Monday, October 31, 2011

I threw a what?????

I threw a Baby Shower for my dear friend Eliza yesterday and thought I'd get crafting and domestic. I think I did a great job and thought I'd share some of what I did in the event it jumps at anyone for ideas of what to do & though these probably are all not new ideas for someone so not domestic (well getting there) this was a great accomplishment lol.

Enjoy....


This took me the most amount of time to do. I found some vintage wallpaper and cut out the whole alphabet. I then took clothes pins and added vintage fabric to them and attached everything to a blue clothesline. I think it was a cute idea and the mommy to be did too. I really wanted to make this feel like a Do It Yourself event. I didn't want the feel of it being all store bought. Personal felt so much better and using what I found & had made it a bit green too.


I love love loved making these little cupcakes. I took the white frosting and made it blue and added the little white sugar balls to the frosting. I saw these online and just recreated them myself. I think they came out great!


Trying to create cookies that spell out BABY and with some stars was fun at least. Sure this is all that was workable and still not the way I wanted them but from this experience I learned that using wax paper when you're rolling out dough makes life so much easier. I also was happy to know how much these were liked (and the broken ones) and they were Gluten Free. No one knew (except for mommy to be and her mommy)


Finally I made the take home gift for everyone using a Mason Jar, Vintage Fabric, a Tea Light Candle, Chamomile Bath Salts, and little thank you note. The note said to now enjoy, light the candle, and enjoy a nice bath with the salts. It also included that the jar can be used as vase which is what I did for the table with all the food on it. The jars looked so nice on the changing table with her presents all around it and wouldn't you know it's the one thing I didn't get a picture of so above is one lonely jar.

For someone not so domestic and learning to be who was in the middle of moving and caring for a toddler all day long I think I did some great crafting & baking and look forward to doing more as time goes on. Who knows what my domestic future brings.


Sunday, October 23, 2011

Sleeping & Mommy Separation

It seems one little boy may not be wanting to be held anymore to go to bed but to fall into dreamland on his own.

Great! your thinking. Bedtime will be a much easier time and less time having to hold L until he's fallen asleep BUT it actually makes me sad.

I'm thrilled that L can self soothe himself to sleep but at the same time I enjoy being needed by him. Taking a 9 year break between kids is almost like having your first kid for the first time all over again.

I enjoy giving him kisses while he sleeps, rubbing his curls, and gently patting his behind as he drifts off.

I wonder if the sadness I'm feeling is because with the 9 year gap between kids I will no longer be having any children and so he's the last baby I will be holding at bedtime.

With that said it is time for me to go to bed. It's time to sleep next to L in his co-sleeper which will also end in a couple of days when L moves into his own room in our new house.

Until next time.....




- Posted on my iPhone because I don't get quality computer time. Quality problem, yes I know.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Halloween Craft Time or Let's Eat Crayons...You Choose


I've wanted to do a Halloween craft with L but couldn't decide what. I'm currently doing a journal with what I'm trying is daily little notes/pictures for K that when I'm done she can read and see all these memories saved for her so I kind of went the same way with L.

I bought him a Halloween Activity book and we completed our first picture together. It was what seemed to be a lot of me explaining to a 16 month old that we do not eat crayons but at the same time he was able to get super excited about the crayons coloring on the book. I figure we can date each time and year we do an entry and do this until he's like five and starting school or after his first year of school, hold onto the book, and give it to him to share with his family one day.

I've found so many crafting items since packing K's room for the move and I'm looking forward to doing more creative things with both kids using said items. I'm so grateful for this move because it will give us so much space to do things indoors and outdoors, be messy, and just have a lot of fun in a place of our own. The best part is I want to get one of those indoor chalk board decals for L's huge walk in closet so he can color on his walls (not really).

So this turned into more than just about the Halloween crafting idea but there is so much to do when you have a 11 year old and sixteen month old.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Sleep Lessons & Changes

L has been a nap on my mommy or in the car seat/stroller kind of boy. Now it never occurred to me that if I wanted him to nap in his bed that I could cover him up with some blankets and make him nice and warm and in all accounts "Swaddle" him. This could be the fact that as a small baby L didn't like to be swaddled. He would somehow get his arms and legs out while sleeping.

Things change as do little boys who seem to now prefer spending naps snuggled and warm. The funny thing about the past two days is that at night he still prefers to sleep with no blankets and they actually wake him up and he kicks them off.

This is beginning our adventures in sleep changes for Mr. Kisser who has been sleeping in the co-sleeper next to me since day one or in our bed. With the new house I'd like to have my room back. Just me and the Mr. and don't think that is too much to ask for.

I have friends who've done the "Cry it Out" method and though it was really hard it worked for them. I have other friends who prefer the family bed and others still where their little one is fine in a crib of their own. So many options but to find the one that is right for us is our personal choice and will be a learning process.

To not torture this little guy I think starting with naps in his bed where it's a routine for a while will be the key in the new home. He's going from a bed right next to mommy who is guilty of always pulling him into bed to having a room of his own. A big room if you think about it as a 16 month old.

My goal is by the end of the year to have a nighttime routine where Mr. Kisser is in his own room in his own bed.

This is my newest adventure in being a Stay at Home Mom with a 2nd child who is almost 10 years younger than his sister. I had help for our first and was a Work-a-Holic and wasn't able to experience all the fun toddler adventures whether fun or frustrating. No matter what the days bring I don't want to miss these experiences and know that I was home with him to watch him grow.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Food is NOT my friend

Why is it that when life gets busy healthy eating just kind of disappears? During the past couple of weeks packing and preparing for the big move next week along with the baby shower I'm throwing I've found it much easier to eat crap.

I so can't be the only one who falls victim to the crappy eating. I'm tempted to take the 10 day food challenge....so tempted. However; I don't want to fail. So this being said I will be more aware of what I'm eating and pre-plan snacks until the move.

I really think I will be doing the 10 day food challenge and having the family do it on November 1st as well. It can be done. Here's the link to the challenge: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/take-the-10-day-pledge/

So if you want to motivate me or join me on this challenge I welcome you! It's not too hard. I think giving up the Diet Coke will be the hardest part. I don't want to feel like food isn't my friend anymore and I have to get some balance but lets be real, starting before Halloween and the move is just cruel to those who would have to be around me. Until then I will begin the countdown challenge and do some research on food planning so there isn't crap filled weeks when I get busy.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Green Gifting

So in the process of packing K's room I was able to put together a great birthday gift for her cousin and to top it off put it all in a never used Halloween Trick or Treat bag.

My sister-in-law has been recycling gifts to L and I think it's a great idea. We are going to do this more and more. I mean I'm always giving things away or reselling for cheap but it's nice to know some gently used items are getting a new home where it will be something exciting to who just got it. I mean half of what was given today was never used before.

Another great idea is buying used for gifts if the item still looks really good. You're helping to go a bit more green each time.

So this is something new I'm doing and will think up more ways to stay on this green path of living.




- Posted on my iPhone because I don't get quality computer time. Quality problem, yes I know.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

It's not that hard....Is it?

I know I'm not the only mom out there who doesn't know how to pause and take care of herself. You know between all there is with my two kids, husband, and home I enjoy my late night and early morning time but really I don't enough to really take care of me. Emails, Blogs, Side Work, and Facebook don't equal quality time for myself.

I was talking to a friend today and she too is having this same issue. I used to work and imagine how crazy I'd be if I were still working. I'm super busy as is and can't seem to catch up and add this move to the mix and wouzers! It's great that we can offer advice to our friends..."Turn off your phone, take a nap", "enjoy a nice bath", or even "go get a massage" but the reality is and I know I'm so not the only one who offers the advice we never do or have the time to do.

Yet, this week I decided enough was enough and I had to do some things to take care of me. So start easy right? I malnourish, have low blood pressure, and my long term iron is at 2. So I started my vitamins again and took that husband of mine's advice and bought a pill holder to make it easier. I got some liquid iron and my pill container and day three was completed today of actually taking said vitamins...

I also don't know if it's the powers that be but my left ear and throat hurt yesterday and well, got worse today so I ended up napping....advice I always give and yet never do and though I didn't feel better as I woke I napped with that little cute boy (who is worn out from being a stunt boy) and that lump on the floor is a sweet (most of the time) girl who always covers her whole body to sleep something I did when I was younger too.


My husband took the picture above. I guess there was a calm in the house not normally there. Will I do more to take care of me? Who knows but I know that I should and really that's the first step, right?

Friday, October 7, 2011

What???

I've had all these feelings and then thoughts run through my head like "I need to be doing more", "I don't make any sense", and "If I only worked..." plus lots of other things run through my mind.

I realize after hearing two women speak tonight that I was in the right place at the right time.

1. I know that I am constantly I guess you'd call it bragging about my life. I do this to feel accepted by you and to show my family how great my life is and to say "Notice Me" but really it stems from growing up the oldest of three in a broken home with a single mom and distant father who I wanted to impress. By seventh grade, which is pretty sad I realized there was no impressing either of them and tried the opposite....be as bad as can be and well that didn't work either and I got sucked into a crappy black hole until the ripe young age of 21. At this point I decided to again impress all and well, it must seem like I'm very into me and a bit of a show off but really I just want you to accept me and to make me feel OK. So guess what....it's too much work and has to stop.

2. I talk too much and well, I ramble. I do this because (a) I'm nervous and (b) I'm nervous and (c) I think you'll think I'm an idiot and the more I talk the more I think you'll feel this way and still I keep talking. This is an ongoing issue but I'm going to stop this too. Let's see how this goes. I'm nervous around everyone, even if I know you and feel I don't make any sense. I don't feel at your level no matter who you are.

3. I used to bring in an income. Used To being the key words. I know am a Stay at Home mom trying to embrace this. The reality is that even though I can't shop the way I want, eat out when I don't want to cook, and do things whenever I still have a roof over my head and soon to be a home for my kids to have more room in. I have food at every meal and can enjoy Starbucks on Fridays. I live in a great neighborhood and don't have to worry about my safety. So I had to make some changes. Big deal. I'm so grateful for what I have and I have to remember that when my husband says I don't need to work that I should embrace being a mom and know they won't always want me around.

4. Diets suck. Eat right, exercise, and make life changes.

So that's it. As my blog expands into my life raising kids with a huge age gap I think I'll add in the changes to my life to make life so much easier. I'm so grateful I'm not the Katherine from 1997 on deaths door but the Katherine of today with quality problems.

Off to bed because who knows if we will have a late night party!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

It's always something...

He can always find a way to make me nervous. Rearranged furniture and he found a new item to climb on. That's my boy.




- Posted on my iPhone because I don't get quality computer time. Quality problem, yes I know.

Little Moi Goals

In the midst of my crazy gratitude filled life I have to keep a few goals to keep me on track food wise. I'm doing this again because I needed to remember that losing weight and taking care of me doesn't have to be hard.

Food:

1. No snacking after dinner
2. Non fruit dessert for special events only (birthdays, showers, weddings, etc.)
3. One "Free" meal per week (Yeah Farmers Market Thursdays)

Portion:

1. Must have a fruit/veggie at every meal. Maybe multiple. Abundant fruits/veggies isn't bad
2. 2 Diet Cokes per day (if you know me you know this is a miracle in itself and hopefully will become 0 per day)
3. Drink at least 40 oz of water per day

Favorites:

1. Major Holidays (Chrismukkah etc.) off as long as jogged 1 mile per day or more for the 5 days prior to holiday
2. Churro's are for Disneyland only
3. Treat at movies if before 8pm and exercise was done for the day

Exercise:

1. Walk or jog at least 1 mile per day
2. Walk to locations close to home and park at furthest spot (if possible with little guy)
3. Do stretches or ballet warm ups daily

Rewards:

1. $5. toward something I want for each week I complete this
2. Sleep in on Saturdays/Sundays since I'm always on the go
3. At first weight goal (my secret) two pieces of clothing bought or pass to Disneyland

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

No & No

Ever have those days where it seems if it were Sesame Street that the word of the day would be "No"? I seem to be having more and more of them each day.

L is really growing up and enjoying the world of exploration BUT he doesn't get that climbing on objects that could harm him is not OK. For example his climb onto the little side table while I tried to cook dinner was epic.

This brings me to my lack of getting anything done and being in the process of moving. There are times I think he'd benefit from a full day of baby jail (the playpen) but I actually don't want him in it too much because things like showers are a must and he needs to hang out in baby jail while I'm in the shower which now has become a bit of a cold shower since having to have the door open to be in his view is a must as well.

Needless to say for the most part I'm sane and get things done but some days having someone help would be excellent.

I'm looking forward to the new home and the amount of space we will have so I won't have to worry about keeping objects he climb easily on near him.

Off to see what more adventures today brings with Super Secret Stunt Boy L.....