Day 7, 8, 9 & 10 ~ 30 Days of Me

Day 7 ~ A picture of someone that has the biggest impact on you

This one is not hard at all. Olivia has become my end all ~ be all. Becoming a mother is nothing like I expected it to be. It is hard, exhausting, messy and down-right frustrating. But there is also joy, pride, adventures, creativity and love. Love beyond words, joy beyond words. When she smiles or laughs it makes all the mess and all the craziness melt away. Nothing matters in the world except her.

Olivia makes me want to be a better person. For her sake and for mine. I want her to have every advantage possible. I want her to be confident and strong, yet compassionate and gentle. I hope she can learn those things from me. I hope I can show her how to be a good friend, mother and wife.


Day 8 ~ Short term goals for this month

My goals this month are to finish some projects. I can't believe November is finished! Where in the world has time gone?!? I am behind on my bee and my swap. I feel so lame!!! I want to finish up some quilting projects that have been put on the back burner way too long! I want to work on fun ideas that are floating in my head.

Day 9 ~ Something you are proud of in the past few days

I started an Etsy store. There isn't anything for sale... but the store has been set up. I made my own banner (very proud of that!) and avatar thingy. I have spent a lot of time thinking about a opening a store, a lot of encouragement from friends, but I never had the faith in myself. I am stepping out onto that ledge and putting myself and my work out there. Worst thing that could happen... no one would buy anything. It really isn't that bad. Maybe a little burst in my already fragile crafting ego, but hey, that just means I will give it all to family who will say they love it even if they don't :) Now to finish the projects and get them in the store!

Day 10 ~ Songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad

I have to say that I love music, but have never been good with artist names or song titles. I like a wide variety of music all the time. I like listening to songs that I know the words to. I love to sing out loud... very loud!

So I've caught up on a few days... with Thanksgiving and being sick I have not had the time or energy to even think about blogging. We have Christmas decorations up and getting back into our routine!

Day 6 ~ 30 Days of Me

Day 06- Favorite super hero and why  Memorable Childhood Memory

I was never much of a super hero fan. So I'm going to digress a little. One of my favorite childhood memories was ridding in the car and singing to Raffi. I think that is where my love for singing out loud started! My mom had an old blue Buick that always seemed to have the Raffi tape in. I can remember very vividly the day the tape jammed in the player and my mom pronounced that our tape couldn't be played anymore. I don't think I've ever worn out a tape like that. I must have only been 5 or 6. I've often mentioned it to Steve while we are in the car and I sing to Olivia. I bought her a kids CD and Steve thinks it is so annoying. It's little kids singing and talking and for some reason he just can't stand it.

Today I was reading Marta Writes (if you don't follow her blog you need to! She is a fabulous lady!) and she mentioned that they are listening to Raffi's Christmas CD. Of course I immediately jump on google to see if I can find what tape my mom had. (Why did I not do this sooner?!?!) I find his website and start looking through his CD list to find 'the one'. I start with the the 1989 album. I was born in '85 so I figured it would be a good place to start. As I go down the list looking through them all I'm starting to get discouraged... none of them are the one from my childhood! I get to the very last album 'Singable Songs For The Very Young - 1976' As soon as the list came up I'm looking at it remembering songs I forgot I even knew!

1.The More We Get Together

2.Down By The Bay

3.Brush Your Teeth

4.Robin In The Rain

5.Five Little Frogs

6.I Wonder If I’m Growing

7.Aikendrum

8.Bumping Up And Down

9.Must Be Santa Listen

10.Wiloughby Wallaby Woo

11.Spider On The Floor

12.Baa Baa Black Sheep

13.Going To The Zoo

14.My Dreydel

15.Peanut Butter Sandwich

16.Five Little Pumpkins

17.The Sharing Song

18.Mr. Sun
19.Old MacDonald Had A Band

I can not wait to get this CD in and start singing with Olivia! I'm sure we will create very happy memories!!!

HELP!!!

I need help finding this fabric! Does anyone know who makes it? Where I can get it? Do you have any to spare?!?

I have searched high and low with no success!!!

Sherbet Blossom Giveaway ~ WOW

This is an awesome giveaway! Sherbet Blossom is celebrating her birthday all week with giveaways. What a great way to start!



Sigma is generously giving away one Complete Kit with Brush Roll in Black to a lucky Sherbet Blossom reader.


Head over to her blog to not only enter the giveaway, but check out her blog! She has a ton of great inspiration on food and crafting.

Day 5 ~ 30 Days of Me

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to recently
We haven't done much traveling since having Olivia.
 
 

 

We've made a few trips to the beach. Since it's only about 2 1/2 hours away we try to go a few times a year. She does better each time we go with the long drive. The last time we switched her seat to forward facing and I think it made a big difference. She was much happier being able to see where we were going.

 

 

My favorite part is letting her play in the sand! It is much better now that she can walk. Crawling in the sand wasn't very much fun for anyone!

 

We will soon venture down to LA to visit Auntie. Maybe it will be our first road trip of 2011...

Day 4 ~ 30 Days of Me

So I obviously took the last few days off of the 30 day challenge. I gave you fair warning there would be some days missed ;)

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

There are quite a few habits I wish I didn't have... I could probably have a post like day 1 with a list of 15, but for times sake and saving myself from lots of embarrassment I will choose the habit that I worked on the most this weekend, which is part of the reason for my absence from blog land. (Holy crap that is a long run on sentence!)

The habit I wish I didn't have is my lack of organization/borderline hoarding. For example, I have a habit of just shoving papers in the 3rd drawer in the kitchen with the intent to one day filing them, but the drawer is now busting at the seams. I also spent about 6 hours, with the help of Victoria, cleaning out and organizing my closet. It was quite embarrassing to say the least! After 7 bags to Goodwill and 2/3 of the outside trashcan full I now have a very clean, very organized closet. We also put out some of my wedding pictures that have been framed for years and have never been displayed. Our bedroom now looks somewhat lived in, instead of just a room with a bed and some dirty clothes on the floor.

I have made a commitment to myself to try to continue to de-clutter and simplify.

Simplicity goes a long way!

Day 3 ~ 30 Days of Me

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends


Oh this one is hard... Isn't it crazy that I don't have any recent picture of my friends?!?
 

Steve is not only my husband, but he is my best friend and my rock! 

These are all the girls in my wedding, so it's a few years old. Since then I have added 2 of my closest friends who I treasure and love. I am very lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful, supportive women!

This post made me realize I need more pictures of me with the ones I love. Instead of being the one behind the camera I want to make an effort of being a part of the lasting memory.

Enjoy today and don't take for granted the people in your life who are your supporters, cheerleaders and inspirations!

Day 2 ~ 30 Days of Me

We are going strong! 2 days without a miss :)

Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name

I had a hard time naming my blog. I'm not an on-the-spot creative person, especially not with words! Our Blessed Life came to be because that's what I have, a very blessed life. My purpose of the blog was to originally post about my crazy, hectic life so I can one day look back and remember the little things. I also want to be able to share parts of my life with Olivia that probably won't be told otherwise. It has now become more about crafting and quilting, but it continues to be a glimpse into my very blessed life!

Steve and Olivia are the most important people in my life and even though some days I just want to crawl under a rock and hide, I couldn't ask for anything more. I truly am blessed!

Day 1 ~ 30 Days of Me

Day 1 ~ A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

Let's jump right in....

1 ~ I don't think there has been a single picture taken of just me in at least the last year. I think the last one was while I was pregnant. This is the reason the picture of me also has Olivia and Steve. I am usually the one snapping the pictures or I have an adorable baby on my hip. Who can complain!

2 ~ I can't open a Mentos package without eating every last one of them. I was reminded of that little fact today :) Cinnamon is my favorite!

3 ~ My favorite drink (of the moment) is Chi Lattes. Go down a post or two and my obsession is made clear!

4 ~ I am horrible about deadlines. I was recently 2 hours late to a baby shower because I was rushing to finish the gift.

5 ~ My favorite foods are tacos, pizza, and spaghetti bake (my mom is making me one for dinner tonight... I can't wait)

6 ~ I hate exercising! There is no explanation, I simply hate everything about it!

7 ~ I sing out loud, not usually a problem, but I'm tone deaf. At least I have rhythm or so I tell myself :)

8 ~ Don't open any drawers or closed doors in my house because you are guaranteed to find clutter and chaos. I try very hard to keep the parts of my house that are seen by guests clean, but everything else gets put on the back burner.

9 ~ For the first time in my life I have a best friend. I've called people my best friends in the past, but the relationships were never two reciprocated. Either they were my best friend, but I wasn't theirs or it was simply a fake friendship in jr. high. Victoria and I joke that we are in love! She has always been close friends with my husband and we recently, about 6 months ago, decided that we should hang out and our love affair has been going on ever since! Kind of silly, but I love having someone who gets me and there are no judgements!

10 ~ I am a list maker. I think I'm stuck in between Type A and Type B personalities. Let's just call my life organized chaos!

11 ~  I am a non-confrontational person. I hate arguments and stressful situations. They make me very nervous and shaky. I would rather ignore a situation than face it head on.

12 ~ I am a procrastinator, which is part of an explanation for #4. Almost everything gets put off until the last minute. I have an adorable toddler to play with now!

13 ~ I love going in to get Olivia when she first wakes up. She is such a happy little girl and my favorite part of the day!

14 ~ I hate surprises! Did I already say that? No, ok... I was just reminded of that when I received a text saying "I came across something and got it today, but I don't want to give you any clues." What?!?! Then why the F' did you tell me about it?!? Steve doesn't bring home gifts anymore because I always go looking for them. He has threatened more than once that he was going to take something back. For example the pearl necklace he got me last mother's day. :) I just can't help myself... I think it's part of my anxiety and that little bit of Type A personality!

15 ~ And lastly... I have the worst memory. I rarely wear my engagement ring because I take it off to shower or do dishes and I simply forget to put it back on. I remember when I am out of the house and it is too late. I forget dates, appointments, medicine, laundry in the wash, etc. If you say "remember in high school when we..." 9 times out of 10 I won't remember.

So there is a little about me! I hope you enjoyed reading. Until tomorrow...

30 Days of Me ~ Introduction

I am very excited to start the 30 Days of Me Challenge. I happened upon this challenge and apparently I am late to the game... no real surprise there. I will go through the next 30 days and all the fun details for me. I imagine some will be funny, some a little boring, hopefully a smidge of inspiration and I fear way too much personal information. But that's what kind of mood I've been in lately so let the sharing begin!

Here is the outline:

 Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Your favorite song.

I am notorious at starting something and not finishing it, so I am going to work very hard at posting everyday. I will almost guarantee this process will take me longer than 30 days, but my goal is to do a post on every topic whether I'm late or not :)

Join in if you haven't done this already! Let me know, I would like to read all about you!

The Joy of Chi Tea

I love the things in life that are so simple, but give so much pleasure.

Venti Iced Chi Latte has become a regular part of my vocabulary lately. I started to worry that Olivia will see a Starbucks as we drive down the road and point and say "Venit Chi". My child won't know McDonald's golden arches, but will know Starbucks' green mermaid!

I have been unable to resist getting Chi Lattes for the last few months. I would say I have at least one a week, it would be more if they were more conveniently located. At $4 a pop they add up, but again, I just can't resist.

I bought the Chi Tea bags from Starbucks and brewed them at home adding half and half, but it just isn't the same. It doesn't have the same taste as my beloved Iced Chi Latte from Starbucks. I had accepted that I will just have to shell out the money for my new addiction.

I was almost giddy in Smart & Final today on my lunch hour while I strolled the isles aimlessly browsing I came upon this amazing little slice of heaven! (No, I am not being over dramtic!) I never dreamed in a million years that they made the same... yes the exact same concentrate they use at Starbucks and sell it in the store. So of course I grab it up and immediately head to the produce section for milk.

At $4.99 for 32oz of concentrate Tazo Chi Tea I sit at my desk happy as a clam (with a LARGE cup of Iced Chi Latte)! What a bargain! I no longer have to worry about the wrath of Steven when he realizes how much I spend at Starbucks! Who knew tea could simply make my day and not hurt my wallet.

The View From Home

This picture popped up on my phone while I was neck deep in paperwork.

 It completly makes my day when Brittney sends me pictures of Olivia and their activities throughout the day. It's like a little window into what my little one is doing for the day. Makes me feel more secure knowing that she is happy and having fun playing. I can't wait to get home and see her little legs move as fast as they can as she runs to the door to greet me with a huge smile on her face. Melts my heart!

I hate the days that I have to come into work, but I appreciate the days that I get to stay home!