I have so far finished hubby's afghan and baby's quilt. Those are the two big ones I can think of, and since it's two months into the year ... I'm happy. Mom finished kiddo's dress, so it's off my list, too. woohoo!
*New clothes as I shrink out of my current ones -- n/a
*New shoes as I need new ones -- n/a
*Girl time as needed -- Went to craft night and had fun. Have more stuff scheduled, like lunch with college friends on Monday and more crafting later in the month.

Physical Health:
*Shower and floss my teeth daily -- Getting better at it, not perfect
*Move daily (walk or DVD or similar) -- Not even close, but had been walking more until the sick stuff hit.
*Quit Pepsi/Coke/caffeine intake -- DONE. Haven't had any in over a month!!!
*Cook and eat healthy again -- Doing better with this usually. Menus help.

*****I did speak with a personal trainer and he gave me some good advice. I just need to implement it!

Spirit:
*15 minutes in scriptures daily -- nope. I am still working on putting this back into my routine.
*Church every week (barring illness) -- I have gone more, but feel like a slacker lately because we've been sick, but it's still better than it was since I'm only missing when illness is a factor.
*Get my temple recommend renewed -- Woohoo!!! Done!
*Attend the temple with my husband -- Haven't done this yet.

Family:
*Do one fun thing a week with kiddo, even if Mojo has to go or be there -- Still not every week, but I am trying to make more time for her
*Try to do one fun thing a week with kiddo without Mojo, even if we're just at home and he's sleeping or something -- Same.
*Date my husband -- ... No date yet, but we have spent more time talking and chilling together
*Take some time off for the family reunion in July to spend with my family of origin as well as my little family -- n/a
*Get Mojo's crib put up again and *him sleeping in it* -- Well, this was a bust. We did get the crib up, but no luck on him sleeping in it. He is sleeping by himself most of the time, however, on a futon mattress in his own room. This week, not so much, because he is so sick and, once again, choking in his sleep. Poor bug.

Home:
*Spend an hour a day on housework, including putting laundry away as it comes out of the dryer -- chorewars.com. That's all I'm saying.
*Plan a menu and stick to it -- Have been much better with this.
*Eat out once a month or less -- Not even close ... way, way, way too much.
*Spend 15 minutes decluttering every day, even if I have to throw things away -- Not every day, but I have been working on this as well.
*Get the garage door painted -- not yet
*Carpets cleaned -- not yet
*Touch up paint or re-paint throughout -- not yet

Career/Financial:
*Hit my work goals (900 lines a day 6 days a week) -- doing better, although not where we need me to be yet.
*Pay off the credit card, hospickle, and car (total debt: 15K) -- we have paid down the hospickle, some, but also paid cash for the dryer instead of adding to the debt. still working on this. may decide to hold off paying off the car and save for a van instead.
*Tithing every paycheck -- it's been pulled out every check, but not turned in because of the sick stuff. soooooo ... still working on this.


**********

So that's my goals update. I'll update again in a month or so.

Freak happenings

Baby wouldn't let me work last night after a certain point, and I'm sure that's going to happen again tonight, but some events transpired today that have me weirded out.

First, I watched Exit Wounds last night. BAD movie. lol. Then I dreamt of corrupt cops and horrible "martial arts" action. ha.

When I got up this morning, I had to go to the bank, pull money out of that bank, and take it to the other bank to deposit so I can pay bills. When I left the ATM, I had the weirdest feeling about gun violence and random stuff, and reminded myself I live in a safe area and police are around for a reason.

I tried to go see my sister, but ended up missing her by just a few minutes and came back to this end of the valley. Bought some groceries, she called, I came home, FedEx came by (with my ring -- I'd lost a sapphire, so overstock replaced it), and I fell asleep with the baby. Sis called again later (she brought me my towels, woo!) and then we fell back asleep. I didn't wake up again until 4, which meant I'd missed kiddo's bus, when kiddo called from the neighbors' to tell me the school had been on lockdown all afternoon because of a fatal shooting that happened a few blocks from the school. (fortunately, the suspected perp was running the opposite direction from the school when he was apprehended). I am SO glad the kids were safe, but got upset when she told me the kids weren't allowed to call their parents. BAH. She also wanted to play at the neighbors', so that was fine. But man, we're all kind of freaked out about it.

Friday Fave Five!

1. Fabric stores. I went to Hancock's yesterday to replace my quilting ruler, because they were having a huge sale on quilting notions. Got it for $6.50 -- different brand than my old one, but way better than paying $18. I also managed to snag some flannel from remnant bins, so hopefully after I get the pay it forwards done I can get more bibs for baby boy done.

2. Girl time. Even though I had both kids with me last night, Kiddo just went into the movie theater and watched TV on the big screen, and baby boy just rode around in the wrap while I wandered around the clubhouse talking to people, helping with learning the stitches. And when I got home, I felt better just getting out and meeting some new people. Plus I got to hang out with Steph and Cupcake, and that's always good. (should I reserve the clubhouse for another night next month so we can do our own stuff? Once a month isn't enough girl time for me, and I need MY girls, not just sisters in the ward. lol)

3. Our new relief society president. I didn't know the presidency had changed (because we've all been so stinking sick I haven't gone for a few weeks), but the gals last night told me who the new one is and I just love her. She's so great. I loved the former one, too, don't get me wrong ... She's just such a bubbly, loving, sweet person. Who is pasty white with red hair and grew up in a Tongan ward in Alaska. lol.

4. Hubby bought me breakfast this morning. Awww.

5. My dryer. I know, I know. I've already waxed poetic about it this week. But really. It's awesome to be able to do an entire week's worth of laundry in one day. Or, y'know, wash and dry every blanket/afghan/quilt baby boy has puked on and get them dried before bedtime that night.

P.S. Free knitting needles! Score!

hahaha ... love miscommunication

It was a knitting night, but one of the gals wanted to learn crochet, and she's the one who invited me. So I taught her and her sister some stuff, and everyone else knitted. Except Steph and cupcake, who came and crocheted with me, too. lol. It was fun, hoping to do it again, and I'd really like to learn to knit myself, soooooooo ... I guess I have to buy knitting needles. Like in a month.

FIRST, I need to get my Pay it Forwards done ... More on that when I finish them.

Drat

I was going to bake muffins today.

I'm out of brown sugar.

Blast.

Guess I'm going to the store tomorrow. Need to anyway for masking tape ...

Oh, and just in case anyone who follows me here and isn't on my facebook wants to come ... I'm teaching a beginning crochet class tomorrow night at 6 in Utah County. If you're interested, email me for details.

Perfection

So ... a few weeks ago, baby boy had a day where he shrieked. He discovered he could make a new sound and just DID, all day long. I lost it by the end of the day. Then I realized Kiddo was a harder baby and did that all.the.time. Not just once or twice. And I wondered how I got through it.

Well. He's usually such an easy going baby at this point, that I'm used to him being that way. And I was used to her being ... not that way. So it made sense when someone pointed that out (don't remember who, might've been my cousin's wife...)

So last night, something hubby does was driving me nuts, and I tried to phrase it in a polite way, but he just blew up. Turns out, after much discussion, he thinks I'm practically perfect (poor guy is deluded there), so he said when I do go through these "would you STOP THAT???" periods, it makes him just as crazy as the baby made me that day. Okey dokey.

I guess ... the moral is ... when you've all been sick and are feeling overly sensitive anyway, and your brain isn't functioning normally for you, don't try and tackle deep conversations or ask someone to stop a behavior. Just let it ride until everyone is feeling better and then see if you're still antsy about it. If so, then approach it from a safe place.

And that's Stewie's tidbit of the day.

p.s. i love my new dryer.

The Dryer (and a fave five)

I ended up going to Sears. Why? It was on sale, free delivery and haul away of the old dryer, and they had the best price on the consumer reports best model in our price range. So ... while I probably could have gotten a cheaper price on a dryer at Costco or somewhere else, it might not have been what I wanted, AND we would have had to transport and haul the old one away (which is hard to do without a truck). I hope I'm as happy with the purchase when it gets here as I am right now.

Friday Fave Five!!!
1. Old friends on facebook ... It's been great to connect, and through facebook, I found a PT (who I knew when he was like 4 years old -- he still has the same smile, looks the same, only bigger. and hairier). He had some great suggestions and brought me a DVD to try and his book to read. Some great info in there -- haven't read it all, just getting into it now. But I'm excited.
2. Learning wisdom about finances ... if the dryer had died a year ago, I would not have been able to replace it. Period. We would have been using a laundromat or gone into debt to buy a new one. This year, even if I hadn't had any extra from the tax return (which didn't quite cover the entire purchase), we had more than enough put aside to cover the dryer. So, the new dryer, while more expensive than we'd planned, was paid for in cash. It is the *only* new appliance I've ever purchased (aside from what came with the house, which was just the stove and microwave), and I'm so happy it's paid for. And has a warranty.
3. My sweet baby boy is babbling and talking a lot lately. It's cute and makes me smile. Even when I have a headache.
4. The generosity of friends. Like I said, the old dryer was a gift. Steph has been so kind and generous to us over the years -- I'm not quite sure if she knows just what a blessing she is in my life, so I thought I'd embarrass her here. THANK YOU, Steph, for being you. You are wonderful. (she's not my only generous friend; there are many others, but I've been thinking about her generosity and kindness a lot lately. like every time I get dressed because I have a fabulous top to wear).
5. Getting things finished. Like hubby's afghan, Mojo's quilt, DD's dress (snicker), and other various projects.

Okay, I lied

I don't have time to download pics from the camera. Just know, she did an awesome job, entirely without help (except for the shopping trip to get the stuff). Her assignment was to build a character out of a fantasy novel she'd read -- using a 2-L pop bottle and a Styrofoam head. The rest of the materials were subject to the students' imaginations (and their parents' wallets). She built Miss Price from Bedknob and Broomstick.

Anyway.

This post is really about my dryer. It died. It was a gift, used, and it lasted for almost 2 years, so I'm not complaining. I just have to go buy a new one (thank you tax return; glad you were more than our owed taxes) ... so I get to shop. Woooo.

Sadly, it died with a load of towels in it, and a load of towels in the wash. The two loads are almost all of the towels in our entire house because flu-boy has puked and pooped on everything. So ... I guess I know what I'm doing in the a.m.

Finally ...

Everyone is feeling better. Hubbers woke up really sick yesterday and kiddo was off, too. So ... it's been a doubly long weekend with all of us being ill. I'll be glad once the laundry and dishes are caught up again. Let it slide for a day or two and BAM! the house is a mess again. Owell, I know I can whip it back into shape the next couple days.

I had to reschedule my followup echocardiogram (again) because we're all sick (last time was because one-armed BIL, well, had surgery and that's why he's been one-armed ... and sis couldn't take care of the baby because the surgery was the same day as my echo was scheduled). I'll get it done. Soon. Promise.

Next post: What happens when my 9-year-old does her own school project without any help.

Overheard in the Ward

*snicker*

I sent this anonymously, but heck, they chose it for today, so I have to claim it here at least. lol.

I was subbing playing the piano in Primary last week, with the baby tied on in his wrap, TYVM, and heard the priceless gem above. Hilarious.

ahhh, kids. Awesome.

FRIDAY FAVE FIVE!

1. A federal tax return that is more than enough to pay what I owe in state taxes. ha.

2. I know, I've pimped this website before, but if you struggle with house work and are somewhat of a geek (or competitive at all), Chore Wars might just help. I have always been embarrassed at having people over because the house is usually a wreck. But when I see my points going up every day and see that my friends and family are getting stuff done, too, it makes me feel wonderful. I've noticed I have more energy from having a clean(er) house, and kiddo was able to bring home a new friend after school to play twice this week without mom hyperventilating over the disaster. I still have hot spots and it's not perfect, but my house isn't the wreck it has been the past couple of years either. I find myself doing things I typically put off just so I can get the points. Score.

****I got interrupted here, long enough for me to figure out I've changed 9 poopy diapers in 34~ hours, cleaned up more puke than I thought he could produce, and washed most of the bedding ... twice, and then I had a too-short nap with Mr. Poopmeister. My mood changed drastically.

3. Desitin. Saves the baby's butt from diaper rash. Poor bug.

4. Sleeeeeeeeeep.

5. Hot showers.

P.S. I haven't gotten much done on my UFO/WIP of the week, but the week isn't quite over yet ...

P.P.S. When I say poopy diapers, they aren't just poopy like newborn poop. They are *nasty* poopy. I think that's officially the most times I've ever said poop in one post. Poop.

Wacko Wednesday (I know. It's Tuesday)

I just saw someone's birthdate and couldn't believe they were 50.

Then I realized my ex-husband is 50. I'm 32.

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

lol.

And that's my profound insight for today ... hahahahaha

Derf ...

Y'know, if your computer keeps telling you that your printer cannot communicate with the computer, you might wanna see if the printer is actually plugged in to the usb cable you've attached to the computer.

Just an FYI.

Finished!

I finished baby's quilt.

The green is the back. It's tied with a bright orange yarn which matches the crabs in the sea life print (which also has green octopi and yellow starfish and blue fish). The yellow squares are a pinstripe, but it's hard to see all of that detail.

Ta-Da!

Next WIP: Two wraps. One for me, one for SIL, who had her baby last weekend at 32 weeks' gestation (i.e., he was 2 months early).

Um ... P.S. Yes, BoobNazi, he is okay. He weighed just under 4 pounds at birth and, while he's still in the hospital, he's taking oral intake instead of just IVs and is progressing well and gaining weight. So he's doing just fine, although I don't think he'll be home for a while yet.

Friday Fave Five!

1. Mom for taking over my little problem with the Christmas dress for kiddo. I should find out how that's going ... bwahaha.
2. Pumpkin muffins. I made a double batch without chocolate chips this time, and then froze them. Guess what? When kiddo has them for breakfast, I feel like less of a failure than when I tell her to make a breakfast shake (chocolate milk, really) because we're out of time in the mornings.
3. MamaBear for telling me about the inexpensive but sucky (in a good way) vacuum. I still haven't been able to vacuum the whole house but plan to when hubby gets up today.
4. DisGrace for watching baby for an hour yesterday while I went shopping with my mom. And hubby for recognizing I needed a nap yesterday and taking the baby so I could have one.
5. Getting my federal tax return filed. Fortunately, it's more than enough to cover what we owe in state taxes but not as much as we were hoping for.

Mamabear's comment ... about ...

The pregnant man!

"actually, discover health has been running footage of the "pregnant man", and he/she has some really great musculature too. i'm not thinking about that too hard. see me not thinking about it? (feel free to hijack that topic - can't wait to see the feedback!)"

Okay. I'm hijacking it.

He/she is not a "pregnant man." She is a woman who has taken testosterone and gone under various procedures to LOOK like a man. But her chromosomes are still XX, and she has a uterus and vagina. So she is not a "pregnant man." I don't know why this is so newsworthy and will not watch the show.

No, I'm not opinionated in the least. :P

Eight Random Things

Stephanie tagged me.

I often read her blog and find inspiration in her blog entries on every day things that happen in mommies' lives, creating a link between those normal things and a spiritual lesson I usually need right then. So, if you need an uplift, visit her blog.

It's eight random things about me.

One: After we cleaned out a bunch of *stuff* (including the TV) from our living room, I'm suddenly loving my condo again. It's still not big enough for our growing family, but at least it looks and feels bigger now, and I won't mind staying here another year or two until we can get it sold (and make some money in the process). I haven't loved living here for a while because of how cramped it felt.

Two: I love to cook and will try most yummy-sounding recipes I come across, even if they have things in them I'd never heard of before.

Three: I wish I had a piano. Honestly and truly, this is one thing I wish I *could* cram into our condo. It will have to wait until we get a house, however. But I do miss playing and singing with a piano and want my kids to learn how to play.

Four: I took human anatomy for fun in college and loved it so much I decided to become a doctor. Then reality hit when I took chemistry, and it didn't like me. I use the knowledge I gained in anatomy nearly every day at my medical transcription job, so I am glad I temporarily lost my sanity and did something that hard for "fun".

Five: I read the entire twilight series in a few days, not because I loved the writing, but was intrigued by the story and had to know how it played out. The story line was great, but did not love the angsty girliness of it all. Stephen King, creepy as he is, agreed with me. Or something. And this seriously bugs me: I always thought of Jacob as someone much like my husband, a big Lamanite dude. Not the scrawny little kid they cast in the movies (shark boy? REALLY?), so I'm not sure I'll ever watch it.

Six: It takes me way too much time to think of random things.

Seven: Even though having less stuff makes me happier, I'm still a pack rat and there are things I should probably get rid of that I am having a hard time parting with. Hubby is doing his best to be patient and helpful, but ...

Eight: I exercised today for the first time in months. It felt good. As part of my new year's goals, I should've been doing it for a while, but I am taking things a step at a time. I quit Pepsi, so that's one, and I'm cooking more and cleaning more, so that's another ... and I've been crafting on occasion ... so ... that's this week's add into the mix.

And there you have it. I tag ... hm. kaje, cupcake, ehu, steph, kipluck, mamabear, mamakatz, and EF.

With the disclaimer Stephanie used: With a mutual understanding that you do not have to do this if you don’t want to, but if you DO, come back here and leave me a link so I can read it. If anyone else feels up for the challenge too, go for it! I’d love to read about you.

Pay it Forward

The RULES

1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!

2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your 3 Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love! If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! SO, REMEMBER...Pay it forward! (ok, I did NOT type this last paragraph! Can you really imagine me saying "Linky Love")

p.s. i might ask the winners for some of their favorites in various areas, but yeah, i'm on board with this giveaway.