this and that

::  Yesterday I let Ryann played itsy bitsy spider on my phone while we wandered Super Target.  It was fantastic, except for the part where I found a million things I wanted to buy.  I wanted to link to a bunch of it, or make a big collage of all the stuff, but the Target website and I weren't getting along.  I did take a picture of some storage bins that are pretty much made for my house.  I'm just not sure where to put them...

::  I'm sure I've been living under a rock or something, but I recently came across the whole 'project life' business via here via pinterest.  I love how seemingly easy it is, and the scrapbook feel.  I also like that the pictures are actually printed out.  This is probably a stupid thing to think about, but I randomly thought, what if Ryann needs to bring in a picture to school or something, and all I have is digital photobooks?  I mean obviously if I have all the digital files saved I can print a copy, but it would be nice to have some printed copies preserved as well.  I'm sure there are several other good alternatives to full out scrapbooking too.

::  Have you heard of plasma cars?  I of course hadn't until Shawna mentioned them (because she seems to know about all the really awesome baby/kid stuff :o).  And then they were on Zulilly for $40.  So 'Ryann' got two for Christmas.  Come on as soon as I saw they could hold up to 220 pounds I was all over it, so was Christopher.  Ryann can work them, but the video I have of her doing it includes my sister and parents talking about how her New Year's Eve went... yeah.  So here is a video of Christopher and Auntie Lorin taking them for a spin around the kitchen.  I also have a video of my dad taking it down the ramp in front of their house, but the stupid thing won't upload to my computer.

::  Speaking of videos, here are a couple of Ryann.  The first is just an incredibly awkward laugh that I captured.  Seriously.  She freaks me out a bit.  The second is her attempt at jumping along with some spinning.  Whenever she counts before she jumps it is never to the same number.  Love it.

::  Trying to make good on my resolutions, I started deleting photos from my computer.  I hope to delete an average of at least 100 a day until I've really paired down my files.  Obviously I won't always be in front of my computer everyday, but I figured if I intentionally sat down and deleted 100 photos each day that I could, that would make a decent dent.  As long as I don't average 100 photos a day that is... which can happen.  Oy.  Today my total went from 49,739 to 49,286.  That is progress right?  I suppose the responsible thing to do would be to delete my 100 photos a day, plus the non-keepers from any I upload that day right?  :o)

::  I'm pretty sure I've declared my love for nutella more than once around here.  I don't know why but I can't get enough of that stuff.  I've done a pretty good job limiting my intake, but did you know that February 5th has been declared World Nutella Day (you should, I've mentioned it before:o)?  We have got to do something to celebrate folks.  I will most likely have a peanut butter, nutella & banana sandwich for breakfast, and bake something with nutella in it (possibly these, they are perfect for February right?).  But I think I need to do something for the blog that day... possibly a nutella linky party?  What do you all think?  Yes, I understand this is teetering on the edge of ridiculous, but come on :o).  And you all think I'm totally weird now...

::  This is day seven of attempting to take a photo a day of Ryann.  I can already tell you it is going to be TOUGH, and for a few reasons.  One of course, is not forgetting.  I mean I usually have one between my cell phone or my big camera, but I really want one a day from DSLR.  Two, it is tough for me to always get a shot that I love, as well as not always taking pictures of the same thing or in the same location.  I really really REALLY hope I can keep it up though.  I do love the photos that I've gotten.  At some point I'll figure out how I'm going to share them on the web.

::  I decided that a project 52 and a project 365 (366 this year!) might be too much.  Especially considering that I rarely keep up with anything that long, let alone two things.  And I just haven't settled on a theme that seems like something I would want to focus on for an entire year, or that I would be completely happy with.  But I thought about compiling 52 images similar to the one below (but you know, not always the happy smiling one).  I am always taking pictures in that spot because it has the best light and the blankest wall in our house.  That way when I fail at my project 365 I have something to fall back on, you know?  :)  I think it would make a cute little 5x7 photo book, 52 faces of Ry.

That's all for now.  Have a good one!

teacher gifts

These pictures were uploaded December 17th.  I obviously meant to share them a while ago.  Whoops!  This craft is nothing new or inventive, it has definitely made its way around the web, but it is so easy that I had to share it.  Ryann's teachers absolutely loved theirs (well, at least that is what they told me :o)! 

I first saw instructions for this doily canvas bag over on the lovely Ashley Campbell's blog, Under the Sycamore.  (Side note, check out her diy page, there are so many fun project I would love to try!)  Then my bestie made us our own bags as bridesmaids gifts at her wedding.

Always running behind me didn't start the project until like 5pm the night before I wanted to take them to Ryann's school.  So I was trying to make these, make snacks to go in them and take care of my child.  I didn't end up putting the finishing touches on until 11:30pm, but honestly, total time spent on all three bags?  Probably less than three hours.  (Side note, I should not write posts early in the morning, I originally typed less than three HOUSES.  Whatever.)

A few tips... because I was rushing my way through them, I attempted the first doily without the spray adhesive because I couldn't find mine in the two seconds I looked.  Big mistake, it definitely didn't work out for me.  The bag still looked ok, but the ones where I did use the spray adhesive went much much better.  Also, make sure you use a smaller brush.  I was using a smallish (ok maybe medium sized) foam brush, and it was hard to get those little spots on the edges without going over the side of the doily.  To do the letters, I used my silhouette machine to cut the letters out of thicker cardstock, and stuck the paper down with the spray adhesive as a stencil.  Like the paper the letter was cut out of, how come I can't think of the words to describe that part?  Oh well, I'm sure you can figure it out :o).

In the bag I included two mason jars, one filled with chocolate covered pretzels I made, and the other with this s'mores popcorn snack mix.  Mmmm... that stuff was pretty tasty!  We also made some cute little handprint santa cards to write our holiday message in, you can find the instructions here.  I umm, didn't take the time to make the pink cheeks.  It obviously would have been much cuter had I done that, but again, I was a little last minute and a little lazy.

Oh yes, a certain little someone was rather annoyed while I was trying to take these pictures.  She just wanted to touch everything and pick it up, you know, carry it elsewhere.  Especially the santa card.  Oy.  :o)  I was going a bit crazy.  We were already late to 'school', there was barely any light in the house, and it was take pictures then or never!  I'm just sad I forgot to take a picture of all three bags together.

I still have pictures and information to share about our advent calendar.  If I'm lucky I'll get it up in the next few days or so.  You know, before it is like March or something.  It may very well be after Christmas, but you can always save the ideas for next year, right?  And if I don't write down all the activities we did I'll surely forget.

Have a good one!

embrace the camera

While heading to my parent's for New Years, we made a little pit stop in Lawrence.  My wifey was in town.  (And if you need an explanation, one time, when I may or may not have been rather intoxicated, I told Chris [while Whitney was listening] in another life if I was a boy I'd totally marry her.  She has since been my wifey :o)

ryann was playing peekaboo behind the camelbak

It was so so so good to see Whitney.  She all up and moved to Philly last summer... even though we didn't see each other super regularly while she was in Lawrence, it was still a lot easier than hopping a plane to fly to the coast.  Thankfully I still get to keep up with her via her blog.  That makes me happy.  And hopefully she will be moving back to the midwest in the nearish future!  :o)

Also Whitney captured this lovely little gem of our family while we were out to breakfast.  Chris and Ryann look so incredibly happy, which of course makes me incredibly happy.  I don't look quite as excited as they do, but I'm pretty sure it was because I was trying to keep the wiggle monster from bashing her head into the table while she tried to escape the photo op.

Have you embraced the camera lately?

a day in {my} life

Seriously, I cannot believe I've been running these posts for well over a year.  Thank you so much to all of the women who have volunteered to let us peek at your day.  I hope everyone is finding new blogs to read, and learning from other moms out there.

Today you get yet another look at a day in my life.  Lately it doesn't feel like the days change all that much, but it is still fun (and kind of exhausting) for me to try and detail the whole thing.  I hope you enjoy!

***

December 30th, 2011

5:00am:  I start tossing and turning in bed.  I've turned into a bit of an insomniac again, and it is driving me crazy!  Chris's alarm goes off just before 6:00am, and around 6:30am I give up on falling back asleep and hop on the laptop.

6:44am:  The little miss starts chatting it up with herself in the crib.  Guess it is officially morning time!  I quickly throw on my workout gear before going in to see her.  She immediately asks for two things, her vitamins and for me to read Corduroy.  She recently discovered that book on her shelf, and I've read it a bajillion times since.  After reading the book three times, I convince Ryann to let me get her dressed so we can have breakfast.  I make us both some peanut butter toast, she has hers with a side of blueberries and milk, I top mine with 1/2 a smashed banana and grab my camelbak.  After breakfast we head to the family room for a little bit of playtime.

8:28am:  We are in the car on the way to the gym.  I call my mom nearly every morning at this time.  Even if I have nothing to tell her I feel like I have to call her.  Love you mom :).  Even though I'm not in the mood for the treadmill, I manage to cover 6.2 miles.  I'll take it.

10:04am:  We are done at the gym and heading back home.  Ryann starts freaking out in the backseat because the sun is in her eyes.  Of course all of her sunglasses are at home.  Mommy fail.  When we make it back to the house it is time for a snack.  Ryann has grapes, bunny grahams and milk, because she throws a giant fit when I offer her water.  I make myself of bowl of yogurt with oatmeal squares and raisins.  After snack I really want to get some picking up done around the house, it has been a disaster for quite some time.  But Ryann insists that I color with her.  So I do.

11:40am:  When I turn the oven on for Ryann's lunch, I sneak a snicker's out of the candy jar.  Then I realize I am absolutely starving, so instead of eating more candy I opt to make my own lunch and inhale it while Ryann's is cooking.  I use some leftover chicken taco filling and lettuce to make myself a taco salad.  After putting my bowl in the dishwasher, I finish putting together Ryann's lunch:  salmon stixs, a fruit cup and the water she refused at snack time.  After lunch I try and clean up the kitchen, wipe down the counters and grab the vacuum to deal with an excessive crumb situation.  In the meantime Ryann drags half her toys from the family room to the living room.  I guess I'll be dealing with that later.  Oh well, the kitchen is clean, I read Ryann a few books and get her ready for nap time.

the ginger had to eat lunch with us.  they were having a conversation :o).

12:58pm:  Ryann is in her crib so I jump in the shower.  Then I hang out on the internet for a while, reading blogs and working on Ryann's 21 month post.  Chris only had a half day of clinic, so he is home around 2pm.

2:53pm:  I had turned the monitor off because it tends to interfere with our wireless internet, and was surprised to hear Ryann singing songs in her room.  It wasn't necessarily a short nap, but not really a long nap for her either.  She usually sleeps until at least 3:30.  Oh well, Ryann and I have a snack, apples and pretzel fish for her, a Sargento cheese stick for me.

3:28pm:  We all head out to best buy in search of a new printer for me.  Unfortunately they don't carry any large format printers in the store, and I can't yet imagine not having the ability to print larger than 8.5x11.  Silly, because I rarely ever print things that large, but I know as soon as I purchase a smaller printer I'll want to print posters or something.  We make a pit stop at Caters before heading home, I had a punch card that expired on the 31st that I wanted to use.  When we make it back home I do a little speed cleaning.

before we left to run errands.  an extremely attractive picture of the both of us.  (i hope you can hear the sarcasm.)

5:10pm:  Christopher's mom arrives, with a stuffed dog you can color with markers and Bambi.  I swear neither Grandma ever arrives at our house empty handed :o).  She is watching Ryann for us while we head to a holiday party for the evening.  We don't need to leave until after 6, so while they play together in the family room, I spend a good chunk of time putting on make-up, fixing my hair and trying on way too many different outfits.  Why is it I never feel like I have the right thing to wear?

we've been trying to teach her how to hold up two fingers.  apparently it is really tough.

6:36pm:  Christopher and I head out to party sans child.  This rarely happens.  I feel a wee bit giddy knowing that we will get to stay out past 8pm!  The party is hosted by my bestie and her mom, so my parents are there as well.  It was an incredibly fun evening, and Sheryl did an amazing job with all the food.  I ate A LOT :).

 

11:34pm:  I can't believe we stayed out until 11pm.  That may not seem very late for most of you, but for us home bodies who rarely use a babysitter and have a kid that wakes up before 7am?  That is LATE.  I play on my laptop a bit before finally rolling over and going to sleep.  Good night!

***

That about sums it up!  I've got a (mostly) new list of moms ready to share their days with you, scheduled through May.  I hope you are still enjoying the series!  Have a good one :o).

new years eve + my 2012 goals

First I thought I'd slip in some photos from our little New Years celebration.  It was quite the exhausting weekend, we stayed up past 11pm two nights in a row!  I know, we are wild kids.  We started the evening off with a nice dinner at my parents house, plus some party hats and party poppers.  Then Christopher, Ryann and I headed over to our friend's house.  Ryann was only there for about 45 minutes before Christopher took her back to my parents to put her to bed.  Once she was asleep he came back to celebrate the new year with everyone.

a few of my favorite girls.  i was so happy to see them.

it was the first time in over a year that the four of us were able to get together!

Looking back at my 2011 New Year's post (which is extra fun because I love love LOVE those pictures of Ryann :o), I am proud and encouraged to say I feel as though I accomplished everything I hoped for.  I didn't set up any specific goals, but I think over the past year I definitely changed for the better.  I learned a lot about myself.  I am stronger.  I am wiser.  I am better.

In 2012 I definitely hope to continue striving for all of the things I hoped for last year:  to take better care of myself and my body.  To be a good mom, a loving wife, a wonderful daughter, a caring friend.  To find balance between my needs and the needs of others.  But this year I also feel strongly about setting some more specific goals.  I'm no longer as scared of failing.  I know if I put my mind to something I can do it.  I just have to suck it up and try :o).

My 2012 Goals
1.  Accomplish my fitness goals.
I explained all of my fitness goals in this post.  But really the biggest for me?  Just keep running :o).

2.  Be more organized.
Seriously.  I have to work on this.  I need to write to-do lists.  I need to clean out closets.  I need to set aside a specific time for answering e-mails and comments.  Being more organized would just make my life function more smoothly, and who doesn't want that?

3.  Complete a photo project.
This year I love love loved both Shawna's project 52, and the daily photos over at Lila Was Here.  Both women shared such gorgeous photos, and I can only imagine how amazing it must feel to have all of those shots that can be compiled into an awesome series.  I would love to do a project 52, but I am struggling with an idea for a theme.  I want the photos to relate to my family, to Ryann and to myself, because I am always wanting to capture our memories.  I'm just not sure how to give the photos more meaning and a cohesive subject.  I will also (hopefully!) be taking at least one photo of Ryann a day.  I know it will be tough to stick with it, but I am sure going to try. 

4.  Learn more about photography and using my camera.
In order to get shots I love for the above photo projects, I need to learn more about photography.  I know enough to capture some decent shots, but I know there is more I could do.  And I'm extra bad with anything other than my nifty fifty lens.  I just don't know how to compose the larger shots as well, or deal with the changing aperture when I zoom.

5.  Start selling my invitation designs.
For a few years I've strictly done custom design work.  But people are saving pennies wherever they can, which means the market for custom designed wedding invitations is relatively small.  In an attempt to make some of my own money, I hope to sell designs that can be customized with the clients personal information, and that they can print on there own.  I will hopefully have wedding stationery as well as party printables.  This one may take me a while to get going, but I've got just under 12 months to get started!

6.  Have blog books printed.
Seriously.  I have 2.5 years of my life saved on the web.  I tend to assume it will always be there, but I know of more than one blogger (on wordpress, not blogger) whose posts all disappeared overnight.  They might have been able to get them back, but could you imagine?  That would be terrible.  So next time I get a coupon code for Blog2Print I think I might have to jump on it.

7.  Clear out some of the photos on my hard drive and have photo books printed.
Brace yourself.  There are currently 49,068 photos on my computer.  Don't mind the fact that my computer crashed in July of 2010 and I lost thousands.  That my friends, is absurd.  I have WAY too many photos hanging out on my hard drive.  And barely any printed.  I'm now backed up on an external, so hopefully nothing catastrophic will happen, but this is something I really REALLY need to work on.

8.  Be more productive.
Obviously that is kind of broad, but I waste a lot of time on the internet and watching TV.  It is very easy for me to get distracted on the internet, because most of my work is done on the computer.  I'll take a five minute break from an invitation set that turns into an hour and then I run out of time to get stuff done.  Something easier for me to control is the amount of TV I watch.  And I watch bad TV.  Like Teen Mom.  This year I'm cutting that out on my DVRwatch a show when it is airing.  Even if I plan to watch it that night, I will start 30 minutes later and fast forward through the commercials.

9.  Invest more time in my marriage.
I have no doubt that Christopher and I still love each other like crazy.  But we both tend to zone out in our own spaces when there is free time.  We need to spend more time together doing things, not watching TV or sitting next to each other on our separate laptops.

Eh, I wanted to have 10-12 specific goals, but this is what I've got for now.  I think it is plenty to get me started this year, don't you?

chasing the wagon

Sorry that I've been MIA with 'move it monday' the last couple of weeks.  As I'm sure it was for the rest of you, life was busy, I didn't feel as though I had anything motivational or significant to say health and fitness wise, and I decided to just take a break.

In the last couple of months I'd say I had started falling off that healthy wagon I have been riding.  In the last couple of weeks I feel like I'm chasing the damn thing.  Sweets everywhere I look.  Food in general everywhere I look.  A million excuses as to why I really don't feel like working out.  But it's a new day and a new year so I can only choose to try and be better right?

Looking back at my December goals, I'd say that I did alright.  Not fantastic, but alright.

1.  Complete a 30 minute (or more) workout 5+ times a week.
I'm pretty sure there was a week or two that I only managed 4 workouts.  But a couple of the days that I missed we went shopping for a couple hours which equals walking.  I just didn't count it as a workout.  Eh, I'll take it.

2.  Run/walk 15+ miles a week.
The mileage seemed to be the easiest for me to accomplish (not surprising, seeing as I've deemed running my favorite form of exercise).  I might be a little off, but it looks like throughout the month I covered 74.5 miles running and walking.  Definitely an average of 15 miles per week.

3.  Complete one solid strength workout per week.
Fail.  I know I did a couple, but man, I cannot convince myself to do weights for anything anymore.  It is terrible!  Something I need to fix in 2012. 

4.  Only gain 0-2 pounds
Errr I was semi successful at this?  Not really.  I'm embarrassed to say that when I weighed myself the day after we got back from Christmas (so Tuesday) the scale told me I was up 5 pounds.  EEEK!  But by Friday I was only up a pound.  We've been at my parents all weekend, so I'm not sure how I finished out the month, but I guess I'll take it.  It could have been a lot worse!

There is no denying it, I over indulged throughout the holidays.  I wanted to give myself a little leeway, but I've definitely been going a little overboard.  No use dwelling on it though.  It is time to set some goals for this new year.  These aren't set in stone just yet (nor would they ever be I guess!), but here is what I'm planning on right now for 2012.

2012 Fitness Goals
1.  Run/walk 500+ miles.
That really is only an average of just under 10 miles per week.  If I train for another half marathon or two, I really don't see that as being a problem.  Quite honestly I should probably set the bar a little higher, but I'm also trying to be realistic.  You never know what life is going to throw at you. 

2.  Participate in 6+ races, including at least one half marathon.
Races, whether you are going in trying to PR or just going to have a good time, are really just fun.  I love the atmosphere, and I love the motivation to push myself a little bit harder.  I already have a list of five that I would possibly like to do this spring, so it is just a matter of making myself sign up and actually do them!  Maybe I can manage a 5k in under 27 minutes, and a half in under 2 hours.  I'd be flying high with that for sure.

3.  Include strength training AT LEAST once a week.
Really that is a semi pathetic goal.  I should be shooting for a minimum of twice a week.  Strength training is very important to maintaining what I worked so hard for.  I can already tell that I have lost a lot of muscle tone since September.

4.  Try to incorporate yoga or stretching.
I'm not taking the best care of my body.  I ask it to do a lot as far as the running goes, but then never properly stretch.  I know I'm going to pay a price for it sooner or later, so I really want to make myself do yoga once a week too.  That is probably going to be the hardest fitness goal for me to achieve.

Something else I'd like to do in 2012?  A freaking pull-up.  Which means I am really going to have to work on the arm strength.  I don't think I'll add it as an official goal, because it is something I have yet to achieve and I know would be very difficult for me.  But it would be pretty awesome.

And right now I really need to work on getting my eating back in check.  Too many sweets have creeped back into my days.  No good, no good at all.  I plan to track calories for the next two months and see if that can help refocus my relationship with food.

Really, this year, I'm most excited for more running.  I can't believe I'm writing that.  I most certainly would have never thought I could enjoy running, but I love it.  I am constantly competing with myself, trying to do better.  It can be draining on the brain at times, but a good run just feels SO good.

How did you do with your December goals?  What are your fitness goals for 2012?  Link up below!

i'm proud of 2011

Don't get me wrong, 2011 definitely had it's rough patches, there is no doubt about it.  Christopher starting residency was very hard on my dependent self.  But overall?  I'd say I did pretty good this past year.  More on that soon (hopefully), but for now I wanted to recap my favorite posts from 2011.

January

I successfully crafted something I was super proud of.  I love my pink ruffle wreath!  And OMG I about died looking at the photos in this post.

February

Again, this post, simply because those are some of my favorite photos of Ryann.  Also, it was the end of February that I decided it was time to get my butt in gear and off the couch.  Telling the interwebs about it was probably one of the most difficult, most rewarding and most motivational things I've ever done.

March

Ryann turned one.  It made me all mushy emotional.  We had a pretty sweet owl party.  Bam.  (And technically the birthday party post was from April, but the party was in March.  I can do that, I decided.)

April

Ryann started walking and I celebrated my 25th birthday (oops, that post is from May, oh well).  And looking back at how Ryann used to talk?  Love it.

May

Definitely a great month.  I ran a 5k, and ran the entire distance the first time ever.  And Christopher graduated from medical school.  Whoot!

June

We traveled to my parents vacation home in Georgia for the first time.  Ryann loved the beach!!  My three part recap is here, here and here.  Also, I finally felt like I was seeing progress with my weight loss.  I braved a bikini on the beach and shared my before photo.

July

So incredibly proud of the 10k I ran in July.  That race made me fall in love with running, or really, become addicted to it, and proved that I was stronger than I believed.  Also I made some yummy chocolate chip zucchini banana bread.  I need to make some of that again...

August

We celebrated Christopher's 26th birthday, not in crazy way or anything, but celebrated nonetheless.  Also?  I hit my weight loss goal.  Bam.  Ryann started MDO, it made me emotional.  Oh also?  I tried to make a fool out of myself by writing a really long post about my hair.  But to tell you the truth it was kind of fun.

September

I finally took some time to sit down and put all my favorite baby gear items in one place.  I'm sure I already have more things to add or change on that list, but I'm happy I have it all recorded and I hope it has been mildly helpful to someone out there!  Also, I officially decided that I am runner.  I will proudly list that as one of my favorite hobbies.  Oh, and we took Ryann to the Omaha Zoo, and that special little 'o' face she wore in amazement all day was awesome.

October

Lets see, we took another great trip to Gerogia.  I puked emotional word vomit into this post, and am was so incredibly grateful for all the responses I received.  You all are amazing.  And, um, I ran a half marathon.  Yep 13.1 miles.  I freaking did it.  Completing that half marathon definitely ranks up there with getting married and having a baby.  I am so proud to say I did it. 

November

Ryann really started to fall in love with painting.  I love that she enjoys artsy/craftsy things :).  I also love this Thanksgiving post, mostly because it was the first time I got Ryann's hair into piggies.

December

Mirror shots with my baby girl?  They are some of my favorites.  I finally got my craft on in a glittery way.  Christopher's tall friends may not appreciate it, but it definitely makes me happy!  And even though Ryann was a little under the weather, I really enjoyed Christmas this year, photo dumps here and here.