Monday, November 29, 2010

Thankful


Family

One of the biggest things I'm thankful for this year (besides Jesus) is family. I love my growing family that is now 3. My husband is wonderful and my little girl precious. I am learning that just like people choose to "fall out of love" I am "falling in love" more with both my hubby and baby. I never knew love could continue to grow so much but it is. God has blessed me beyond belief and I am so thankful during this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Make the most of it!



Family photo with the Johnson's :)

Monday, November 22, 2010

Space Saving Weights


We were able to purchase these weights (from Walmart!) and they go up to 25 lbs. But the beauty is that you can do sizes you normally can't buy like 7 1/2 lbs, 12 1/2 lbs, etc. This is great for doing exercises that are too difficult to increase by 5 lbs but too easy at the weight you're at.

Since I had a baby 5 weeks ago, I can now start lifting heavier weights again. Remember that lifting heavy weights with less reps builds muscle and makes your metabolism faster and your body tight and toned. Pre-pregnancy body here I come!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

One Month!

11/16/10

As a mom I want to make sure and take time to teach Abigail and someday I will homeschool her when she's old enough (and any other children we have). Well, I was blog surfing through other mom's wonderful and helpful blogs and came across a masterpiece! It's called Confessions of a Homeschooler and it is amazing. This mom homeschools four kids and puts her materials on her blog for other moms to download...what a blessing! There is also an Australian mom who has some great Thanksgiving tools for you to do with your children if you want to check it out here.

Anyways, I can't believe my little angel is a month old! Man, time is flying in a good way. I LOVE being a mom and being able to stay home with her. She is now starting to coo, she definitely recognizes when I'm in the room and when I leave the room and her hair is getting longer! She likes to play on her play-yard gym thing and it's cute. I love knowing her and seeing her personality develop. God has blessed us so much.

But here's a little project I took on at my parent's house. This is just one wall but it gives you the idea. I took blank walls and turned them into warmth with pictures and such.


before....


after!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Time Flies

11/12/10

First of all, my kitchen is being featured on Envy My Cooking's blog! Please check it out...just click on the link!

So time is flying by. Today my sweetheart is 4 weeks old. Crazy! I am loving her more each day and being a mom. Also, today is my dad's birthday. He is turning 52...crazy too. This also marks the month that my husband and I officially became boyfriend/girlfriend 6 YEARS ago! How time goes quickly.

One of my old clients came over today which was really nice. She brought a gift for Abigail and I love it! It can be used for helping to teach her things later. Each side of the box has something different to help her learn. It was so kind of her to give this gift. I am blessed. Thanks Barb!



Watch out for my upcoming blogs because they'll be loaded with ideas for your house and gifts to give!!!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Picture Plaque

11/10/10



So I was reading A Glimpse Inside's blog and saw this plaque that Allison made. I love her craftiness and I'm planning to make one of these now but haven't decided what yet. This will be posted at a future time but for now I need to get back to my projects I have going...which are like 3 or 4! Watch out for future postings!

Monday, November 8, 2010

A bit of imagination

11/8/10

I worked on my brother and dad's birthday presents the other day and got them complete! My brother's birthday was yesterday and so I sent off his card. My dad's birthday is this Friday but he's not going to see this blog so I am posting his gift also.

For my dad's gift I used a picture frame I bought years ago and just took out a painting I had done in high school...it wasn't hanging anywhere and doesn't fit in with my decor so I knew this would work. The other year I made a similar picture frame for my dad but it was of me and him from my wedding with a poem called, "Everything Dad". He loves it and still talks about it today and it's in his office. So I thought this would be perfect of his new little girl in his life. It has a poem titled, "Grandad" with a couple of pictures of wonderful Abigail....I think he's going to like it :)

My brother's gift was real simple. I have a stamp that turns a regular piece of paper into a postcard and then I decorated the other side with this...he's a guy and doesn't care for fancy stuff obviously. Then we ended up getting him a gift card to Starbucks cause he likes it so much.

So I came across this blog tonight and adore some of the cakes. It's called the Cake Bizzle. My mom was with me (who makes excellent cakes also). I picked out these two cakes and she is going to combine them for my birthday cake this year (which is next month!). I love the 2 tiered cake directly underneath this but like the frosting on the one below....so my mom is going to make the one below but with the frosting "choppy"....much excitement when I figure out what cake I want my wonderful mother to make me each year for my birthday (it's a tradition).




So these are some of the fun things I've been up to, besides taking care of my little girl.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Live like no one else


11/5/10

The first snowfall of the season is here! Abigail's first snow :)

So this year is a little bit different for our growing family. First of all, we have a child! Secondly, I am not working anymore :) But with that things change. My husband is trying to grow a couple of businesses that he started and is working hard. He also works for other people doing landscaping, which is a downer when it comes to winter because he can't work in the snow. Thankfully he can plow but that depends on the snow. So of course I am praying for LOTS of snow this winter (sorry to those who don't want it!).

With these things comes change. Not everyone likes change. Also, with these things comes hard decisions. Kyle and I are committed to not going into debt and getting rid of the debt we have. In order to do that you have to say "no" to things that you normally do and want to do! It can be tough but that's part of being disciplined.

Since we are committed to doing God's will and not backing down, we have had to cut back for this upcoming Christmas season and that makes me sad but it is necessary. If we never say no then we will fall into the trap that can lead to wrong decisions in this area and other areas. The Christmas season isn't about gifts anyways and if we make a big deal about not being able to buy gifts then we are making it about them which is opposite of what we want. Christmas is about the birth of Christ and also spending time with family to worship Christ.

The good news is that when we get out of debt we will be able to do things we want to do now...we just have to be patient and wait. Of course that doesn't sound fun but you have to live like no one else now to live like no one else later! That's our plan!

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender."
Proverbs 22:7

"A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn't, and even brags about it!"
Proverbs 13:16

"He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a broken down city without a wall."
Proverbs 25:28

Thursday, November 4, 2010

EXCITED


11/4/10



So this pretty much sums up my life right now.....excitement! I am just feeling so blessed and praising the Lord for who He is and everything He's done for me. These are some of the things I am blessed with....I had a great pregnancy (bumps at the end but great overall), GREAT labor and delivery, wonderful healthy baby and she's very content and easy to manage, the Lord is allowing me to stay home full time and take care of my family, I have wonderful friends and family, and my God is good all the time. I also am feeling like myself again, which I kind of forgot what that feels like. I have tons of energy and I just feel excited/hyper about life (which is probably unusual for having a newborn)! I am also grateful to be having a great recovery, being out of maternity clothes, and able to exercise (taking it slowly).




Anyways, now that I'm done thanking the Lord, I am also excited about the Christmas season. I am declaring it the holiday season already because I want to! There are a few family birthdays this month and of course Thanksgiving so why not start it off earlier! Since I have entered the craft world more than I ever have, making homemade gifts is what I'm going to be doing this year and trying to save money, especially because I am not working. I will be posting gifts that I make on here but not till AFTER I give them out....cause that would spoil people's gifts!!! My Dad's birthday and brother's is coming up in the next week so I will post those later! Happy beginnings to the season!!!