resolutions revisited

For those of you who follow me on facebook, you know that I have frantically been busting out my bathroom work so that I can cross off that goal from my 2009 resolutions.

All of those resolutions, do you remember?  I set my sights high (always) and this year was no exception.  I had 6 categories and 3 goals in each category. 
Let's evaluate how I did, shall we?

Health and Fitness

1. weigh 135 or less and get into a size 8 pant (check - and then uncheck; stupid birth control)
2. buy a blender for smoothies (check)
3. plant a vegetable garden (nope)

Spiritual

1. 100% visiting teaching (not a full check, but way better than in the past)
2. More meaningful prayer (a decent sized check but I can always improve)
3. Read and study along with the D&C (nope)

Family

1. More family time (okay, I can still improve with that one.  Cleaning with the kids more doesn't count.)
2. Quality time with kids (it's an improvement)
3. More quality time with Popeye (um, who's Popeye?)

Finances

1. Stick with debt elimination calendar (it was good while it lasted)
2. Save for trip to Utah (check)
3. Stay current on tax spreadsheet (nope)

Personal

1. Take better pictures and understand exposure (getting there)
2. Scrapbook each child a minimum of once a month (ha!  Right!)
3. Finish quilt top (no, but made progress)

Household

1. Finish bathroom (yeppers!)
2. simplify = get organized (um, kinda?)
3. paint the basement (I started...)

Okay, so I know you're thinking, "What?  The bathroom is finished?!  When?  How?  I don't believe you!"
Well, let me tell you!  You better believe it!  I just finished installing the curtain rod and shower curtain.  And just before that, Popeye finished putting in the fixtures to the tub and shower.
Want proof?  Okay!

Now, these pictures were taken before I put in the shower curtain rod.  But still, you get the picture!  And guess what I get to do tonight! That's right.  For the first time in 2 1/2 years, I am taking a bath in my own tub!

So I guess my resolutions weren't a lost cause after all!  I can officially cross this one off my list.

Next year?  Um, those resolutions will just have to wait (read, not get made).

Happy new year everyone!!!

Tuesday Tip!

Stretch before exercising.  Even if that exercise is playing your new Wii.  You're muscles and joints will thank you for it.

It's Christmas Eve!!!

Not only have I threatened to take all the presents back to the stores from whence they came, but I've had to tell the kids to stop asking to open presents early or else they'll have to wait until tomorrow to open all of them.  I know, I'm such a Scrooge.

Ever since making that last threat, I haven't heard anyone ask me if they can open presents.  I must admit, I'm pretty dang excited for tomorrow!  Through the generosity of others, the kids will have a better-than-ever Christmas!  I'm just so excited!!!

Tomorrow morning my parents, Popeye's parents & his step-sister will be joining us for the day.  So today I'm baking and cooking and cleaning.  I'm waiting for the first pie to exit the oven so I can get the next tart into it.  Grand Duchess needs to take another nap so that I can get busy in the kitchen again.  She isn't that great of a helper yet so I'm taking a break until she goes to lay down.

Last night I wrapped half of the presents and ran out of wrapping paper and tape.  So this morning led me to VoldeMart to get some more (along with the rest of the fixin's for dinner).  Santa also asked me to pick up some candy for the stockings, so I did.  I just can't wait!!!

Alright.  I'm a kid at heart.  I still love presents.  No matter how much I say I'm not going to go overboard at Christmas time, I still do it.  I'm a product of my mother, really.  Her mother did it.  My mother did it.  I'm doing it.  I'm sure my kids will do it.  There's just something about going for 3 weeks with hardly anything under the tree and then waking up Christmas morning to a plethora of presents!  I don't know how my mom & dad did it each year.  We have 7 kids in our family and each year was always a glorious "orgy of greed" (name the flick).  I have followed tradition.  I asked Popeye if we should tone it down and really just give everyone a few presents.  He was opposed to that suggestion and looked at me as if I had spewed a fountain of filth from my mouth.  I repent.  :D

Next year I have a plan in place.  It goes along with my mantra of "today I decide to be wealthy".  Each weekly paycheck will find a portion of it going straight to the holiday piggy bank and at the end of the year we will give half of it to the ward to help another family in need.  As much as I want to have a wonderfully glorious morning of opening gifts, I want to feel the Savior's love by giving to others.  After all, He IS the reason why we even celebrate Christmas.

Tonight I'll watch "The Nativity Story" (again) while wrapping presents and then go to bed and hope to get a little bit of sleep before the kids burst in at 4 am.
Do you remember that, sisters?  Do you remember staying up all night hunkered down on the bed?  And we'd get Mom and Dad up at 4 am?  Good times.  4 am wasn't early then.  But it is now.  Whooo Boy!  I hope these kids don't get up that early.  Leave it to Mr. Fantastic to do that, though.  He's at that age.  (He still believes in Santa, too!)

Anyway.  My Christmas cards are on my counter waiting to be addressed and stamped.  I don't know if it will happen this year or not.  Sorry everyone.  My intentions were good ones.  Life is so busy and it's times like this that I wish I didn't have to work so that I could stay on top of things.

But Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope 2010 brings you some great memories and you are blessed beyond measure!!!

Love you all!!!

Tuesday Tip!

You know that tip I gave a few weeks ago about candles?  You know, the one that I said if wax melts in the bottom of your votive holder to put it in the freezer and it will chip off?  Well, I'm so glad that I had that tip.  Someone (ahem, Thor) put Grand Duchess' binky in a candle just after blowing out the flame. (At least he blew out the flame first, right?)  Well, I found it and the cinnamon-smelling binky went into the freezer and I was able to chip off the wax!  Hurray!!!

On to today's tip.

Sometimes it's just better to give up.  I don't know WHAT my problem is lately.  I've botched dinner more than 2 times now (one included company coming over - oy).  I've attempted at making various candies and goodies.  One of them being fudge.
Each year I attempt to make fudge.  I'm given fool proof recipes and I try them.  Recipes that include candy thermometers.  Recipes that don't.  Recipes with sweetened condensed milk.  Some without. 
And every. single. year I botch it. 
This year is no exception.  And this year I made the mistake of trying to make a MAJOR batch for all of my clients and our friends.  And this year it was a horrible waste of sugar, cocoa, and half & half.  Horrible, I tell you.  It didn't burn (thank goodness).  I'm sure THAT smell would permeate the house for weeks.  No, I followed those instructions to a 'T' and they still turned out dry and crumbly.
Don't try to make me feel better.  I'm just going to buy my fudge from now on.

Today's tip - sometimes if giving up is an option, it might just be the one to take.

Happy holidays everyone!  I hope your goodies turn out better than mine!  (I DID make truffles today and they turned out scrumptious! - First attempt, too!)

I botched dinner

It doesn't happen a whole lot.  I'm a pretty good cook, really.  Today I even COOKED a dinner.  Not just some frozen lasagne into the oven type dinner, either.  (I'm known to do that frequently.)  I had my meat thawing in the refrigerator, got all my sides together, the kids home from school and playing happily downstairs.  It was ALL good.
I started making my meal.  I've made it before with no mishaps.  Yummy porcupine meatballs.  Say it with me, "Mmmm mmm."
I tweaked the recipe just a little (instead of using tomato soup, I used ketchup and brown sugar) thinking that the tweaking wouldn't hurt it at all.
Evidently it did.  Because the rice was SOOOO crunchy.  Eeew.
So I got the kids eating the side dishes but we were all so hungry still.  I called Popeye and told him about the ickiness of it and he agreed that burgers from McDonald's would be a good substitute.
And it was.

So, in light of the Christmas season, what is a dish you've botched and what did you do to rectify the sitch?

It's Thursday!

Why I have an exclamation mark next to that title I do not know.  I'm not particularly excited that it's Thursday, really.  I just lacked a creative title I suppose.

Tomorrow is Friday.  Last day of work for the week.  Popeye is working the day shift so the munchkins (Princess Monkey Eyes, Thor and Grand Duchess) will be going over to play with Ladybug at Cap'n's house while I work.  (Thank you again, Cap'n!!!)  Satuday Popeye will be going to drill for the Navy and we'll be joining him for their annual Christmas luncheon!  Santa is coming and he always brings cool gifts.  Last year he dished out some cool items like toys by Vtech, Nerf guns, Barbie dolls, among other things.  Not your normal, "Here's your candy cane, Kid, now get going" type of party.  The kids are looking forward to it, as am I. 
Popeye's dad said he'd watch the kids so that we can go to the adult session of stake conference.  We'll also get to do a little bit of Christmas shopping while we're there.  I got a nice little tip from my client today (my Christmas bonus from her) and I plan on buying some yarn or fabric at Hobby Lobby.  Yay!
Sunday is Stake conference and Popeye will be at drill - so I'll be flying solo with all 5 kids an hour and half away from home.  (Yes, the stake center is a 1 1/2 hour drive - one way.) Oh boy, this will be fun, I'm sure.  I'll have to make sure I have tons of snacks and coloring supplies.  2 hours is a long time, especially since it will be Grand Duchess' nap time and cutting into lunchtime.  Just thinking about this is causing my heart to race a little.  Maybe I'll just stay home.
Christmas gifts for the neices and nephews will be cute crochet hats.  I have 4 done already, which means there's about 8 more to do.  No biggie, I can whip 'em out in an evening (or less).  I also want to make scarves for my clients with a nice hot cocoa deal.  One of the ladies at church did a cute little thing the other night that said something along the lines of, "Let this (meaning a scarf) warm you on the outside while this (meaning the yummy goodies) warm your insides."  I thought it was clever, so I might do that for all of my clients.  If I can't get around to finishing scarves, I'll just have to think of something else...  ideas?  last year I gave out wooden blocks that spelled JOY on them (in vinyl lettering) and the year before that I gave out towels with a quote attached.  So if you have any quick, inexpensive ideas, I'd appreciate them.  But quickly - time's running out!
I guess I better go start making my stuff.  I have some shirts to make for Grand Duchess and I found an UBER CUTE pattern for shoes for her that I bought off of etsy.  I'll link it once the shoes are done and I get the pattern.  I know some of you will want to make them!!!  (Even if you have little baby boys, you could make them boyish.)  I'm excited for Christmas.  I have Christmas music playing, a constant supply of treats (mainly candy canes and cookies) and the desire to exercise all those calories away but no time or energy to do it.  The kids will be going to bed soon and I was hoping to start my P90X tonight - but it's Thursday and The Office is calling.
Oh the decisions I'm faced with on a daily basis.  Why can't life be simple?  You know, unlimited money so that I can buy these things instead of making them, no calories to burn, skinniness by sheer thought, tv shows that don't appeal to me...  Oh the humanity!!!
I know!!!
I'll watch The Office while cutting out the pattern for the shirt.  Then I'll exercise during the news (because THAT is SO DEPRESSING).  Then I'll shower and go to bed.
Yeah, that sounds good.
So - um - bye for now!  Have a great weekend everyone!