Photo of the Week #7

All three boys sitting in the fire truck at the museum. So adorable!

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Noticed a rash on Arthur yesterday... hope it's not anything serious
Haven't been to the pool yet this summer. Why? I have no idea, but I need to go soon!
I am a minimalist parent. Reading the book and everything aligns for me.
Loving changing out my Thirty-One bags for all my different activities. So many great options! Contact me for a party!
Arthur's new obsession is closing all doors in the house. Doesn't help with air flow at all.
Digging some new-to-me shows this week. My favorite has been Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown.
Watching Parts Unknown made me want to find a Burmese restaurant. Never tried Burmese.
Cannot wait until Saturday and the Thirty-One Catalog premiere! It will be my first consultant event with the company.

Currently #9

Watching: The last few episodes of Secrets and Lies. I blame my mother! She got me hooked while I was there in March. Thankfully the last few episodes are on Hulu.

Reading: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. Finally getting around to this classic. And I get to watch the movie afterward!

Listening: AltNation has been replaying the Muse concert from Webster Hall. I keep catching a few songs here and there. Sounds like it was a good show.

Making: Finishing up my new catalog swap cards for my demo group. Arthur hasn't been napping very long this week so I've worked on these in little blocks of time.

Feeling: It's been unusually hot here this week. We had to turn on our air conditioning! Playing at the park made me hot and sweaty. Thankfully the temps have gone down a bit for today and the rest of the week.

Planning: J had to move his motorcycle class from Thursday to Friday. This opens up Thursday for an out-of-the-house activity. But what?

Loving: Finishing a bag of peanut butter m&ms today. They are my favorite!

Photo of the Week #6

Loving the candid little moments between Arthur and the twins.

Monthly Life Goals June 2015

Before I get to this month’s goals, let’s check in on May's goals and my progress.

30 Day Challenge: 60 minutes of reading – Success! With my focus on reading, I managed 13 books and 4383 pages this month. Great goal!
Put up kitchen curtains – Fail. I think we are destined to not have curtains in the kitchen. The bareness doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would...
Clean out my closet for spring – Success! I completed this one the first week of the month.
Plan a Favorite Things party for late May/early June — Fail. Never got around to this one. Maybe for July or August.
Stay ahead of meal planning — Success! I'm still working ahead and simplifying my process.
Fill out our summer bucket list notebook – Success! I updated our list for lots of East Bay attractions.
Take books to HPB and clothes to Goodwill — Fail. But I did organize the bags to go. I just need to actually go!
Make a Lasik appointment — Fail. Never got around to it.
Document a Day in the Life -- Fail. I have the worst time remembering to do this right in the morning...

This month's goals:

30 Day Challenge: 30 Miles in 30 Days -- I really need to amp up my exercise. Maybe an easily attainable but consistent goal will get me motivated.
Stick with my capsule wardrobe with update -- I jumped into this challenge yesterday. My goal is to stick with it, but also do check-ins monthly.
Start my Beatles song library goal -- One of my 101 in 1001 goals is to listen to every Beatles soon. I'm think of at least starting chronologically and then maybe jumping around later.
Visit San Francisco with all three boys -- I want to make at least one SF trip a month in June and July. We will probably end up at the CA Academy of Sciences or maybe the wharf area.
Start my TED talks goal -- Another 101 in 1001 goal. I want to watch at least 100 TED Talks, but more importantly actually do some mini reviews of them.
Institute reading hour -- During Arthur's naps, I want to have at least one hour of quiet reading. No electronics allowed except for my iPad if I'm reading a book on it.
Do a twins and mom date -- I want to go out and do something with the twins sans Arthur. We will see how this goes.

Currently #8

Watching: Farscape! I'm nearing the end of the series and i'm so excited.

Reading: Dead Wake by Erik Larson. It's the fascinating story of the last crossing of the Lusitania.

Listening: Octane on Sirius XM. I usually listen to Alt Nation, but a harder song has been calling to me.

Making: Attempting to make dinner, but it's not working. Instead, I think we may just go out for dinner.

Feeling: J is fixing the dishwasher, and the smell is making be queasy.

Planning: Trying to figure out what we're going to have dinner next week.

Loving: Today was lovely weather: warm, but most importantly a cool breeze.

Photo of the Week #5

Look at the joy on his face! Someone really loves the slide.

Odds and Ends

Here is my randomness for the week:

Sleep deprivation due to toddler sleep strike is the worst!
Loving the new Stampin' Up products. Can't wait to play with them more.
Finally got back into Farscape. Really want to finish the series now.
I really really need this child to nap!
Steel cut oatmeal with dried cranberries is amazing. I need to make this more often.
My reading has been great this month. Making it a daily goal of reading 60 minutes has really helped.
I seriously need a few hours off from the baby. He is draining me...
Really excited about the twins coming.

Currently #7

Watching: We have been catching up with Last Week Tonight. The latest episode was on family leave (or lack thereof...). Ugh! It always makes me a bit angry, but I do love John Oliver's style.

Reading: I finished the first volume of The Manhattan Projects last night and started reading Geek Mom. I feel like I really need to take some notes. There are such great activities packed into those pages.

Listening: Arthur has been Mr. Grumpypants this past week. So I've been listening to to a lot of toddler crying lately.

Making: I spent part of the day making dinner for a friend who just had a baby. A group of us are using Take Them a Meal to schedule out our drop-offs. Such a great idea! Instead of constantly asking the new mom what she needs, we sign up and drop off. Or you can even buy and send them a meal.

Feeling: Missing sleep this week... See the "Listening" category for reasons.

Planning: June is filling up fast with activities, classes, and kid fun. And I just agreed to help run the Thirty-One table at a Farmer's Market in Martinez a few times during the month.

Loving: Strong coffee. I bought Italian dark roast because of the "listening" category...

Monthly Life Goals May 2015

Before I get to this month’s goals, let’s check in on April's goals and my progress.

30 Day Challenge: Meditate Daily– Success! I only took a few minutes each day, but I did it!
Put up the kitchen curtains – Fail. Still haven't gotten these done yet.
Plan a Favorite Things for Kids Party for May – Fail. Completely forgot about this one.
Clean out Arthur and my closets for spring – Fail. I finished Arthur's closet, but didn't even look at mine at all!
Finish at least one series – Success! I finished the entirety of Y The Last Man. And I caught up on The Walking Dead, Fables, and Fairest.

This month's goals: May is going to be about catching up on some things.

30 Day Challenge: 60 minutes of reading -- I love to read, but sometimes it just gets put on hold while I do other things. For May, I am committing to reading my current book at least 60 minutes a day. This time does not include blog posts, articles, etc.
Put up kitchen curtains -- Carry over from last month.
Clean out my closet for spring -- Carry over from last month.
Plan a Favorite Things party for late May/early June -- Still wanted to do one of these but thinking June may be a better month for it.
Stay ahead of meal planning -- So far so good, but I need to make sure my nonperishable grocery list is up to date.
Fill out our summer bucket list notebook -- I loved this idea from last year and we still have a ton of room in our notebook. I just need to update it with more East Bay places and activities.
Take books to HPB and clothes to Goodwill -- I have at least one bag to take to each. Hopefully I will have at least two Goodwill bound bags by the time I go. Really need to clean out my closet!
Make a Lasik appointment -- Really been meaning to do this for awhile. I want to get it done soon!
Document a Day in the Life -- Trying to do this once every 3 months...

Currently #6

Watching: I Redboxed Mockingjay yesterday. Finally! I wanted to see it in theaters, but getting there is a challenge with a little one. Instead I watched it during his nap time. Very good although I would have liked to see more from Cressida and company. Maybe in the next one.

Reading: At Last Comes Love by Mary Balogh. It's the third in the Huxtable Quintet. Not enjoying the characters as much as the first two, but it's holding my interest.

Listening: Red's new album Of Beauty and Rage. So glad I picked this one up on iTunes. I've loved Red since their first album. Can't wait to really learn these songs.

Making: Working on finishing my card examples for my May classes: Using Your Scraps and Fancy Folds. I have one card left for the scraps class but haven't even started the folds class. At least I know what I want to make, just need to sit down again and make them.

Feeling: Sore. I have no idea why, but my entire body is sore this week. I desperately need a massage.

Planning: We're having a cookout on Saturday, but I have no idea what we're doing for food yet. Have to get J to confirm with his coworkers about what they are bringing, etc. I don't like being without a plan.

Loving: Even with the slight disappointment of characters in my current book, I love going back to the fluffy romances when I've been reading pretty serious books. Fluffy historical romances is my comfort genre!

Odds and Ends

Here is my randomness for the week:

Bubbles are the best thing to an 18-month-old
Trying a new business opportunity is scary but exciting
My reading stats are off the chart this month. No way I'm going to top this in May.
Already excited about the October retreat
Couldn't resist buying three new books at Barnes and Noble the other day... oh well at least it was only three
The flowers in our neighborhood are gorgeous

Photo of the Week #5

My cute lunch date this week. And yes, that is cheese on his cheek.

Monthly Life Goals April 2015

Before I get to this month’s goals, let’s check in on March's goals and my progress.

30 Day Challenge: Meditate Daily– Fail. Totally forgot about this one.
Put up the kitchen curtains – Fail. Never did get around to this one.
Curate at least one Pinterest board – Success! I've cleaned out a few boards since being in Indiana.
Have pie on Pi Day – Success! J ended up being in town and bought us pie at an Oakland bakery. Chocolate cream with a pretzel crust. The filling was great, but the crust was a bit chewy. We'll have to try their other pies sometime soon.
Plan a Favorite Things for Kids Party for May – Fail... Never got around to this one. It's on my list for next month.

This month's goals:

30 Day Challenge: Meditate Daily– Trying it again for April.
Put up the kitchen curtains – Still really want to get this one done.
Plan a Favorite Things for Kids Party for May – Since I didn't get to this one in March, it's on the list again.
Clean out Arthur and my closets for spring -- Weather's nice and warm in California, I need to do a closet clean out especially Arthur's too small clothing.
Finish at least one series -- I have a stack of Walking Dead and Y The Last Man comics. My goal is to finish at least one before going back to Indiana.

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

The weather is finally starting to turn warmer. Thank goodness!
Excited to read the rest of Y: The Last Man series.
Feeling less stressed now that the Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party are over.
Going through tv withdrawal for my favorite shows
A certain toddler not napping at all is really getting to me. Although I must say he is adorable.
Looking forward to Easter with the family
April's days are quickly filling up. Really need to get my monthly plan ready.
Hope my hair cooperates on Sarah's wedding day. This dry air is killing it right now.
Had so much fun hanging with Sarah and Cait at the bachelorette party after-party.

Photo of the Week #3

Just two of the 40 decorated berry baskets I made for tomorrow's bridal shower. It was a lot, but they are all so cute!

Currently #5

Arthur and I arrived in Indiana yesterday, so my Currently list may look a little odd.

Watching: Dinosaur Train. Okay, I'm not really watching it, but the baby is. Not my favorite but mom only has like five channels so it's this or Judge Judy crap.

Reading: Yes, Please by Amy Poehler. Finally starting this one for book club.

Listening: Doing a load of laundry...

Making: Working on the bridal shower center pieces/favors today. Need them all done by Saturday for the shower on Sunday.

Feeling: Cold... It was nice and warm at home in California. It's a high of 40 degrees today in Indiana. Ugh!

Planning: Getting all our weekend plans around. We've got the twin's party on Saturday and the bridal shower on Sunday.

Loving: The twins are on spring break this week so lots of fun crazy antics for them to get up to.Their birthday is tomorrow, but we're planning on going shopping later today.

Photo of the Week #2

Sneaky photo through the "window" at San Jose Children's Museum. He was "cooking" with a few friends and older kids. So adorable even if it is blurry.

Odds and Ends

Here's my random thoughts for the week:

Packing for Indiana in March and April is incredibly hard. Throw in a bridal shower, a bachelorette party, and Easter, and I'm at a lost as to what to bring...
Having so many Project Life cards means that I "discover" new kits occasionally. Makes it kind a fun, although I should probably sell some partials.
Arthur will only eat the breakfast I am eating. Makes it really hard to enjoy a chocolate croissant.
I love berries of all kinds... and apparently so does Arthur.
Unexpected rainy days create claustrophobic toddlers.
Here's hoping I fit into my bridesmaid dress in a one. So stressful!
And I need a LBD that actually fits for the bachelorette party. Turns out my trusty stand-by is way to tight in odd areas.
My feet are cold

OLW February

Let's take a look at what I did this past month for my OLW. This year's focus is HOME.

My monthly intentions:

1. Arthur's room and play area -- Finally they are finished! I added a reading corner complete with Ikea spice racks for shelves. They are the perfect design for Arthur it get the books in and out himself. I hung the nice navy blue blackout curtains. I put up his new solar system decals and the rest of the framed pictures. Part of his birthday banner went over his book shelves along with his finger painted A. The closet is organized at least for now. Finally I hung some of his preschool artwork above the bookshelf. I plan on changing them out as he makes new projects.

As for his playroom, I mainly wanted containers for the toys. I bought one of the toys organization systems from Ikea to hold the bulk of the toys. Arthur can actually take them in and out by himself. This left room for the tent and tunnel to be permanently set up. I went with back ivory curtain panels to add some privacy. Nothing fancy, but they help the room look finished. The only thing not done is to hang something about the alphabet decals. We will probably just hang something that we already have.

2. Co-op home inspection -- Nope. Didn't get to it. February was so busy with activities and things like the retreat that this just never happened. I'm hoping to get this checked out during our hosting of preschool next week.

3. Alameda parent's group -- After looking at my parent group options up here in East Bay, I've decided to start my own. Most charge ~$20 a year for membership for not much benefit. Others just don't do anything. I want my South Bay group in East Bay!

4. Email clean out -- Success! I got my emails under control. Deleted a ton of emails, archived some others, unsubscribed from a ton of newsletters and coupons. Next step is to officially close my Hotmail account.

Extras:

-- I didn't do much else for my word this month.

My OLW Pages:

This month's prompt was to create a vision board. Initially I was very hesitant to the idea. Vision boards just aren't my thing... But after some thought I decided to attempt it. I went into Target, grabbed three magazines, and started cutting them up. I had a few 8x10 canvases left over from preschool. This seemed the perfect size for me to try.

And this is my completed project. I think it turned out well. I decided to use patterns and colors for my base layer. I stayed away from any recognizable image. On top, I added words and phrases that spoke to me. Most of my words relate directly to my word: Home. I've propped this up in my craft area to kept me focused.