2016 Resolutions

I like to start each year with a couple of resolutions, but I don't like things that are vague (be nicer, save more money). I like having goals that I can count, and definitively cross off the list as done.

In January I decided this would be the year that I finally learned to really play the organ. I have been playing in church off and on for the past 10 years, but at my best, I'm mediocre. But then I got released at the organist, and I decided I wanted to focus on something a little more useful.

I decided that I wanted to read more, so I set a resolution to read 52 books this year. The subject didn't matter, it just had to be a book.

I am at 82 books right now, and counting! 9 of those books were audio books (audio books are not cheating), the other 73 were on my Kindle. All but 3 of the books were checked out from the library (no late fees, it's free, I don't have to leave the house - win, win, win!).

I was going to type a list of the books, but... I'm lazy. But I do have a few reflections:

1. Reading makes me a terrible homemaker and mother. When I really get into a book I don't want to stop reading! I have stayed up half the night, let Jules watch TV for 3 hours, and not made dinner because I was "finishing a chapter".
2. Reading makes my mind happy. I have been exposed to so many new ideas! I love being a mom, but it's not the most mentally stimulating thing in the world. I feel like I can bring more to a conversation now than just what happened on Doc McStuffins this week. 
3. Violence and strong language don't bother me in print. This is surprising, because they really really bother me in movies or real life. This isn't always a good thing, I probably need to raise my standards a bit! 
4. Some audio books are terrible, and some make the book more enjoyable. My personal favorite audiobook of the year is Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan. Least favorite was Mary Poppins. 

My new job?

Well, I'm officially unemployed again. I'm going to miss working, but I'm not going to miss tears at daycare drop off, not having time to cook or mop, and having to wake up in the morning!

I've been trying to think of a new job, to keep me busy. I have a lot of skills, but none of them are very marketable. Here's what I've come up with so far:

1. Personal Target shopper
2. Pinterest board coordinator
3. Mattress tester
4. Cookie dough critic
5. TV babysitter
6. Professional napper

If you see any openings in these areas, please let me know! 

Peaches, Green Chile and Erasers

We had our first thing stuck up the nose experience yesterday! I honestly never thought it would happen.

I was in the kitchen making dinner when Jules came in and told me something. I couldn't understand her, so I just put on Sofia the First to entertain her while I was cooking (yep, I'm expecting my Mom of the Year award any day now!!). A few minutes later she came back looking a little panicked, and somehow I figured out that she had a pencil eraser in her nose. I tried to get it out, but was unsuccessful. Of course, this was at 5:03, and our Dr office closes at 5! I didn't want to wait until morning, so off to urgent care we went.

It only took them a few minutes to get it out, and Jules was totally calm the whole time. She got a Sofia sticker and two suckers for her trouble! Hopefully she didn't learn that when she sticks things in her nose she gets candy...

Oh, and if you're wondering what would happen if you canned 25 pounds of peaches, and then skinned and seeded 25 pounds of roasted chile, started dinner, and then went to urgent care before you cleaned up...

Now you know. You're welcome.

Our Summer

It's been a crazy few months around here. I went back to work in April, I thought it was a good decision, but it turned out to be a little too crazy! Or maybe I'm just lazy... Anyway, I'm counting down the days until my contract is up!!

We were still able to have some fun times this summer:

We kicked off the summer with a trip to Galveston for Memorial Day with Sarah and Sean and their kids. It was Jules's first time at the beach! When we first got there, I set her down in ankle deep water, and immediately a wave came and knocked her down. She was NOT happy about that... It took another hour or so to get her back in the water, but by the end of the day she was loving it! Jules and Anna are finally able to do stuff together, I'm excited for them to be BFFs! As the only two girls in the family, they need to stick together!

In June Auntie Manda came home from her mission! Jules went on her 5th airplane ride. This time was more fun, because she actually knew what an airplane was, but it was also harder, because she could run around! I didn't get any pictures of Manda in the airport, I was too busy crying and giving hugs, but trust me, it was a good time! While we were home Jules became better friends with Yaneli. Yaneli is the only person that she would let do her hair! Thankfully, she started letting me do it a few weeks ago, it was getting pretty crazy! It was so fun to spend time with everyone, even though we really missed Adam and Amy and the boys. 

Later in June Cayden and Courtney came with Grandma and Auntie Manda. I can't believe this is the only picture I took! The girls are so much fun, and it's so nice having them around! I tried to convince them to stay with me, but apparently the would miss their mom or something... Maybe next time! Jules and Courtney are soul mates, they have been besties since the first time they met! I'm already planning all of the fun things they're going to do together every summer!

For the fourth of July we went up to Vanessa's for the weekend, and Jules got to spend some more time with Anna! It was SO HOT, but we still managed to have a great time! Jules is obsessed with fireworks now, she talks about them all the time!

 Later in July we went to Georgia to see Adam and Amy! We had so much fun! The week went by WAY too quickly. Jules got to play with the boys, and even made friends with the dog! We ate way too much, and I finally got to see Savannah! It was everything I imagined it would be! It was a long trip, but I'm SO glad we did it. Jules has asked a couple of times to go to Zaiden and Brian's house. She was pretty sad when I told her it was too far.

Other than that, we've just been hanging out at home, going to the zoo and Six Flags and trying not to melt!

Jules has started only wanting to wear dresses. We had to go buy her a few more so she would have enough to last a week! She is also talking up a storm, and is almost ready to start potty training! (Actually, she's probably already ready, but I want to wait until I stop working to start).

She also go her second hair cut!

It's been an eventful summer, we can't wait to see what happens next!

Getting Started with Composting

I have always loved the idea of compost. Ok, maybe ALWAYS is an exaggeration... But since gardening has been on my radar, I've loved the idea of compost. You throw garbage into a pile, and it turns into dirt! Amazing, rich dirt! When we moved into our house I just assumed that we would have a compost pile to feed our amazing garden. A girl can dream right?

When we started the garden I started researching composting, and the information made my head spin. You had to have the right ratio of greens to browns. You could add worms, or not. You could have a bin, or open air, or covered. It should be moist, but not too moist. It should be warm, but not too warm. So overwhelming! So my overwhelm turned into procrastination, which turned into nothing, especially not a compost pile!

Then I read a great article (I wish I could remember where it was so I could link to it) that was so straightforward it made me wonder why I hadn't thought of it before! It said that the ratios and temperatures and blah blah blahs were important, but you didn't really need to worry about it. Basically, just put some leaves and lawn clippings and fruit peels in a pile, and eventually nature would do its thing. Worst case scenario, nothing happens and you have to throw some stuff away that you would have thrown away anyway.

So we started. Steve raked leaves into a pile, and we started adding vegetable and fruit peels and rinsed egg shells to it. I didn't pay much attention to it, every once in a while I put some leaves on top of it if the fruit flies started to get bad. I would spray some water on it if I remembered, but mostly I just left it there.

Last week I put in our Spring garden, and I decided to see what was going on under all the leaves. And look!! Compost!!! Only the bottom two thirds of the pile had composted, but I was able to flip it over and add some rich soil to our little raised bed. I underestimated how much we would need, so I'm not sure if it really helped, but it was so exciting to see!

I also realized that composting has become such a habit for me. We ate at McDonalds on our way to Arizona a few weeks ago, and Jules got an orange with her kids meal. As we were cleaning up I realied I was saving her peel to compost! As "healthy" as McDonalds is becoming, they still didn't have a compost pile out back, and I'm not crazy enough (yet) to put all of our compostable trash into a bag to bring home.

If you've ever wanted to compost, but didn't know where to start, this is my advice: Just start throwing things in a pile, maybe something will happen.

Two Years!

Two years ago today Juliana was born and totally turned our lives inside out! I may not get as much sleep as I used to, but she makes up for it in other ways!

She loves her daddy, eating chocolate and cheese (sometimes together!), wearing Mommy's shoes, singing, dancing, and drawing on any available surface (including a brand new cookbook, and her rocking chair!).

Happy Birthday Juliana!!

Throwing Away All the Things!

I get into moods where I just want to throw everything away. Since Steve is a serial keeper, and I am a serial throw away-er, I try (try!) to stay away from his stuff. One place that I'm always trying to keep streamlined is my closet. I have 40 of those fancy hangers in my closet, and I try to keep my entire wardrobe fitting on those. (other than sweaters, which are folded on a shelf, and pjs/workout clothes/socks which are in drawers) Which means when I buy something new, something else has got to go! I'm ruthless. If something isn't working for me, or I haven't worn it for a while, it goes into the donate bag. (I should state here that I don't really have Winter/Summer clothes. I live in Texas... I have one long sleeved shirt... Obviously this would be harder if I had two separate wardrobes to deal with.)

Buuuut...

I am a scarf junkie. I love scarves, even if I don't really get a chance to wear them a lot in the Texas heat! When I find a vintage scarf I love for a good price, you better believe I am getting it. I tried to declutter my scarves, but I couldn't do it. I even have a few that I have only worn once, but I just can't get rid of them.

I used to think I was just being silly. After all, ALL the articles on decluttering say to get rid of things you don't use! And I love throwing things away! And think how much cleaner my scarf hangers would look!

But then I decided, forget the experts! I like scarves. They don't take up much room, and looking at them makes me happy.

So I made a new #1 rule of decluttering. If you aren't using something, but you like it, and don't want to throw it away, keep it!