Like riding a bike

I am guessing that blogging is like that, once you have done it consistently you can eventually return like nothing happened. Right? Besides do you know how many thoughts have not been documented in my extended absence. Gotta remedy that :)
Spring is finally hanging out around these parts and the warm weather and sunshine really does me good. We just had family here for the past 10 days and that was awesome. We celebrated Easter and the kids were so flipping adorable. My hubs and I make some pretty amazing kids which is great since we have one more little one on the way. Our third and tiebreaker little boy is due at the end of July. Busy Busy!
Every pregnancy is different and it seems like this one has introduced a whole new level of fatigue. I am TIRED. Alternately, it could be that my daughter is 18 months and goes non-stop! Anywho, I am trying to take it all in and enjoy this final pregnancy. My husband has been so helpful and I know that he is pulling more than his share. I am very grateful for him.
Besides being a Momma of three I am looking forward to so many things in the coming months, I hope to be back to this place to share some of it.

Hello 2013!

2012 was a great year. I was blessed with a healthy family. My marriage is constantly growing and I am amazed at how well we work when we are working. He is a phenomenal partner and I am so happy that he is on this journey with me. My son is so smart and funny and happy. He is pushing me in new (sometimes frustrating) ways and I love watching him grow and embrace each day. I have an awesome support system and I can't tell you how much my parents rock~ they had their grandson for 7 weeks this summer. Really, how wonderful is that! My work continues to bring me joy and I have started a journey that promises new opportunities on the career front too. All in all 2012 was more than I could have hoped for.
I am planning, as always, to keep my 2013 aspirations simple. I don't have a laundry list of aspirations but I do want to focus on 4 areas: Health, Home, Beauty and Love. Each month I will share some goals in these areas. I am still working through my overall mantra for this year. I recently celebrated my birthday- the day after Christmas- and birthdays are always a nice time to reflect and plan. Unfortunately we have been so busy that I haven't really gotten a chance to reflect as much as I would like but I am working on that...stay tuned.

1/2013 goals:

Health: eat better :)
-take my lunch 4 days a week
- commit to exercise 3-4/ week
-feed myself like I feed my son more often

Home:
- a load of laundry a day (wash, dry, fold and put away)
-spend 30 mins a day taking care of home

Beauty:
-polish my nails at least once a week
-moisturize daily

Love:
-date my hubby twice
-3 random affirmations

So what is on your agenda for this new year?

Little Reminders

I know I am not the only one who gets overwhelmed or feels like there are not enough hours in the day to do all that needs to get done. Man do I feel all of those things pretty often! This weekend has been what the entire holiday season is for us, busy busy busy! I enjoy spending the time with the people I love and yet the reality of life is just around the corner. This weekend was full of fun family time, my cousin was here from Seattle and so we ate well and laughed a lot. It was bliss. We put her on her plane and it is back to reality. Getting ready for the work week and tackling little projects. Or not so little projects. In my never ending quest to get organized, I am tackling some of the paper clutter. Beyond the usual stuff, how long do you need to keep tax stuff for any way? I have been going through papers for the past few hours and I was feeling rather overwhelmed when I thought it would be a great time to put my little hurricane of a helper down for his nap. He flat out refused. Ugh. My plans, my plans! Anywhoo I left him alone and returned to my mounds feeling doubly defeated when I had an epiphany: instead of bemoaning how much I have to do, I should embrace how far I have come. Two big trash bags full if shredded papers are certainly testimony to what I have been able to accomplish. Quite pleased with my revelation I hopped up to tell my husband my aha moment only to discover him and our son passed out in our bed. He had gone down without me pulling out my hair over it or getting all riled up. Wow two big reminders in one afternoon. Life really is full of awesomeness.

What have you had to remind yourself about lately?

10 for Tuesday: Anticipation

a few things I am  looking forward to.

1. Warmeer temps...what the heck happened to the warmth. 43 degrees?!? Bring on summer.
2. The decision on our last day of work. Our school year was extended due to inclement weather but there is a slight chance that that day may be excused.
3. Celebrating my good friend's big birthday this week.
4. Going to see Think Like A Man. It has gotten great reviews and I don't like to be out of the loop.
5. Catching up with my bestie. We have had our conversations interrupted and it would be nice to really chat it up. Soon though we will remedy that one.
6. Spending some good time journaling. My hands are itching to create and write.
7. Basketball watching. It has been a few days since I watched my Miami Heat and I need a little fix.
8. The relaxed pace of summer. I can see it coming and I am getting excited.
9. Blog reading. I haven't been doing that in a bit and I miss my online connections.
10. Some professional plans that I have brewing. Improving my self and being reflective too. Love it.

sleepless in the suburbs

I am officially sleep deprived. Every night my sleep is interrupted by my son. Combine that with the fact that I try to do a million things once he goes to sleep and then I have trouble unwinding to go to sleep before 11 ish and well it is not good for me. I came home on Friday so tired. The kind of tired that overtakes you and makes you feel like someone should be walking behind you to make sure you don't put your purse in the fridge or leave your keys dangling in the front door. Thank goodness I have only done one of those things. But really I am beat. I spend far too much time complaining to my mom and bestie about it. And truth of the matter not getting enough rest is no bueno. I may not be able to control the pitter patter of little feet making the way into my bed but I can make adjustments to get more rest. I am going to use this weekend to get some things done for the week. This week my goal is to get 7 hrs of sleep. I know that falls less than the recommended amount but it is a start. Yesterday, I got 4hrs. Yeah it felt more like a nap than anything. So maybe with more planning I will be able to get in the bed a bit earlier. I hope so. There really is no gaining back lost hrs of sleep. Wish me luck on my journey and feel free to let me know you share my pain.

PS: If you have a toddler and you are getting your sleep or more than your share, don't tell me that.
PPS: If you have always had a great sleeper, don't tell me that either.
PPSS: If you don't have to wake up in the 5 o'clock hour, you can keep that to yourself.

See where I am going here!

Ten for Tuesday!

Happy Valentine's Day! Today I will share with you all 10 love lessons, cause I am mushy like that :O

1. Find small ways to share your love....I have hidden post-its when I went on a trip. He was finding post-its in his sock drawer, he loved it.
2. You don't have to love the same things, just love each other and accept that you are different.
3. Laugh at the big stuff and the small stuff and the dumb stuff...just laugh together often.
4. It may feel great to be right, but it is better to have an understanding that works for both of you.
5. Watch your wedding dvd at least once a year. Ok, I may be the only one guilty of this but I love watching the nervousness/laughs that culminated in our union.
6. Hug each other. Even my non-affectionate hubby gets that I need hugs to feel connected to him.
7. Surprise each other. There are some delicious V-day goodies in the oven right now.
8. Look good for them (and you)...if my hubby notices when I put in the extra effort, it must mean something!
9. Say your, "I love Yous" you will probably never regret saying it but you surely will regret NOT saying it.
10. Value your mate. They may not be the insert trait that your friend has but they have a whole bunch of SOMETHING that makes them amazing. Value those traits and see #'s 1-9 again. It bears repeating :)

How do you show your love for your sweetie?

10 for Tuesday- Pinterest Love

Are you obsessed with Pinterest? Do you love it as much as I do? Is this just babble and you don't know what the heck I am talking about? I hope not because I love it. I will admit I loved it more when it wasn't blocked at work :) Anywho Pinterest is a cool place to organize the gazillion things that you find appealing....ie. a fantastic wonderful place to pass time. All the while seeing how nifty, crafty and ingenious other folks are. Count me in :) Here are 10 things that I have recently pinned. ENJOY!!

Easy peasy delish fruit roll ups from here : http://thecopycatcook.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/fruit-rollups/

A variation of this design for my son's quilt from here: http://minneapolishunter.com/2010/01/04/a-quilt-and-cake/

This amazing crafty space from here: http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/2011/05/joons-craft-room.html

Cute, cute cookies from here:http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/2011/09/pinterest-cookied-chevron-cookies/

Cool, cool blue~

Isn't she lovely? from herehttp://www.homeworkshop.com/2009/07/21/diy-ribbon-upholstered-chair/

meal ideas for my little one , go here: http://www.livinglocurto.com/2011/04/lunch-punch/

gorgeous fruit :)

isn't this just amazing, from here: http://nattybydesign.blogspot.com/2011/10/transformation-week-day-2.html?

clever ideas, go here: http://storageandglee.blogspot.com/2010/06/another-way-brown-sugar.html

happy pinning! 

January is essentially a wrap!

The first month of 2012 is winding itself down and luckily the resolutions are still a go. Yes! Still have a ways to go with the moving my buns one. I try but I often let other things get in the way of the me time that I should use for exercise. But the importance of taking time for myself slaps me in the face time and time again. I was at a leadership training today and one of the things on the laundry list of suggested tasks is to make sure that you schedule some physical activity. So I am continuing to work on that one.
I am journaling a lot. Not every single day but I am really and purposefully documenting my experience. I have discovered that I really love doing multimedia journaling. I feel SO creative and I really can't wait until I look back at the year and have a record of all of the awesomeness that was my 2012. If you haven't tried this type of journaling yet, what are you waiting for? Chop, chop. You will not be disappointed. You can certainly start this type of journaling at any point.
I have lost a few lbs this year. Eating better in some ways. Trying to be better about what I consume. So that is a success.
Agenda book and weekly planning is a real challenge. I am not really sure what I can do to improve. Suggestions, anyone. Beuller? Beuller? I really think if I can get this one down better than my other clutter removal/organization goal would go better too. Alas the journey is the success. I am enjoying the journey :)

How are you doing on your resolutions?

Date Night

Oh Date Night how I love you. Yesterday we got all dolled up and went to a wonderful birthday dinner for my brother in law. This night out was special for so many reasons. We were headed to a tasty Indian restaurant in DC, Rasikas. The food is served family style and it is so delish. Our son was headed to my friend's house and it was the first non-family babysitter. Talk about nervous! I was so nervous, my  hubby was too. Our son? He had a ball and she took him out to Dave and Buster's too. All was well. Whenever we manage to get out we have such a fantastic time. Which reminds me to make sure we get to do it a bit more.
So, do you do a scheduled date night with your honey? Do you think I am silly for being so giddy about date night? Do tell!

Easy baby quilt

Making gifts for babies is just about the coolest thing to do. First of all you know that there won't be a critical eye looking at all of the mistakes and second everything is cuter when it is tiny! So four nearly five months ago my cousin had her second baby. A little boy who I hope to get to visit in the Spring and he is just such a cutie. I have been meaning to make something for her but things just kept on getting in the way. I promised myself that after the holiday sewing was finished I would get to a gift for him. Well, guess who finished? This whole planning and doing that I am trying to implement is really working for me :)
I used a no binding quilt method that I found on Red Pepper Quilts and it was super easy to follow. I did not make a huge complex project. I really loved the robot fabric and would have just made a blanket using that but I wanted it to be a little bigger and more quilt like. So robots plus some circle fabric that I had in my stash made for a quick little quilt and the backing is sweet and cheery yellow polka dots. I love it and I hope my cousin does too!

Journaling

I have mentioned before that I wanted to be diligent about using my journal. This week went pretty good- I missed a day. No excuses, I was in super sleepy mode and did not want to exert the effort to put pen to paper. Since I am a glass half full kind of person, I see that as success! Go me. And since I started my journal on 12/26 (my bday) it is even more awesomely amazing that I have been sticking at it longer than the first week of the year. Go ME!!
I have stumbled on a blog that is doing a Journaling through January effort and since I would love to have prompts and all that I have decided to participate. I hope that will keep me even more focused on this aspiration of mine.
Just for the record I am using a nice bound sketchbook with 8x11 white pages that just scream, "Fill me up with your witty, insightful, awesomely amazing thoughts!" So I am trying to do just that. Bonus points for this sketchbook being one I already had- brand new and all from the now defunct Borders Books. Which helps with my whole being a better steward of my money resolution-like goal.
So if I were going to journal about my New Year's Resolutions~
Exercise/fitness: yoga ( 3 ) walking ( 1)
Money: no unnecessary purchases at Target, yeah and no splurges
Journaling: see above
Clutter removal: clean pantry, clean truck ( my hubby eve complimented me on this one), donation of stuff

Great start! How did your first week of 2012 go? I hope it is off to an awesome start!

10 for Tuesday: Lessons

In this hectic season, here are 10 life lessons that I hope will make this crazy season a bit better. I am trying to keep them close to heart.

1. People matter. Every single moment I can spend with the people who I love, I plan to do it and enjoy them.
2. Perfection doesn't exist. Stop pushing so hard for things to be perfect.
3. Compliments are free- share kind words freely. People need to hear kind words.
4. There really is something to be said for smiling until your cheeks hurt.
5. It is okay to take a moment for me. Maybe it will be during a long shower or driving the scenic way home but I need a few moments to myself. It is a good thing.
6.Homemade is cool but convenience sometimes trumps making it myself.
7. Do something that doesn't feel like me. I just may discover something I love.
8. New traditions have a place beside old ones. I am ever evolving so things I treasure may evolve with me.
9. Everyone doesn't have to have a present. Accept the gifts that people give and enjoy them and the intent.
10. Love freely and abundantly.

What life lessons do you hold on to at this busy, busy season?

Admitting/Accepting Defeat

My participation in NaNoWriMo is a failure. I can't seem to meet the deadline. I am chugging along and I have certainly written more than in previous months but I simply can't dedicate the time to churning out enough words. This month has flown by with many birthdays, a wedding to attend and Thanksgiving maybe November was not the time to be writer me. Oh well. I am fine with writing at a snails pace and hopefully I will be up to the challenge at another point. I sat down to write today and quickly realized that 1) I would rather be sewing my quilt 2) I have my son's birthday plans to finalize 3) my son is ramming his car/firetruck/ insert anything on wheels into my leg (guess he wants me) and 4) I suck at deadlines. So, don't think less of me if I throw in the towel. Please and thank you.

I feel rather liberated. What have you given up to maintain some sanity?

10 for Tuesday

1. Started my novel for the National Novel Writing Month and well if I put it in here it must be so :) One month 1627 ish words per day= a 50,000 word novel. No worries about revision yet.
2. I am going home next week. I am getting so excited...sunny Florida here I come!
3. Great day in sewing club. The girls are really getting into their sewing and maybe a quilt is not far off.
4. I love pop culture. It makes me happy.
5. Can you believe today is 11/1/11. Looks so crazy, huh? 11-11-11 is pretty freaky too.
6. My son's Halloween Candy has no chocolate. What is up with that? No temptations for me!
7.I have 3 vases of flowers. I feel pretty special.
8. Tomorrow is a good day at work and although I always overestimate what I can get done during my long hour of planning, I am still happy for the time.
9. Cute meals. I love making cute little dishes for my son. He loves eating them too.
10. National Novel Writing Month, YIKES!!

Overwhelmed

feeling super duper
over.whelmed.
life is not easy
the to do lists
never seem to get done
and then it is
Monday
and it starts all
over again
my head is
swarming
and full of stuff
I need to exhale
and feel the relief
that is alluding
me

Embrace Fall

In an effort to embrace a season which is really not that great to me I am starting operation Embrace Fall. I am such a summer, flip flops, watermelon, beach loving gal that when the temp starts to drop so does my mood. Well with a little one it is not really appropriate to give a whole season or two the gas face so I made a list of all the things I can do to celebrate this time of year. And surprise, surprise I have already done some this weekend- gotta love a warm day and a nudge from my son to visit a farm.

1. Pick pumpkins
2.Go on a hayride
3. Make Halloween decorations/crafts
4. Go apple picking
5. Make a new soup (suggestions welcome)
6. Go an a nature walk
7. Go to a farm
8. Take N out with his fabulous costume
9. Go on a leaf hunt
10. Start my holiday crafting fest

The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat

One thing that brings me a great amount of pleasure is reading. Most of the year I allow the bizillion things I have going on get in the way of reading for fun. Seriously for most of the school year I only read things related to work and that includes a huge amount of torturous essays ;P Well another perk of my trip to Maine was finding a moment to read. I read this great little book about Haiti and the time of Papa Doc Duvalier. I will say that my connection to Haiti and the plight of Haitians is limited; however, I do remember the fall of the Baby Doc Empire when I was in school. The biggest thing that I got from reading the book was that there is duality in people....rarely are people all good or all bad. Also after they atone or change where do they fit in? Can you truly forgive yourself for your past and what do you gain from forgiving others? A very thought provoking little book.

My connection to the text: I really struggle with forgiveness. I mean, I can and do hold grudges. So I say all of this to say, how do you forgive people? Is it easy? Difficult. Have you had an aha moment about forgiveness. Seriously let me know what works. I am all for bettering myself and your way could be the breakthrough I need :)

Hope

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all. ~Emily Dickinson

I have decided to participate in a Craft Hope project. I have linked the info so please visit for all of the details but essentially it is a call for stockings for tornado victims. While the deadline is soon (Sept 23rd) and the school year is starting (super busy me!), I figure this project is easy enough for me to do without too much seam ripping :) So if you would like to participate please head on over. If you decide to help out, let me know so I can have a buddy in these efforts.

Summer: Day One

Well it is finally here. The start of summer. Last night I fell asleep super early. I mean like 8pm in the bed getting comfy so when I drift off to sleep I will be where I want to be. Yeah, I sleep like a baby who actually sleeps ;P I am so excited to have the freedom to do what I want for a little bit. I woke up at 5:20 which was not really appreciated but on well. I went for a walk at 6 am and it was great to get out before the heat of the day, say hello to fellow walkers and look at all of the recycling bins lining the streets. You weren't expecting that huh? Now I am really glad that people are recycling but if you could see the amount of waste that we generate it is really mind blowing! My look into the recycling bins (so to peak, I did not actually look in them...moreso noticing the stuff that was overflowing):

*people consume a LOT of bottled water- bin after bin was filled with those little bottles

*Pampers/Huggies- literally house after house had those grande size diaper boxes. Yikes! That is a lot of diapers...come over to the cloth people ;)

*The Fisher Price Bubble Mower is big in the burbs...3 houses had the boxes for those on their bins.

* A box of books? Really? I always thought you should donate unwanted books. These were not tattered books from the 80's, these were hardback James Patterson type books (I admit I did a little bit closer inspection of these- I wanted to rescue these jimmies.) They certainly could have been put to better use.

*People buy a lot of convenience foods: hot pockets, capri sun you name it. Individual chips, cookies etc.

*Some little girl had a birthday party that created a lot of waste. Her folks had two bags next to their bin with all of the packaging for her gifts. She must be a Barbie fan :)

Very interesting stuff in these bins. It was my diversion from noticing the distance, my sweating or the fact that I think walking makes my feet swell. Well it was a great am walk. The overcast sky, the greetings with the fellow walkers, the folks heading off to their jobs, getting one thing checked off of my to-do list. Hello Summer! It is nice to have you here!!

Ten for Tuesday. Celebrating D!

Ok, D and I are very lucky that our little one is hanging out with the grandparents. N being away should be a time to get super connected and nurture our relationship in ways that we can't when we have to wake up at the crack of dawn! So now that the school yr is finally coming to a close, I am starting operation celebrate D. Today's post is a list of ways that I can nurture our relationship. Feel free to add any suggestions and while it may not get your hubby's goat, all of these things are things that I know D would appreciate.

1. Clean/declutter our bedroom. Gotta set the scene for romance :)

2. Wake up before him and make him breakfast... a real sacrifice when I don't have to wake up at all.

3. Movie night. Get the movie he mentioned today and pop some stovetop popcorn, use our cute popcorn containers and throw the pillows on the floor.

4. Exercise together. Lay out his clothes and make some yogurt parfaits to eat when we get home.

5. Dinner on the deck.

6. Spa night. Create an at home spa experience after he has had a long, hard day of work.

7. Back in the day. 80's sitcoms and Milk and cookies.

8. Explore X day. Find a nearby community that we have not gone to and see their Main Street.

9. Cooking together. Find a menu and cook it from start to finish together.

10. Computer free day. Spend the day enjoying him and not spend a second on the internet.

How do you celebrate your mate and your relationship?