101 Update

Another update for my 101 in 1001 list.

Here we go...

I never did post an update, or what my goals would be for June, but I did post in May, and I did not finish those items, so I'll just work from that point, ha ha.

4. Put up a clothesline to use in summer - DONE

Did this on June 3... used it later that day.  With all the rain we've been having, I've been afraid to use it again.

72. Try knitting one item - DONE
I finally completed this last week!  I'm thrilled!  I now know the cast on, cast off (in knit), and knit stitch.  And I figured out why I was getting an extra stitch in the beginning of my project.  Didn't gain or lose any stitches after that point!

So, what did I make?  A purse!  Simple, really.  I just knitted a 'scarf' 20 stitches wide (ended up being 21, but anyway), and many many rows long (I just went as far as I wanted... 3x the length of what I wanted the finished purse size to be).  Then, I folded it into thirds, opened the one third to be the 'flap', and using the yarn, stitched the two remaining sides together by 'knit stitching'.  It worked out rather well.  I braided 10 pieces of yarn to make the handle, added a little embellishment to the front, and voila!  My very first knitted project ever!

51. Create website for published works - DONE
You can read about it here.

9. Visit a museum - Nope... wanted to do this mother's day, but having just had a baby 2 days earlier, something told me this wouldn't happen.

66. Grow a garden (start) - Well, no veggies, but I have a cute little flower garden in front of my house right now.  I've been taking good care of it too!  I'm not sure when to say this is done... since it's flowers and not veggies.  I can't really plant anything more in that specific area, but I have lots of other areas I might make into a garden yet as well. 

71. Learn to play guitar - Didn't happen.  Perhaps I'll try again this month.

100. Get a massage - Again, didn't happen.  I need to make a phone call...

For the month of July, I'd like to work on any of the above items that I didn't finish.  I don't know about the museum thing, though.  We'll see.  Here are new things for me to work on.

62. Fix fire pit area

I really really REALLY want to do this this month.  I have a lot of yard work I wish to do, and I want to use my fire pit sometime this year. 

63. Level out yard
Another item I really wish to finish.  This needs to be done to help with the fire pit area, and our deck as well.  Currently, our stairs are NOT on solid ground on one side, but are perfectly fine on the other.  Yeah... work needs to be done.  As you can see, I've had this one on my to do list every week in June... with weather permitting next to it.

64. Remove dead trees from yard
This is something we started last year already, but there are a few trees that still need to be removed.  Not many, just a couple.  shouldn't take much work on my part... just a bit of nagging... >:)
 
95. Go to 3 different local festivals/fairs (2/3)
I'm hoping to go to one fair this month.  Please please please... M will LOVE it, and I love getting out!  Of course!

98. Go to an anime convention
We're planning on this, we just need to buy the tickets and I want to finish the costumes I started in fall last year.  I'll go even if the costumes aren't done, but I think it would be such fun!
 

Anyway, that's quite the list.  I know I won't get it all done, but at least I have a few things I'll focus on a bit.  Especially the yard.  I REALLY want to work on the yard!

How are your 101 lists coming along? 

A Baby Party

I have more photos for you!  Don't you want to see more photos?  Of course you do! :)

Saturday this weekend was Bram's Baby Bash.  It didn't end up turning out too well... not many people could make it.  There ended up being a funeral and another baby shower on the same day... ah well.  You win some you lose some.  It was a small get together with 2 of our friends and our parents.  I had other visitors on Friday and Sunday, too.  I didn't want it to be a huge thing, so I only invited Bram's grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts (some didn't see the invites until too late... ah well), and our friends.

On to the photos!

 M playing with daddy's Blackberry. 

 Happily waiting for guests to arrive.

 The cake (yeah... I didn't feel like blocking out his name and stuff...)
I was actually quite surprised at how well the leaves turned out. They didn't work with this tip properly in class... I think the icing was too thick in class for leaves.  I made it quite a bit thinner, and it worked so much nicer!

 Grandpa and the guest of honor.

 My friend, Rhonda, from One Step Forward.

 Of course, M was there too.

All smiles! 

Thanks to everyone who came!  Now I need to come up with another excuse to have people over... perhaps I'll finally fix the fire pit and can have a bonfire!  WOO!

Camping for Father's Day

For father's day this year, we went camping.  With two little ones.  Fun!

Ok, it actually wasn't too bad.  Bram slept rather well at night, and while we did have issues with M sleeping, she LOVED being outside.  Loved it.  Really.  We've got an outdoorsy type here, folks. 

I figured I'd post a few pics of our weekend for all of you to see.  Even though the bugs were terrible (I hate being lunch), with a soak down of mosquito spray and some sunscreen, we were good to go.  And on the beach they weren't as bad.  :)

Swimming at the lake.  M didn't like the water too much.  She was gung ho for it at first, but then she tried to touch her feet or something (as my husband says) and got a face full of water.  She did NOT want in after that... as you can see by the pic on the right.  Poor hubs could not put her in.  She literally tried to climb back up his leg.  It was kinda funny...

The guys made a large sandcastle.  There looked to be a storm moving in, and since our kiddos were zonked, we left before they finished it.  I saw a picture, it looked great!  Anyway, I just have pics of the work in progress.  :)

Kiddos and sand toys mix quite well with a pail of water.  (my daughter, niece, and nephew... we were quite the blanket full of young kids... 4 of them aged 2 and under!)

There was a play structure by the beach, and some swings.  M LOVED it.  She was so excited, especially when there were other kids to play with.  And Bram... he was just chillin.

Sand is loads of fun, didn't you know?  It doesn't matter if it gets into every nook and cranny, it's a pile of fun!  Bram didn't really wish to join in any of the sandy goodness, however. He was content to snooze in the sleepy wrap.

It was a good weekend.  I have to say, part of me loves camping (the outdoors part, walking, biking, getting away), and dreads it (the packing, cleaning up, mosquitoes, and lack of sleep).  I think going for only one night, or even just for the day, is good enough for me.  More so when the mosquitoes die off a bit. 

How was your father's day?

Garfield says "I Hate Mondays"

I wonder... is this the only thing I'm going to be blogging about now? Kinda sad, really. I just really haven't taken the time to go on blogger much lately.

Oh, and for the record, I don't particularly hate Monday, I just really don't want to do ANYTHING lately on Mondays... or any day that ends in 'y'. I just do it all anyway. Nope... I'd rather spend every spare moment walking outside (if the weather is nice and the mosquitoes aren't wanting to throw dinner parties), or in front of the Wii playing my new Mario Galaxy 2! I LOVE that game! And M loves watching all the bright characters flashing across the screen.

Anyway, on to the 'list'. Oh, lists, how I love thee (and hate thee... since thou makest me think that I have lots to do instead of video gaming... eth).

The challenge for the week is a combo of indoor outdoor... to scrub the entrance inside and out. Yup... it's a doozy... sorta. At least for my fly poop ridden entrance. Grab a cloth (or sponge, or scrubber, or brush), some soapy water, and get rid of the gunk on the walls the doors (around the handle is prime real estate for dirt to collect), wash the window (I have one on my door... it needs a good scrub) and make that entrance door area shine. I also did the office window, since it's right by my entrance, and now it is so clear and free of grime that it makes me smile to look at it. Oh, and any light fixtures outside could probably use a quick wipe. ;)

Anyway, now I'll just post my to-do list for the week... for the sake of posting it. Yeah. That's it.

To Do (focus, entrance/dining/living/hall)
- weekly chores
- dust in focus area (fun fun...)
- gardening (weeding, watering... ok, maybe not with all the crazy rain we've been having)
- ??? weather permitting, level yard, fix fire pit, and/or chop trees
- scrub entrance interior
- scrub entrance exterior (door and area)
- clean office exterior window
- work on costumes
- pack away some toys (for my own sanity)
- plan last 6 months of M's scrapbook

This week is looking good. I'm going on a date with my hubby tomorrow! So excited! No kiddos, just us (later to be joined by friends). We're going to see Star Wars in concert! To be honest, it's not so much that it's Star Wars, but that it's music, it's a concert, it's a date, and no kiddos for a night! Eeee! I'll probably miss them both after just 10 minutes... ha ha.

Anyway, I'm off. I think I might have a relax soak tonight... to help me sleep and all. It's amazing how I've suddenly been bonding with my bathtub lately. I never used to soak... what on earth happened? I'm hoping Baby Bram will sleep for 6 hours tonight again like last night. A few nights like this and I might graduate him to the cradle in the next 'room'... which is really just an extension of our current bedroom, but a little farther away then the end of the bed. I'm looking forward to 11 hour nights like my daughter has! :)

Have a great week everyone!

Today is Tuesday

Boring title? Yeah... I agree. Ah well, my creative juices aren't flowing very well lately.

So, what is this post about? Actually, it's the challenge for the week! This week, the challenge outside is to rid the sidewalk/patio stones of weeds. Since the indoor zone for me this week is the bedrooms, my challenge is to go through the clothes. Something I decided to do with my clothes is to hang them all 'backwards' in the closet. At the end of a month (or two... depending when I get back to my normal size), whatever I have not yet worn will still be 'backwards', and will go to the local charity. I see no point in keeping things I won't wear. I already got rid of a few items that I know I won't wear again anyway.

As for last week, how did you do on your challenge? I was happy to get the van clean, it looked so nice (even though it only lasted a day or two). As for the decorating in the bathrooms, I love the bit I did. It wasn't much (I got new liquid soap containers, and trashed the downstairs bar soap holder which was hideous, and just cleaned the upstairs one, then put the soap on the bar soap holder upstairs, and downstairs I grabbed my new bamboo holder to put it on... so nice and clean looking).

To Do: Bedrooms: June 20-26
- regular weekly chores
- exercise (did Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri (just a walk))
- dust bedrooms
- clean diaper pail
- flip mattress
- gardening (rid patio of weeds, do regular weeding)
- go through clothes (my own, find new place for Bram's stuff)
- level yard/ work on fire pit (weather permitting... which it doesn't seem to be doing right now)
- scrapbook
- work on costumes for July (hee hee)
- finish knitting purse
- finalize album pick pics, plan pages (did for months 1-6)
- print pics/announcements (just need to pickt them up)
- plan/invite to Bram's party (smile)
- cake (bake, decorate)

Yeah, I am finally going to do a party for Bram this weekend. So, I have to plan it. Which won't take much. It's gonna be very casual. The only real work I want to have to do with this one is making the cake. Otherwise, snacks are gonna be chopped veggies, popcorn, crackers... things like that. Easy... right? No games, nothing but 'drop in' for cake and to meet the little (or not so little, now that I look at him from his newborn pics) guy.

I haven't been keen on doing much more than the basics lately. Meals, regular cleaning, that sort of thing. I want out of the house, but the weather has been terrible, so that means going shopping, which means spending money, which I don't want to do too much of. My lawn is looking long... rain loves us this year (as do the mosquitoes... they are terrible), and getting out to do any yard work is near impossible lately. The second the sun is shining, I need to be out there, otherwise I will get nothing done. Really. We have one sunny day a week, then it's rain again. Sigh. At least I don't need to water the plants, right?

Anyway, good luck to you on your tasks for the week. I can hardly believe this month is wrapping up so soon. And I hardly did anything on my 101 tasks. I need to review those again very soon.

New Weekly Challenge

So, how'd you all do on your lists last week?  I finished mine... mainly.  The weather didn't permit me to do some of the yard work I wanted, but I DID work on the yard, technically, so that got checked off my list.  :)

Anyway, on to the challenge.

Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to clean your vehicle interior.  I figured this would be a good one, seeing as Father's day is just around the corner.  If you want, you can take it a step further and clean the exterior as well!  So get out your rags and your shop vac, and clean away!  (I tell you, I just did mine and WOW does it feel nice to know all that winter gunk is finally out of there).

My zone this week in the house is the bathrooms and laundry room.  The challenge in the house is to put something nice/decorative in the bathrooms.

To Do - June 13-19
- regular weekly chores
- exercise 5x a week (I'm upping this one... want to tone my tummy) (did M,T,W,)
- bathroom and laundry room dusting (including trim)
- scrub (and I mean SCRUB) the rust out of the sinks and tub
- clean in and out of toilets
- give the laundry room a good vacuuming
- stick toothbrush holder into dishwasher
- put something nice in the bathrooms
- scrapbook
- clean van interior
- gardening (weed, water regularly, some extra work?)
- choose pics for M's 12month album (done up to Apr09)
- print some of the aforementioned pics and birth announcements
- knit 30 rows
- order stampin up stuffs
- prep for weekend camping
- go to fair on Thursday

There it is... and a lengthy list it is!  Sheesh!  What ever happened to my having shorter lists?  At least some of these things are fun (like the last 4 items, haha).  I really hope to print my pics tomorrow when I'm in town anyway.  Then maybe I can take some of that stuff with me camping to scrapbook... wait... what am I thinking... scratch that entirely.  I'll be enjoying the outdoors... no papers blowing around!  And exercise?  That's a given!  Bike, you are getting your tires aired out (finally)!

Good Luck on your lists, everyone!

Frugal Friday

I was able to FINALLY go garage saling yesturday.  Dropped M off at her cousin's house (Thanks, E), and headed off with some friends and Bram (who thankfully slept the whole time).  I got a lot more than I have in a long time... and was thrilled with the deals!

 $3.75 for these clothes for M.  She won't be able to wear them for awhile, but that's ok.

 $8.25 for all these clothes for Bram.  The jean jacket was $2 (it has a cute Tonka truck pic on the back), and the most expensive item there.  And I LOVE the farmer shirts.  So does my husband (haha). 

For all these toys?  $12.  That's it!  And I just washed them, too.  M loves the rocking horse at the church nursery, and this one is very similar.  For $4, I'm not complaining.  And she's ALWAYS after xylophone's, so I snagged this one for $3.  I'm looking forward to finishing my office the way I want to so I can have a nice little kids play zone in there.  The way it is right now doesn't really work.  It's ok, but I have a much better idea up my sleeve that will make much better use of the space we have in here.

So, that's my garage saling trip!  Woo!  I wanna go again... but not too soon.  I think I'd like to spend time scrapbooking, when I get the chance.  I have some catching up to do.

Oh, and a garage saling tip... if you don't know what you are going to do with an item, don't bother buying it.  It won't serve you well if you do and you will probably want to get rid of it shortly.  Plus, you lived this long without it, if you aren't sure, why add to your collection of stuff at home?  I've saved myself lots of money garage saling using this tip, and I've never missed the items I never bought.

That said... if something is a steal and you know you'll use it, and if you have the money/space for it... by all means!  ;)

Baby Announcements

I finally made some birth announcements for our boy.  I had some premade templates that I did not use for Baby M, but I just HAD to make something new (because I just am that way, haha).  And so, here they are.  For privacy, I've 'deleted' the names (except my own).  Not that I don't trust any of my followers!  I love you guys!!  <3

 This one I tried for something a bit bolder (ignore the black bottom... it was transparent, and since this is made for a 4x6, the size was a bit off).

For this one, I was attempting a 'dreamy' look.  I really like how it turned out, but for an announcement, I love the colors of the first one.  I'm not sure which I like better... so I'll probably print out both, haha.

Thanks to my Aunty L who came down to take pics with me (and to my husband for taking M with him to town during that time).  :)

Weekly Challenge

I have decided to continue with the weekly challenges on my blog... because I like them!  Ha ha. 

The challenge for this week is to trim some bushes/trees, and in the kitchen to clean the major appliances. 

Basically, take a couple of the messiest trees or bushes (hedges if you have) and trim them up with the hedge clippers (if you have electric ones, lucky you.  If you have a man to do it, you are even luckier!).  My sister in law came down today and ripped out a few of the yucky trees in front of my bay window, and trimmed a few others.  I managed to trim one and put the black garden edger around an area I worked on in my yard last week (I'll have to post pics when it's done, I am SO happy) before my son decided he was hungry again.

As for appliances... I did the microwave, stove top, fridge, toaster, and the outsides of the dishwasher and oven.  Just go for those appliances you use the most.  Since it's Summer and all that, I think my focus is more on the good old outdoors rather than in the house right now.

To Do
- basic weekly chores
- exercise 3 days (did mon, wed, fri)
- appliances
- counters/cabinets
- dust in office and kitchen
- mop
- scrapbook (will I finally get around to doing this?)
- knit (this is MY 101 challenge for the month.  I really want to finish the ... scarf?  Or maybe I'll make it a purse?  Not sure yet, ha ha)
- make birth announcements
- gardening (front yard, trim trees/bushes, weed, etc)
- print preg album pics
- Baby Bram's one month photos (I can't believe he's 1 month old today!)
- prep for garage saling (and go have fun!)

I used my clothesline today!  It's so nice to be able to do that!  Sad thing is, I'm not sure I'll be able to use it tomorrow... due to weather predictions.  It's been so rainy.  I'm praying the rain doesn't come again until the guys are able to get the crop off the field... or else it won't be worth harvesting due to it flowering already.  Alfalfa should be at only 5% bloom... not 95%.  Once it gets too mature, the value for feeding the dairy cattle plummets.  I sure hope we can get it off tomorrow... that it's dry enough and that it doesn't rain... again.

That's all for now, folks! 

So how did you do last week?  Did you have fun getting out in the dirt?  Digging up some soil?  Cleaning your phones (I love that my phones and TV remotes are all nice and clean now)?  I'm hoping to make myself some 'harder' challenges in the near future... for my sake.  I feel like I accomplish something when I have things I can really SEE the difference in.  You know what I mean?

I still want to do a party for Baby Bram.  I'm just not sure how to go about it right now.  Perhaps next weekend?  Sigh.  I think I'll need to ask for some help.

Good luck to you all!

The Final Project 365

 So, this is it!  The final post for my project 365.  It's been fun, but really, it has been turning into a bit of a chore near the end.  In fact, I didn't actually take a pic on the last day... the final pic is of June 2 instead of May 31st.  Oops.  I've just been forgetting, and taking pics of 'things' around the house is rather boring to me, so I didn't bother.  I won't be doing this one this year, but I will definitely take my camera along wherever I can and remember to snap pics of things that I like.  Doing this project will definitely help with that!

On to the photos.

 Day 360 - May 26
Pushing her baby brother in the swing... which is nice, seeing as the swing has trouble working properly unless the baby sits 'just so' and everything is balanced 'just so'... 4 D batteries and still not enough power to swing proper.  At least we got girl power!!!  ;)

 Day 361 - May 27
My new NOT LEAKY faucet!  Woo Hoo!  No more fishing for a non drippy section on the handle!

 Day 362 - May 28
Playin a duet?

 Day 363 - May 29
A baby shower for a friend.  So sweet!

 Day 364 - May 30
Flowers in my house.

Day 365 - June 2 (should have been May 31)

Jumping on the trampoline at a friend's birthday.  Well, ok... sitting on the trampoline is more like it, but that's ok.  We'll be jumping soon enough!

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a few pics from today.  I couldn't resist posting them... like I said, I'll be taking my camera with me everywhere now, since I've developed quite the habit of it over the year.

 

Farewell, Project 365!  We are done, and it's been a good ride!

Evaluation

I find I need to re-evaluate why I blog... or what I blog about.

When I started this blog, it was more of a way to get my thoughts out there... sort of like journaling for the 21st century.  It was a way for me to see my thoughts out there... somewhere where I would actually read or look at them again.  Or maybe even to get some feedback on things.  I still have a lot of that, I suppose, but lately I've lost the 'joy' of blogging.

I'm not sure why.  Life has a way of taking over.  Lately, whenever I have a spare moment (and no kids climbing all over me or crying for food), I am napping.  If I am on the computer, I generally have someone on my lap, which isn't very conducive to typing up a blog post.  Now, it has started feeling like a job... I'm not sure why.  That said, I probably won't be blogging as much.

I still want to post my last post on Project 365 (I can't believe it's been a whole year!).  I don't think I'll do it again this year (I keep forgetting to take pics with my camera lately.  Life is just too busy I guess), although I hope to continue taking photos regularly.  I have lost the joy in that, too.  Sigh.

I love posting crafts and projects... mainly because I hope to inspire others to save money and have fun getting creative.  Plus... I've always loved crafts!  Always!  Since as far back as I can remember!  I'm still hoping to make a craft book someday, but that day seems far away at this point.

List making is almost a hobby of mine already.  As many of you know, I love lists, and checking things off of them makes me feel good somehow... like I've done something worthwhile (even if it is the same thing I do each and every week).  That said, my list posts will change somewhat.  I think I'll just post challenges, and perhaps my 'extra to do' items... mainly to keep myself accountable as I always do the weekly things... weekly... without a thought.

I think my blog has become boring lately.  It's mainly the same types of posts.  I haven't blogged much since the baby has been born (which is a given, I'm sure), but even before that it was mostly lists and photos.  Which I see as boring.  I love reading all the interesting posts many of you have about your day, or what the kids did, or what you learned in church, or things like that.  And I haven't been able to muster up any kind of post like that lately.  I mean, I guess I have some things, but most of them feel more like I'm complaining about stuff rather than acting the way a child of God is supposed to in building people up, or encouraging others, or talking about the things I've learned and experienced because of Him... I don't know.  I could be wrong.  I am having emotional issues lately, so that could be a part of why I feel the way I do, but I do feel this blog needs a bit of a 'makeover'.  Then again, things could be just honky dory, and I'm just feeling pressure from nobody but myself...

I AM a firstborn, after all.  Everything has to be 'just so'.  ;)

Anyway, I think what I'm trying to say is that I probably won't blog as often... then again, I might.  I really have no idea.  I don't even know what this post is about anymore.  Hmmm... title... Evaluation... right.

What am I evaluating, exactly?  My blog?  My reason for blogging?

I've been finding myself craving approval lately.  I haven't had that for ages.  I really don't know when it started up again, or why, but there it is.  Approval... Man's approval.  Now, I don't think there is anything wrong with man's approval, it's just wrong for me to crave that more than God's... and I think that's the trap I've somehow fallen into as of late.  Man's opinion of me has often steered me towards saying or not saying certain things.  While pregnant, I really didn't care.  Seriously.  I had no qualms of stating my mind and not caring what the next person thought (hmm... not exactly the right way to do things either, is it?  I know I tried to think before I spoke for the most part, but still).  Now, however, I find myself hoping to win people's approval somehow.  Am I a good mom?  Am I successful?  Am I a good wife?  Housekeeper?  Cook?  Person?  Anything?  I haven't been basing these things on what God wants necessarily.  It's been ripping me to shreds (especially since I feel I CAN'T do half the things I should).  I know I'm doing an OK job... I'm no Mary Poppins, but my kids are fed, clothed, and generally happy.  We have a clean house, and while my husband tends to make meals for the most part (fail on my part... wait... I shouldn't judge myself that way... I am usually needing him to do so since I'm usually nursing at that point), we are getting food into our bellies.  So what if it's KD?  It is still food.

But what does God think of me?  Am I living the way God wants me to?  Am I being the mom God wishes for me to be?  Or the wife, friend, sister, daughter, housekeeper, etc.  What is that, exactly?  How do I know what needs to change?  How do I pray for that?

I honestly don't have the answers.  But I hope to find them in the next while.

That said, I think I need to change how I blog... re evaluate some of what and why I am blogging to be sure I am not looking for 'man's approval'.  Not to say I don't love comments either way!  I just need to know that the blog post I am making is not for the sole purpose of 'building myself up' or getting approval from others.

We'll see how it goes.  For now, the kiddos are both napping, and my eyelids are saying I should join them.  And my blog post?  Seems a bit like I was just rambling.  I'm not sure what the point was anymore.  Ah well.  C'est la vie... at least lately.