Wednesday, April 21, 2010

AWITL Extra Goodness

I read this Q and A on a few different sites and thought it would be cool to do during my AWITL week.

1. When do you feel happiest?
When all my babies are under one roof sleeping. Close runner up.... when all of my babies are in the back yard playing while papa and I are gardening or sitting back with a few cocktails. Bubble machine going, dogs running around, spa bubbling, grill heating up and the baseball game over the speakers.


2. How do you take care of yourself?
What is this that you speak of? Taking care of myself? Ok so lately I have been really upping the H20. I usually eat pretty healthy M-F. The weekend I let it lose. I think i need to work on a better answer for this one. LOL

3. Are you internally (by yourself) or externally (by others) motivated?
Most often I am internally, when I succeed it pushes me to do more. In the work force I am internally motivated all the time because no one motivates me at all. At home and with friends I can be externally motivated.

4. What do you do for fun?
cook. I love cooking Sundays where we make meals for the whole week. I also like to go for walks around our neighborhood. My sons jogging stroller and I are best friends. Now if I have a chunk of time I love to sit back and DVR for hours!! I get all caught up on my favorite shows.

5. What intimidates you?
Hmmmmm.. Mean people. Inconsiderate people. I am intimidated by how I should react to them. Gut instincts would get me in trouble so I tend to over analyze and thus become intimidated my the situation.

6. What is something you're proud of?
I am proud of all my children. Each of them brings a certain something to this great big world and as I watch them grow I am overwhelmed with pride.

7. Finish this sentence. I never _____________.
want to be without my parents.

8. Favorite vacation spot.
Laughlin!! I know this will change over time but for now I love Laughlin!

9. Today is a (rate from 1 - 10).
6, I mean come on I am at work how in the heck would it be any higher. It is getting better as each hour ticks closer to being home with my family.

10. Finish this sentence. If you knew me really well you'd know _____________.
that I can be a perfectionist with certain things.

Earth Day 2010


*yes I know earth day is the 22nd but I am going to be super slammed tomorrow so I posted about it today...

I now cringe when I have to use a cardboard coffee cup. I never thought that I would have a physical reaction to being wasteful but I do. My trips to 7-11 have stopped in favor of brewing tea at work. A move motivated by saving $2 bucks a day but also by trying to reduce waste. Our family recycles bottles and cans, worm composts, grasscycles and thrifts. We try our best to reduce the amount of trash we create and I personally am re-thinking our consumption all the time.

I watched this great video the other day and it really opened my eyes to how easy the explanation of how we are burning (literally) through our natural resources really is. I look forward to sharing it with my kids on Earth Day. Small steps lead to big changes.

Monday, April 19, 2010

A week in the life.. of me



I started my Ali project this past Saturday the 17th. I wanted it to cover over two weekends so I could showcase both ends of my life. With the kids and with out. No one really understands the pain of shared custody unless you actually live it. Having had people tell me how lucky I am to get a break from my kids every other weekend tears me up. But it is what it is and I do my best to make the situation workable.

This past weekend Chad and I filled our time up and kept busy so the missing vibes were kept at bay. We literally stayed home and cooked all day on Sunday and spent some good relaxing time in the mountains on Saturday. It was a good weekend.

Notes for AWITL: Saturday we went up to the Mountains as guests of a co-worker to check out their camping membership. We spent a good part of Saturday walking out in the fresh air and sun. James was a party animal entertaining everyone he came across. Prior to our trip into the Mountains I worked for a bit and we picked up our wine club shipment.

Sundays cook-a-thon included stuffed shrimp and crab jalapenos, black bean soup, potato and leek soup and we brined a turkey. So far all meals for the week will be cooked once the turkey goes in.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

1/4 of the way!!

We are a 1/4 of the way through the year and I wanted to re-cap my "list" and see if I am really making any movement on what I wanted this year to really be about.

1. So far there have been big strides in the restructuring of the house. We made some furniture moves in the bedroom that has allowed for a more open floor plan. We had a huge yard sale in April that involved a lot of purged items including furniture that was just taking up too much space. My craft room has been organized and i actually when in there and worked on my journal last weekend. There are still some places that need some help, like the other half of the loft but I am happy with what has been accomplished.

2.I learned how to Sew. I took a class and practiced a few times afterwards. Now that I have a place in my craft room for my sewing goodies I foresee more sewing in the near future.

3. Learning how to knit will have to move to the later portion of the year.. probably fall.

4.Scraproom is re-organized, now I just have to add the finishing touches.

5. I completed style school and I love what it has done to my personal style. It has actually saved me some $$$ I shop with a different mind set now and I am so much happier in what I wear.

6.I have leggings coming out of my ears!! and fun comfy socks under my boots. Its been a fun footwear adventure.

7. We have been blessed to be able to do this each month. I hope it continues.

8. So 1 new recipe a week hasn't quite been it but there have been some weeks where I have done 2-3 and some where I haven't cooked anything new.

Baby steps. But it sure feels good to have accomplished so much in just 3 mths, its kind of like the secret.


2010 The List
1. "Our Home"
2. Learn How to Sew
3. Learn How to Knit
4. Re-Organize the Scraproom
5. Complete Style School
6. Wear more Leggings
7. Monthly Date Nights
8. Cook 1 new recipe a week

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Your name in lights

I have this weird fascination with home movies... like I wish I had some of me growing up. I told myself that when I had kids I would start filming them and I did pretty well for awhile. I have a ton of footage of Julia. But then Jack came around as in was born and my Spielberg days were over. Now after seeing this video from Pacing the Panic Room I must confess. I won't sleep another day until I get some montage videos handled. I mean come on dude..... The editing is fab, notice the head nod on the "hey, hey" beats and the blinks of his little guys eyes following the beat of the music. Lovely, pure and simple.


Freezing the Children in the Spring of 2010 from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.