New Year's Resolutions 2012

I'm pretty bad at keeping New Year's Resolutions. I think part of the problem is that most of them are more wishes than resolutions. If I go back and read my business resolutions I'm embarrassingly bad at keeping them. So I believe in "to do" lists more than resolutions. Resolutions tend to be too big.

For my personal life I have vowed to do the following (and it's ok if I don't do it pefectly or every single day).
1- Lose 20 lbs. Since having a baby 4 months ago I need to trim down. I first lost all the weight, then put on 10 lbs. because I no longer had gestational diabetes and went a little crazy eating everything I wanted. I can't blame it on the baby this time! I'm on a "plan" not a "diet" and so far I really like it because my moods are more even. Carbs weigh me down. The plan has a cheat day so it's doable. I'm full unless I wait too long between meals. Wendy's chili and Subway's salads have saved me a few times already. I'm starting week 2 and have lost 2 lbs so far that I regained on cheat day (my brother says it will come back off soon). 

2- Read scriptures more. I get so bored reading the same thing over & over. Plus I can barely read my book club books all the way through. I'm not spiritual enough to focus enough to have a great experience very often, so it's tough to keep going. So I'm reading the illustrated Book of Mormon with my son because he has to read 15 mins. a night for school. I also listen to talks and scripture on the Mormon Channel on my phone. Not every day on either but a big improvement.

I had more resolutions but I can't remember them now. That shows you how committed I was. In the end it's about what you actually want. If you truly want or need something you will focus on it, regardless of the time of year. I'm ready most of all to lose weight and this is the year. 

These are a Few of our Favorite Things (Products)

Image via WikipediaSometimes I forget about one of these products and then rediscover it many months later. So for my record and your reading enjoyment, I'm going to list our family's favorite products and brands that we never stray from.

Classique Belgian Waffle Mix - The company has been around forever and the box is cheesy, but this is the best waffle mix ever. Since hardly any grocery stores carry the mix, we buy it by the case from Amazon.com It is creamy and has a fresh vanilla taste. Just add melted butter, water and an egg. Don't bother making your own! Also good for crepes. - a classic. The low fat turkey version is almost as good as the full fat version.

Target Steak Sauce - We also use it as a sauce on panini sandwiches.

Clorox Wipes - This is one of the most used products we have. We use them to keep the stainless steel fridge handles clean and everything else. We get them from Costco by the 4-pack. Lysol isn't as good. For cleaning your hands after pumping gas or for just about everything else we stock our car and home with Wet Wipes (individually packaged so they don't dry out and are easy to pack). 

Glymed Facial Cleanser - you have to buy this from a salon or someone who reps it. More expensive but worth it. This is the only product I've ever had that consistently keeps acne away. I know, once you're in your 30s you shouldn't have acne anymore, but sadly enough, we often do.


Brazilian Blowout - This makes my hair so smooth and manageable for a few months. No more flyaways and I can literally wake up and look good with no effort. The cost is a bit steep. At salons.

Dawn Dishwashing Soap - It really does cut grease. We use a damp washcloth with Dawn to clean our blinds (which are high grade plastic).

Simply Potato or Target brand hashbrowns - these keep in the fridge and make it totally unncessary to make them from scratch. We cook them with our favorite butter which is Land O Lakes olive oil blend and course black pepper. Better than any restaurant. For toast, on rolls, etc. the best butter is the new cinnamon sugar variety. Delicious.

Oikios Yogurt - the lowest calories with the highest protein and so delicious. I've used plain in place of sour cream in recipes.

Horizon Organic Milk - Lasts forever and the taste is pretty good. We don't drink a ton of milk so this is our first choice because it tastes fresh and the cows weren't pumped with hormones.

Tide detergent - a classic for a reason plus we like how they help communities after disasters. Same with Huggies diapers.

My Dream about My Feelings Being a Mom

We went on our first family vacation together since having little miss join our family. She and I took Delta to Vegas and Stephen met us at the airport and we all drove home together. I've been in tears for no reason the past 2 nights since getting home. Ok, there is a reason. I'm a little lost right now. The I'm in love with my baby stage is wearing off and I'm not sure what's next.

In Vegas there's always action. There are people everywhere, people who adored our little miss. They went nuts over her, she was the star everywhere we went. She slept a lot so I could carry her in the sling and people thought she was a doll (as in, not a real baby). We got room service and ate great food. We were together all day with Stephen. It was relaxing and fun. Then I came back to reality. A quiet house and making my own dinner. A house that needs cleaning and no maid service.

I don't really have any friends to hang out with. It's tough to find meaning or motivation in my days. I just exist. Not getting enough sleep doesn't help either. Welcome to postpartum depression. Or maybe just a hard few days.

The dream I had last night sort of sums it up. My neighbor invited me to go somewhere with her. We went to a friend's house but she wasn't home. Then she showed up with her very small baby boy (unnaturally small). I couldn't figure out how he could eat. But she seemed to think he was normal. Then everyone was gone and I was alone. I finally found them all in a room talking and laughing. There was another room with food. I figured out it was a baby shower. Even though I knew the mom I wasn't invited so I went home feeling a little sorry for myself).

Somehow I found the invitation somewhere and it said to please come and feel free to bring a friend, everyone is invited. So I realized I could've stayed and it would've been OK. It was just a realization. I'm still thinking about what's next.

Things that Make a Mom Cry

When your baby doesn't fit in the newborn size diapers anymore.

Six Halloween Ideas I Love

Now that I'm home with little miss I discovered crafts. It can be creative and it doesn't take a lot of deep thought (which I can't do much of when I'm always tired). Halloween is one of the best holidays for crafts and projects.

6 Halloween Ideas

1. Skeleton Wreath. I tried this and love it(see picture). I found a bag of bones at Walgreens but it wasn't foam and didn't have as many parts as the tutorial shows. I used a glue gun and a grape wreath form.
2. Halloween party food including hot dog mummies (easy and better than a regular hot dog)
3. Halloween decorations and party ideas - set the mood for a thrilling Halloween party with my friend Tara as your guide.
4. Spider web party invitations (check out the entire blog for tons of ideas).
5. Broomstick treats for party favors
6. Spider costume

My favorite decorations are my black crows. I put them on our entryway and they really freak people out. For our costumes this year we're going to be a family of skeletons. Little miss will be cute, Bjorn will be scary and we'll be big skeletons.

Oh, and I'm dreaming of this candelabra.