project life: my testimonial & plans for 2014

2013 is coming to a close and i'm ok with it. i'm ready for a new year. to leave some things in the past and to have a fresh start. to become bigger and better and smaller all at the same time. [smaller body wise. ha] there were some amazing things that happened this year - henry, for example, has been an absolute thrill. but there have also been some life changing, devastating things - which i won't go into detail about, cause if you don't know, you don't need to know, and if you do know, you know exactly what i am talking about. 

one thing that has - as cheesy as this sounds - gotten me through this year is project life by becky higgins. i got to meet becky this fall in downtown salt lake city & when i started talking to her, i burst into tears. it meant so much to me. i felt like such a nerd & probably scared the crap out of her. my mom was with me when i met her & as we walked away, i told her how embarrassed i was. i mean, i snorted and did the ugly cry at her. my mom pointed out that it has been a tough year for me & project life has gotten me through it. it has been my escape from stress. it has been my happy place. 

 i have been doing project life since mikey was born. his baby book and henry's baby book were project life kits. [mikey was cherry edition, henry's book is baby edition for him. paper kits, not digital.] it is a lot of work, but worth it. i cherish these books. my boys can have them when i am good and dead, i joke. only i might not be joking. a picture a day for their first lives - priceless. i did a family book in 2012, using the clementine on shutterfly approach, which is digital. i had never done digital scrapbooking before [note, i am not a scrapbooker, i am a project lifer. i was just being clear here.] and it was easy. i liked it a lot. in 2013, i have used digital pages by another designer, because i was doing henry's book and i wanted a simpler approach -- only because i couldn't keep up with 2 daily pictures. but i wanted a family book for "big events." i have loved it. i much prefer becky's stuff and am greatly looking forward to 2014's book. 

in 2014, i'm going digital. i have 2 weeks to finish up of henry's book and then it'll just be our family book for the year. i am going to do a two page spread for each week. on the left side, i am going to use the capture app on my phone for daily pictures. i will be using the midnight kit and the design F layout. on the right side, i will be doing "events" from every week. birthdays, field trips, art projects, whatever i please. i will use any and every kit from becky that i want - and believe me, this year i have bought way too many, so my selection is grand and any layout i want, too. i am super excited about this. it is going to give me lots of options and lots of freedom.   

the thing is though, project life doesn't just have to be a daily family album. here is a list of some of the other project life albums i've done this year. seriously, i went buck wild. don't judge. 

• a 9 year journal of my teaching years. i did a mini album using the childhood mayfield kit. this is kinda what got me started in mini albums and other things. i love it. paper kit, not digital. 
• a mini album about my parent's house, a stories of home album before they were called that, as they were leaving chicago and their home of 40ish years. this is what we would call a tray-sure. i used the seafoam kit. 
• a stories of home album about my house. it is a cracker box but it is where i bought a house as a 25 year old, independent woman, we lived as newlyweds, and brought home two babies. i never want to forget it. another mini album using the flea market mini kit.
• a childhood album using pictures from my parents' supply. my dad has always been a photographer, so we have a well documented childhood. my incredibly generous sister took all of their photos and had them scanned and shared. so we now all have all of the pictures of our childhood digitally. you should be jealous. this is beyond amazing. i used a full size album for this and many page protectors, and the olive edition. paper kit, not digital. another tray-sure.
• a friend got married. i did a mini album of her wedding pictures for her. i used the midnight kit. 
• my sister is a quilter. i did a photo journal of all of her quilts for her. i used a mini album and the kraft kit.
• "a day in the life" mini album. where we documented the snot out of a day in may. we took over 400 pictures of a saturday. it was a jam packed saturday, too. so much fun. i used a mini album and the kraft kit. 
• my dad worked for united airlines for 46+ years. he retired in 2012. i made an album for him, documenting his world travels, his career experiences, and much more. i left the journaling for him to do. he still hasn't done that part yet, but i will make him in 2014. and i know he cherishes the book. it is cool. we did a full size album and used the vintage travel kit. paper kit, not digital.
• i did a "garrett and hayley before the kids" book. i want my kids to someday be able to look back and realize that their parents were madly in love before they came along. ha. mini album using midnight and olive, mostly olive. just a few midnight highlights. 
• i have started and continue to work on a quote and art book by mikey. at age 2, he started saying some real zingers. they need to be documented. i love this book. full size album, using the jade kit. 
• i am also doing a december mini album using the merry and bright kit. 
• i also have plans to start a personal weight loss journal for 2014. i won't be sharing this book with many. i will include before/after pictures. journaling, goals, all kinds of stuff. i just want to have some way to document this journey. cause i know project life gets me moving. and i really want to make a push for a healthier hayley. i've got less than a week to get my plans finalized here. it'll be a mini album. i'm using the slate edition for this. 

so as you see, this doesn't just have to be a daily book. there are so many choices. i love so many of them. i have bought mostly digital, but some of the actual kits, as noted above. i have bought from amazon, michaels, hobby lobby, and the digital project life website.  

geez. i was going to link up all of the kits and websites. but it is late and i decided not to. [ha. late = 8:45 tonight. i'm still recovering from having strep this week. eek!] you can look them up on project digital life. 

i will also continue to use my other blog to keep updates for our project life. i'm not exactly sure how i'll share this year. maybe just the capture pictures, daily. maybe more. maybe less. maybe i'll just share the weekly two page spread. i don't know. we'll see. i've got to figure that out still. 

my school album

as some of you might know i'm on a project life craze right now. i've been using project life since mikey was born. this year, becky higgins has a bunch of new products out [and still coming out] and my sister and i have a sickness. i blame holly for this - she's the one that introduced me to project life. and i love her for it. when the mini albums came out, i loved them... but i know i'm a few years off from needing one for my boys. and then i had a thought about doing an album of my school years. i started gathering pictures. i picked the childhood mini album. i picked the mini album. i ordered. i printed pictures. then i put things together. LOVE. obsession. happiness. pretty much if you've come to my house since i finished the album, i've shoved it down your throat.

you should also know that i didn't post a lot of the pages here because i don't want to post pictures of my students. or former students. i put a heart over the one page that had a student. also, you should note that the mini albums are on sale this week. i've ordered one today for a little project i'm going to do this spring. like i said, i have a sickness. i love it though. i have class pictures. i wrote about the 3 principals i worked under, i wrote about big things and little things. this album was perfect. and i totally love it. 

and here is a link of where becky higgins shared it on her blog. i'm kind of a big deal! :)

project life sales pitch :)

here's what you need to know about me, first and foremost: i'm not crafty. i'm definitely not a scrapbooker. and yet, my husband knows that if our house is on fire, he is to get mikey and these project life books out before anything else. my sister introduced me to becky higgins a few years ago when she was doing her first round of project life [back then it was still project 365, right hojo?] i was in awe, impressed and kept thinking - if i ever get married, i want to do that! then i got married & even got myself a baby... i blogged about our first year of marriage pretty thoroughly, but didn't start project life... decided when i got pregnant that i was going to do a book for my baby's first year. [when mikey was born, there was only the cherry edition offered] even started a new blog to help me keep up with journaling. [highly recommend that, i know from holly's experience that getting behind was a b!tch... my getting behind was only ever just needed to get pictures printed, getting the journaling actually printed onto the journaling cards - but it was done from the blog...] ok. so mikey's first year was up. i took a little bit of a break & decided to do 2012 on shutterfly, using the clementine edition. honestly, the biggest set back for me was using the digital elements at first. i had to get used to it, i had to build my confidence and patience, and then the other thing was just not having the actual book in my hands as i went. that is a huge plus for the paper. even though with the digital, i could flip through the book online, i wanted it in my hands. oh well, i survived. and now, i've just purchased the baby edition for him paper style & am dying with how cute it is. seriously, i'm overwhelmed with putting it all together because there is so much and it is so dang cute. and then i decided that i also wanted to do a family 2013 book. i'm doing a digital layout that i'll get printed and put into 12x12 pages and put in protectors and in a binder. i'm dying with excitement overall about doing this. so maybe i'm more of a documentor than scrapbooker...  i have to admit i like the creativity that is involved, even if my style isn't super specialized or developed. ok. on to the pictures:

cover:

 back:

thickness: 

 size comparison to mikey's baby book:

 and thickness:

 just some of my layouts. i designed these, using the elements on shutterfly.

 every single page is personalized... so it is all my style. 

every layout was a 2 week spread 

 there is plenty of journaling in here.

some of these pictures make my heart melt 

while 95% done on instagram, i did insert a few pages throughout the year with real camera pictures, typically special events... or photo shoots with hojo. 

 introducing the baby's book. this is just the title page & it makes me squeal. 

can't wait to fill these pages out & get some pictures put in there. oh dear! 

 seriously, the book is to die for cute.

when mikey saw me with the real camera out, he said, "take pictures of me? i cute!" i had to oblige. 

i am so thrilled tonight with this book. and excited about the baby's new book. and our family book this year. and the new baby coming. LIFE IS GOOD. document it!

my 2011 instagram blurb book = absolute love!

i didn't really get serious about using instagram until about summer but i was doing mikey's first year on project life through that time, so our life was documented. the second half of the year - we used and abused instagram. i love that app. seriously my favorite of all of the apps in town.  well, the last part of december, i got to thinking about how fun it would be to make a photo book of all of the pictures we'd taken. so new years day, i whipped this little bad boy up & it was delivered today. i am totally and completely in love. it is a good quality [well, not all of the pictures are that great, but that is the photographer's fault, not the book's fault. and i knew that when i was making it. but i still used the pictures because they still mean something. who cares if they're a little blurry, that happens with moving children, right? right.] and i can't wait to share. if i may say so myself, this little idea i had - genius. i highly recommend. it inspired my plans for this year's project life. instagram + digital project life on shutterfly. i'm lovin' it. [and now i'm craving mcdonalds french fries...]

if you frequent target...

you need to know this: get the target red debit card.

here's some helpful hints:

• it is not a new line of credit. it links to your debit card. you use it instead of your debit card.
• you'll only get to use it at target.
• you'll need a blank check when you go in to sign up for it.
• you get 5% off everything.
• it gives you free shipping on target.com
• if you use target as your pharmacy, when you fill 5 prescriptions there, they'll send you a card in the mail that'll give you an additional 5% off for any purchases you make in one day. so you could do one grand shopping spree or you could go back in like 5 times.  that's right friends, that is a total of 10% off for a day. 

here's what i'm finding:

• target employees are pushing it, i think they get some sort of credit for signing people up. i had one guy explain to me that they're doing it because it saves target from having to pay fees when they run our cards. thus, saving everyone. i am down with that.
• people checking out automatically assume it is a credit card they're being offered & so then they say "no, thank you."
• everytime i hear the person in front of me turning down an offer, i butt in and explain why they might want to re-think the matter, they end up getting it. [am i neddie jr, or what? huzzah!]
• that is right, i may not be able to give everyone a christmas present this year, but i can spread my christmas cheer with savings. you're welcome, near perfect strangers. 
• some restrictions apply. [not really, i just wanted to say that.]
• just get the damn card, please. 

this is not a sponsored post. heavens, i wish it was. i still have plenty of shopping left to do. just don't forget your blank check! and don't make me tell you again.

behind on picture assignment

i did project 365 for mikey & only had 2 days in that whole year where i had to scramble for a picture. i'm trying to do a one month assignment and i'm about 4 days behind now. i just have not been in the mood to worry about things that i don't need to worry about. 

this is the start of the 3rd week of my back being out. before that we had the stomach flu. before that mikey had an ear infection. needless to say, it has been a rough month or two. when mikey started the roseola fever about a week and a half ago,  he got diarrhea. and really, since then it hasn't gone away. which is a side effect of roseola, but it seems to be lasting longer than normal. at least longer than i'm comfortable with. here's why: his butt has been RAW for a week now.

in the last few days, he's developed 2 sores on his bottom, where the little cheeks rub together. there are other red spots that look like they could turn into sores any minute. garrett has been super helpful about changing diapers because of my back [and he's just typically helpful] so i've not seen some of the bad diaper changes. but when i do change a yucky poop and see how red his bottom gets on top of the bumps and sores, it leaves me queasy. as i type this post, i'm shaking still from a change that i just did. he cringes and shakes when you change him, usually with tears. 

i feel like i've tried everything & nothing is doing anything. here's a list of what we've tried:

• neosporin
• lavender
• nystatin
• caldesene powder
• balmex
• huggies pure and natural - literally the most expensive diapers i have seen!
• sensitive wipes
• aquaphor
• maalox dabs
• butt paste
• frequent tubbies
• oatmeal baths
• airing out - which doesn't work, he's a scratcher. we learned this the hard way. add scratch marks to an already raw bottom, that does not help things!!!

i feel like i'm at my wits end. any one with suggestions beyond what we've already done??? please, please, please. we've got one little boy who's not happy about his rear end situation and one mom who has sympathy pains.

day 13: me & 13 things

13 very important beautifiers...  1) flat iron - though i only use that for my fringe these days. 2) eye lash curler. 3) hair rubber band. i can't do without these guys. 4) tooth brush - to keep the cavities away. 5) phomollient - momma like the smell. 6) confixor - momma likey that it keeps my hair sort of under control. 7) oil mattifier - for my greasy forehead. 8) age defying eye cream. duh. 9) eye primer - to keep the eye shadow in place. 10) oil free moisturizer - cause i have a few crazy dry spots of skin that so far only this bad boy can take care of. 11) aveda mosscara - P-dub introduced me to this & i enjoy. 12) eye liner - taupe. 13) eye shadow brush. everyone should have a nice set of brushes for their makeup. they just should. it makes a difference.

i'm not saying i'm pretty, but i do get complimented on my eyes & i have a few tricks. but these things help me. i'm 32 and i don't want to age my skin, so for almost 10 years, i've been using age defying products. i like when things make my hair smell good - cause i can't always keep the frizz away. anyways...

some helpful baby products

i've been thinking a lot lately about a few things that have made a difference in my simple little life. i just thought i'd share, cause i have one friend that is gearing up to have her first baby & maybe she can benefit from a thing or two. maybe someone else can, too. i definitely appreciate these things.

• medela tender care. for my tenders. the hospital gave me a sample, my sister - among many others recommended it... lets just say i've got more than a sample bottle now. momma needy. oh how i wish i didn't need them, but i do. 
• nursing gel packs. also, for my tenders. so sad that these are needed. but they are proving to be life savers.
• baby 411. great book. i know i mentioned this before. i really want to buy my own copy.
• aden and anais blankets. best.swaddling.blanket.ever. thanks to tori, i've now got a few. which means when mikey spits up or leaks out and the blanket gets dirty, i don't immediately need to do a load of laundry. [i didn't know before now that you can purchase these bad boys @ target online. cool! though their "real" website has more varietals.]
• milk band bracelet. just got this today in the mail, but already i love it. i can not for the life of me keep straight which side we started on last. 
• the boppy. helps my arms from falling off.
• organic little seed cap and booties. of course, ours are in orange [thanks, emity!] but the target website doesn't have a link for them for some crazy a$$ reason. but i know they're still at target, i done seen 'em. these guys go perfectly with 99.9% of mikey's wardrobe.
• project life. yeah, this is probably the thing that i love the most.
• flip camera. this video camera is small & not "professional" but convenient and so handy. momma do likey.
• baby bjorn. to keep my hands free, and yet he's still being held. nice.
• picnik.com - for photo editing. cause not everyone is fancy and bourgeois and can afford photoshop.  the above photo collage was done on the site.

couponing gone wild

kinda like girls gone wild. ha. i'm not wild, don't worry. well. let's move on.

i've been couponing for less than a year. i'm not a pro & probably never will be. but i get the weekend paper delivered & sometimes even thought i get way behind on my clipping, i try to make the most of the coupons. i'll buy certain brands of laundry detergent cause i can get it on sale. or razors. or whatever else i don't feel particularly strong about. like my deodorant. i will only get my dove kind that i love & trust. that's just the way i am. but sometimes i'm even lucky enough to get a coupon for those guys, too. regardless of whether i save hundreds or pennies, i think couponing is a smart idea. and i think we've saved quite a bit of money, too.

i used an expandable file guy up until yesterday. it was convienent cause i could carry it around in my purse. but there were a lot of cons to it, too. i forgot where things went. often found coupons later in the wrong category that i didn't know i still had & could've used. frustrating. well, a while ago, i downloaded a binder organization kit [it is a link in this post, so you need to scroll down a bit] from krazy coupon lady's website. i didn't get around to putting it to use, but i also didn't delete. yesterday, i got around. and used sheet protectors and transparencies and tape. the new system is very visual and i like it. it is very specific about categories. and it even has a table of contents. sure, it is a lot bigger & won't fit conveniently in my purse anymore, but i will drag it around in my car & then be able to flip through my pages and see what i've got. i'm excited.

and i'm happy to report that last night at target, i saved over $28 for things we needed to get stocked up on again. we spent around $50. big savings. all because my coups were organized.

that makes me one happy krazy coupon shopper!

and now, on to bedding - my current obsession

so. we're having a boy. in case you didn't catch that yet. between my sisters and garrett's sisters, we've got almost everything big we need to get for this kid, which is awesome to me. carseats, strollers, bouncers, swings, even the crib. there are very few things that we need to purchase. baby bedding is one of them. i kinda want to get something neutral in case the next baby is a girl - i'd like the option of being able to use it again. at first, i really liked this paisley option, then i kinda found some jungle/animal options that i really like. now i am completely perplexed. please help, share new ideas or opinions. and why do i all of a sudden feel the need to have the nursery all set up right now? i mean, logically i know i've got plenty of time. i wish i were more patient.

this is the original find a la target o' paisley:
this is the pottery barn jungle that i found:this is the land of nod that hojo told me about, momma likey a lot a lot:

"what's that?"

is what i keep hearing when people are over & they saw my free sample that i got from somewhere... i mean, i got the free sample from the company... i heard about it on one of the blogs that i follow. momma likey free samples. and this time, i hit the jackpot big time.

i forgot a very big thing i like lately on my list earlier today.

• it's my minty eos lip balm.

and guess what - apparently you can get it walgreens. rock on! if you like minty lip balm, go try some out! you can buy it in a stick for your purse. and there are a few different flavors. i'd be interested to try them, but not sure i'm willing to give up my minty feeling. i'm quite addicted.

too bad for you, they're not still doing a freebie. but it doesn't sound like they're super expensive. head on over to walgreens...

this is too good not to share!

so, with my couponing & stuff, i now follow in google reader a bunch of blogs who give me all kinds of ideas. i've listed those blogs on my sidebar, down at the bottom. this blog posted last week about getting a really good deal on sunscreen. seeing as how sunscreen isn't cheap & it is summer, i decided it was worth it for me. just got back from walgreens - and yes, i surely did get 2 bottles of the coppertone sunscreen for $1.98 each. well, basically. i have a $10 register reward coupon for next time i go back. i'm liking walgreens more and more!

here's what you need to do:

1. morally commit to protecting you & your loved ones from the sun. decide to what degree you are committed [we're committed to a 30 around here] and then procede.

2. go here to print 2 coupons for said product. in the bottom right corner, unless you're blind, you'll see a "save $5 now" liner. click there, you big dumb animal.

3. take your coupons into your closest walgreens. find 2 bottles of your nutrashield liking.

4. take coups & bottles to nearest cashier, which for me is always the makeup counter... those crazies at walgreens can't handle my coupons at the regular registers. give them product, then coupon. at the end, with your receipt - a $10 r.r. will print out, too. don't leave until you get that one!!! it's a biggie.

and wah-lah. you've gotten 2 bottles of sunscreen for $1.98 each. and you should be very happy with me. well, really with it's hip to save, but whatever. i'm just living proof of it. so, suck it & don't burn!

p.s. i don't mean to be so sassy. i think i'm just excited for the death cab concert tonight!!!

chromey

i'm quickly becoming a very big fan of google's chrome. i used to use firefox. then on some blog, i downloaded some freebie [can't remember where or what now] & it had a virus attached to it, apparently. it would freeze up firefox only when i was on our network. if i went to another network, it was fine. slower, but fine. we tried malware, spyware, every kind of -ware garrett could think of. on the verge of having to backup & completely reset my computer, i got a little desperate. we had the idea to uninstall firefox & try something else, maybe even reinstall firefox. i tried chrome - as i had downloaded it when it came out a while ago, but didn't have a need for it & immediately liked the simplicity of it. there aren't a bunch of mumbo jumbo toolbars, which drive me crazy. it hasn't crashed once, it seems to load the pages quickly & as i've found with all things google, i enjoy. next time you have firefox crash, think about giving google chrome a try. i doubt you'll regret it!

killer sales make for killer looks

garrett was in need of a few new work/church clothes. he only had a few white shirts & a few of them were dingy enough that i wanted to replace them. last week when i was going through my coupons & ads, i found that kohls was having a killer sale. i got excited & thought "maybe we'll get him a new shirt" but then i checked the mail the next day & we got a coup in the mail from kohls to take an additional percentage off their already low prices. so we went a little buck wild. he got all 3 of these outfits [only the orangey tie is new though] and 2 more white shirts. [lefty shirt wasn't white, it was cream-ish] all for a very low price. we were very excited. and i must say that he's looking extremely handsome in my little opinion.

coming at you from the bathtub

the good things about today -

• a new neice was born. can't wait to meet her.
• went to a training class about a new grading program we're going to use next year & actually really liked it. the program i mean. please the teacher was from wisconson, so he had a fantastic accent; made me a little homesick for my cheesehead neighbors to the north.
• my mom & dad are finally back and had a great time... plus i got to talk to my dad today. [neddie rushed off to work & i didn't want to call 'n wake her tonight. catch you 'morrow ned!]
• we hit al's & walgreens with coupons galore tonight. got lots o' free sh*t & saved tons o' money. i mean tons. have you figure out register rewards? if not, you need to!
• got to see george at said training. george used to be my school's custodian. seriously - best custodian in the world. and he was a good friend of mine. he still works for the district, but now at the district offices. i love going to that building for for classes, cause i get to see him. he offered me a dr pepper, but i even turned it down. can you believe it?
  
• got to spend my evening with garrett... the cutest kid in the world.

the bad things about today -

• i'm officially back on track. which really isn't too bad - i love my class this year & am already starting to miss them. only 3 more weeks with them... we've come a long way - so much progress that i'm really proud of. but let's be honest here... going back on track is still going back on track.
• the havoc that 5 guys is wreaking on my system tonight. let's just say i'm soaking things as i type. it ain't pretty. i've been doing a lot of cringing. yes, t.m.i. - but as outspoken as i may be, thank your lucky stars that i'm holding back sooooo many details right now.
• i've also had a headache pretty much all day [don't worry hojo - peppermint treatment has helped it. but i didn't have it all day long]
• did i mention diarrhea? oh, i guess i did. but since i had to do it in a public place tonight, it gets mentioned again. so there. momma needs some reprieve.
  

the beginnings of our food storage

plus, we went to the grocery store[s] last night & saved over $30. using coupons. hip hip.

coup me

all of this food storage mumbo jumbo [p.s. thanks to everyone that shared, i'm really excited about it] has led me down another path that i honestly never expected to see myself going down.

coupons.

i got me a nifty little expandable file for my purse. i've started clipping. i'm going to start saving like crazy, i can just feel it. we've even ordered the sunday paper.

again, i'm willing to take any & all suggestions/shares.

i'm 30. i've been an adult since i was 18. financially independent since i was 21[ish]. i bought a [town]house at 25. why is it that i just now all of a sudden feel like a real grown up? weight loss, budgets, food storage, couponing. hells bells... i even went visiting teaching today. next thing you know, i'm going to want to plant a garden.

food storage newbie

anyone out there an expert on food storage? i'm looking to start building our food storage... and right now i feel pretty clueless. i've got a couple of hand outs that i saved from a combined relief society & priesthood meeting in our ward from a few months ago.

i've been to the church's website - Provident Living - and i've found this food storage calculator.

but i want more. i want ideas about where and what to store things in. be specific, i don't know much about this, and am not going to go out and buy it all today, but i am going to start trying really hard to built up. please share websites, ideas, tips. it will be greatly appreciated.

[i'm going to add more and more links to this post as i find interesting things]

• LDS Monthly Plan. I like the idea of this - doing smallish things every month.
• I Dare You To Eat It - I went to the food storage guru, my sister Heidi. She recommended this website. She was giddy with excitement at my questions & I expect that she'll be sharing more with me soon, beyond this website.
• Alpine Food Storage - thanks Kate! I will have to work on an order next month [already spent this month's budget]
• Fun with Food Storage - thanks Karyn! it looks like they've got some bigger water containers. something i'll be looking for soon!
• iPrepared blog - another one from Karyn. will have to spend time looking around there, thanks again!
• Safely Gathered In - another blog that looks very resourceful. i'll have to be checking out their free printables! thanks again Karyn!
• Food Storage Made Easy - i think i found this guy on my own - if i'm wrong, correct me & i'll give you credit.
• Shelf Reliance - thanks Sarah - lots of good stuff on that site!!!
• Preparedness Matters blog - thanks Eliane!
• Mormon Food Storage blog - again, thanks Eliane... great resources!
  

the party is... moving north

well, i've been at holly's for a week. sleeping on a little bed in a freezing room. my body is anxious to sleep in my own bed. but my heart and mind are sad to leave; connor melts my heart when he wants me, even sometimes over his grandpa. and will's adorable reaction - can't be beat. but we're leaving early in the morning. by we, i mean my parents and me. supposedly the roads are going to be slushy & snowy at best. that's great. i'll make it 360 days through '07 with no crashes. (in '06 i crashed twice. bad year altogether for me) might just have to make daddio drive.

i have to say, this christmas - i was spoiled rotten. (got my coach necklace that holly says i manipulated my parents into) i'm loving to death my charm bracelet. even got two charms from my sisters - i've already got them attached. (see pictures below. both are extremely special to me!) heck fire, i might not crash my car due to snow and ice. it might just be because i can't take my eyes off of my charm bracelet. *see list on the left of my blog for the charms i'm coveting next (in case anyone is every looking to get me something. my birthday is coming up 3/3) (ok - holly - that is a blatant manipulation, i know! but i don't care. i want charms) my mom also surprised me with the coolest thing - a Chicago Bears hoodie. I'm in love. and my chicago calendar. and the coolest copy of To Kill A Mockingbird. and buddy the elf (me) gave me a brand spanking new sonicare toothbrush with a sanitizer. yahoo! ok. i've not made a complete list of my treasures, but i done good!i have also loved just sitting around talking about christmas memories. baking my favorite treats. playing with the babies. they've both melted my heart hundreds of times. i'll post a few of my favorite pictures when i'm back home and have my pictures loaded on my computer.

my essentials

i've worn long and lean jeans from the gap for a few years. they're a great fit for a tallish person. momma likey. you can't go wrong. in fact, at times, they're the only place you can go right.

butt - a while ago, i was shopping for a new pair of jeans. and a friendly gapper was helping me find my size & wash. she introduced me to the essential line. momma likey, here as well.

if you're needing a cute pair of jeans, that do you right in the same general area that the long and leans may have done you right before, (i've gotten many compliments about my butt in the essentials.) give these bad boys a whirl. i dare you.