Thrifty Thursday: Planting seeds!

It's no secret, I l.o.v.e. flowers. Every spring I plant my own little flower garden and spend the whole summer trying to keep them alive (disclaimer: I am great at keeping flowers alive, it's the 3 year old and the 1 year old and the welsh corgi that have a hard time with it). I've never had much luck with seeds but this year, I am determined to have luck with seeds.

So, being the cheapskate that I am, last week I bought a .20cent pack of marigold seeds. I've been waiting all week for the boys in the house to finish eating the eggs in the fridge so I could use the egg carton to plant the seeds and today is the day people. Today is the day. (so excited!)

I had to do some research to make sure I was going about this right, after all, I've never done it right before..... Some useful information:

1. Cover the container with plastic until the seeds germinate
2. Water from the bottom, less chance of over-watering. Let the seeds take what they need.
3. Pay attention to the package, it will tell you how deep to plant the seeds
4. Plant 2-3 seeds in each container to make sure at least one of them is successful

 Alright, I think I'm ready, wish me luck!



Are you planting anything this Spring? Flowers are first for me, the veggie garden is coming later in the month (our first one! hooray!!)

Have a great day!

Committed

Writing prompt #3, what I know for sure

I have recently discovered how awesome podcasts are (yes Hubmeister, you have been right this whole time, they are awesome) and I have been listening to one lately, CutTheFatPodcast.com, that has really got me re-thinking this whole weight loss thing.

Me and losing weight are like best friends, forever. For as long as I can remember, I have been trying to lose weight. I've had small successes here and there, only to have the weight come back (*cough cough* plus some). I have recently really buckled down and stopped the dieting

(totally off topic, but my Grandma has had a magnet 

on her fridge f-o-r-e-v-e-r that says "DIET is a four letter word." 

As a little girl, I would read that and think

"yes, there are 4 letters in it, that's kind of a stupid magnet......"  

but now I totally get it. 

I know, totally ridiculous. Where was I??? Oh yeah, buckling down 

and stopping the diet thing...) 

and started changing the way I think about food and how I go about eating in my daily life, and let me tell you, it's working. Really working, like 4 weeks in and it's still working....and that's a big deal for someone who doesn't stick to things when they get hard (yes, I am one of those people who gives up if it gets too difficult...unless it's a piano piece, I stick to that baby like glue). I've lost 10 pounds in about 10 weeks, slow right? But awesome! Ok, back to the podcast. 

While listening to it last night (on my way home from a group meeting titled "Mindful Eating".... good stuff, good stuff) the lady (Blythe is her name, such a cool name) said this, and it totally caught my attention: "If you can't write down what you eat for a week, one week, then you haven't committed to yourself yet." I had a total A-HA! moment.

Committed to yourself.....

Committed to myself.......

Committed....

hmmmmm, could it be true? 

Have I not been committed to myself until now? Is that why I haven't had any great success in losing weight?

The answer? Yes. I have not been committed to myself. 

Did I know this until last night?

No. No. Heck no.

What I know for sure is that committing to myself is a total win-win situation. I know for sure I cannot fail if I commit to me. This is a total profound thought. I am really good at committing to other people and other things but I've never even thought about committing to me. Crazy right? Yeah, it totally is. 

So, have you committed to yourself? It doesn't even have to be about eating, it could be about anything! I would love to hear what you think about all this.

Thanks for stopping by and reading about my profound thoughts =)

cheap thrills

I LOVE dollar stores. I had never been in one until I moved to southern California in 2001. My best friend, who I was lucky enough to be roommates with, introduced me to the wonderful world of dollar stores and I have been a customer ever since! My local Dollar Tree has tons, I mean TONS, of home decor stuff. Yes, it's not the same quality you'd get at Pier 1 or Cost Plus World Market or Pottery Barn but when you have 2 boys under 3, why would you want that awesome expensive stuff anyway? You wouldn't, trust me.

So, I hit up the Dollar Tree every 4-6 weeks or so to get some festive decorations (read: window clings) to match whatever holiday is around the corner (I went a little crazy with the Easter/Spring window clings, who can resist cute bunnies and flowers and bugs?) When I was at the Dollar Tree a few days ago, I also found this totally awesome wall sticker and I just HAD to buy it. For a buck?!?!? I didn't know the Dollar Tree had such cool wall stickers! Maybe this is a new thing??

I put it on the bedroom wall in the boys room

I love it.

As you know, I love quotes. As you also know, I don't like spending money. In other words, I totally scored! And the fact that I put it in the room my boys sleep in (ok, they don't sleep in there all the time) is even cooler to me.

Have you found any smokin' deals on cool stuff lately? I'd love to hear about it =)

Have a great day!

Silly Saturday!

I know you're all dying, just DYING, to know what Elliot said this week that was worthy of a blog post. Well, this is the one that I remember the most.

Elliot: "Hey mommy, I need you to clean ma mouth"
me: "Why?"

Elliot: "Cause it hurts"
me: "Why does it hurt?"
Elliot: "Cause I got hiccups......"

who knew? hiccups make your mouth dirty.

Have a SUPER weekend!

Thrifty Thursday: Forts!!!!

It has been raining for quite a few days in a row here, which means we've spent a lot of time inside....too much time. I was struggling with Thrifty Thursday today because I REALLY wanted to get out of the house (even just a drive would be fine with me!) but decided I needed to stick to my guns and pull off a totally fun, thrifty day. And I totally pulled through =)  This is Thrifty Thursday FORT EDITION!

from this

to this!!! (yes, that's a cat on top of the fort)

Elliot thought it was awesome, therefore, it WAS awesome.

We took little breaks from the totally awesome fort to watch the birds. Elliot is obsessed with feeding the birds, and I must say, for $1.97 (the price for a bag of bird seed) it's a really really good way to keep a 2 year old busy!

here come the birds! 

So, Thrifty Thursday success once again! What do you do when it's raining outside to keep everyone happy (including yourself!)?

Thanks for stopping by! I LOVE your comments!!

Hope, and my sons.

Mama Kat's writing prompts: April is National Poetry Month, write a poem about Hope.

 
I have two young sons
I hope they know
That I really love them so.
(something fierce I tell ya)
See, someday they'll grow
And be big and strong,
and one day they'll bring
another girl along.
(and she better be worthy of them, or else!)
And that girl,
if she's the "one,"
will take the place
of this old Mom.
(a sad day, but inevitable...)
I hope hope hope
when that day comes
I'll be strong...and won't hang on.
Cause someday they have to grow....

I just hope

that day
doesn't come
too soon.

Useless information

I've been catching a lot of flack lately from family members about my knowledge of pop culture, actually, let me rephrase. What I really mean to say is: I've been catching a lot of flack lately from my family members about my knowledge of celebrity gossip. Who's dating who, who's breaking up with who, who is having a baby etc etc etc.

For some reason, I love that stuff (I also love reality tv shows, I know, a complete waste of my time....which is why I hardly ever watch them....anymore....)

I found some interesting tidbits (and you know what I mean by "tidbits") the other day and they were so interesting, even my hubby thought they were interesting! So, I am going to grace you with my new found knowledge =)

Haven't you ever been curious about what celebrities do in their spare time?

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Susan Sarandon? Owns a ping pong lounge

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Nicole Kidman? Collects ancient Judaean coins

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Tom Hanks? Hunts down unique antique typewriters

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Ben Stiller? Diehard trekkie (I think that's the one my hubby liked the most hahaha!)

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Courtney Cox? Plays the drums





Fun right? Useless? Yes..........but fun, right?

Ok, back to my wonderfully awesome daily life as supermom! Have a great day!

Thanks for stopping by!
Oh! and if you have any celebrity gossip, you have to share =)

You are your own standard of Beauty

I've always "appreciated" style, (that is, if you define "appreciate" by staring at people and thinking to yourself, "GOSH! I wish I could wear that!") but it wasn't until I started working in the hair industry (when I was 22) that I felt the need to figure out MY style and learn how to dress right for my body type....because in all reality, you can have huge thighs or ample arms or a flabby tummy or all of the above, but still look fantastic if you find the right clothes (enter Stacy and Clinton from "What Not To Wear".......)

So, today, I would like to share some style quotes, advice, whatever you want to call it from a couple pretty stylish ladies. First off, Stacy London, from "What Not to Wear" (funny, I just mentioned her!)

"You're your own standard of beauty. 

There's no one else in the world who looks like you, 

so how can you compare yourself to anyone else?"

Stacy's philosophy on style? Know thyself. "Style is fit, knowledge and research. It takes time and work, but if you look honestly at yourself and understand what your raw materials are and accept them, then you are on the path to achieving true style."

Then, I'd like to introduce you to Rebecca Moses, a fashion designer.  (you can find her book, "A life of Style: Fashion, Home, Entertaining" on Amazon)

"Style is not skin deep, it is soul deep.

It is how we communicate who we are 

to the world around us. 

It is our voice."

So, if we can all look in the mirror and actually ACCEPT what we see there (this isn't easy, I know) we've already taken the first step (they always say the first step is a "doozy" don't they?) Let me show you some things I think are great, specifically for the woman who looks more like me.....as in big hips and thighs etc etc etc

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I could go on, but I have children and they seem to be more important than me window shopping (ok, they ARE more important than me window shopping)

Maybe we don't love our bodies, or maybe we do, but looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. So, what do you do to feel good about yourself when it comes to style and fashion? Is it a cool necklace, a fancy pair of shoes (shoes are my downfall, I've never been great at shoes....) a pretty top or a nice fitting pair of pants? Do tell, I'd love to glean some of your fashion wisdom =)

Thanks for reading! Have a great Monday!

Silly Saturday

I call my husband "babe" more than I call him anything else. Elliot has really caught on to this. Proof?

Elliot (while opening the cupboards): "Hey babe, get me some crackers."

I rest my case.

Have a great weekend!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Spring Break, fact or fiction?

Spring Break is coming up, which really means nothing to me because my children aren't even in preschool yet, but I found this article entitled "Spring Break" (in the March issue of Family Circle) that had some facts in it (I LOVE facts!) that I thought were fun/interesting......so, here they are!

• 71% of moms say religion plays a role in how they maintain balance 
• (I am in that 71%)
• The top three people who help moms maintain their inner peace: 
• 1. Girlfriend 
• 2. Mom 
• 3. Husband 
• 36% of moms don't have time to focus on themselves 
• (thankfully, I'm not in that 36% the majority of the time)
• "While pedicures and manicures take me to a peaceful place, reading a good book and sharing my thoughts by writing them down are lighter on my budget" -a MotherBoard mom
• "When life gets crazy, I make lists. By writing down what must get done, I can be sure nothing is overlooked. And it's satisfying to check things off" -a MotherBoard mom (I love making lists!)
• (Confession: Sometimes I make lists of things I've already done just so I can check them off........)

Some fun facts yes? I liked the quotes too.

What do you do to take a break? (*cough cough* blog....)
When do you take your breaks? (whenever I can!)
I love hearing your thoughts, so spill 'em  =)

St. Patrick's day=favorite hairy 4-legged person birthday!

Today my most favorite hairy animal with four legs (I have to clarify the legs part or I could be talking about a few other animals in my house....) turns 3! It's SAMSON! (Other names he answers to: Sammy, Sam, Smacky, Smacky Jack, Samdog Millionaire, Samwise, Samantha, Samanthy....I'm sure I'm missing a few)

So, in tribute to my hairy best friend, here are some pictures that show why I love him so so much.

He's GREAT with my boys (Elliot about 2 years ago)

Caleb, always trying to steal his food

He always lets me know when he wants to go outside

He likes to accessorize

He likes to cuddle

He's got a great smile

And when I first saw him, I couldn't resist....which is why he was added to our family 6 weeks before I gave birth....which was a questionable decision but I am SO GLAD I did it =)

Happy Birthday to my SamDog!!!!!

Oh, yeah, and Happy St. Patrick's day too :)

Daydream believer and a homecoming queen

On a daily basis I daydream about winning a lot of money.I'm not picky, it could be the lottery or Publisher's Clearing House or one of those random penny slot machines or a great great great uncle who passed away that I didn't know I had or, well.....you get the point.

I daydream about this so much I already have it all planned out. We would pay off any debt of our parent's, give our siblings a set amount, pay off our debt, buy our dream house (which would obviously be on the smaller side-there is no way I'm cleaning a mansion every day!) and dream cars, put a good amount in a college education fund for our boys and then put the rest in some kind of account (IRA, 401K, stocks, bonds, yadda yadda yadda, blah blah blah...I don't know enough about that stuff at this point in time to really know what I'm talking about). Hubbyman would continue working, but in a job that he really really enjoyed, and maybe we would even start a music school for kids who couldn't afford the lessons otherwise.
(Oh, and how could I forget! I would definitely do a little bit of shopping. How could I not?! Don't you ever wish you could walk through a store and put every.single.thing you want in the basket, but you can't because you're responsible and know you should probably buy diapers instead? Yeah, well after I won a ton of money I could buy diapers AND everything else. So Great!)

Isn't it fun to daydream!?
What do you daydream about? Do tell!

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Spring cleaning is my nemesis

Spring is coming up....fast (why is it the older I get the faster the years go?)
That whole thing that people like to call "Spring Cleaning" always annoys me.

I clean. Every.Day. 

Why do I need to have a special season to clean even MORE?

I don't.

So instead of "Spring Cleaning" I made a list of things I want to get done before Elliot turns 3 (when does he turn 3? June! ahhh!!!)

One of my most favorite blogs, Seriously, a Homemaker, posted her "Spring Things" list last week and it's had my brain working ever since. I loved how she took a picture of her list, so I did too (thanks for letting me copy you Angie!) (ps, if you want to be majorly impressed, you should check our her Spring Things list. I am in awe of her....for reals)
Without further ado, my very very short list:

told you it was short

yup, 4 things. 4 whole things.

And I put it on "recycled" paper. Otherwise known as, paper-that-was-in-perfectly-good-condition-until-the-crazy-children-got-a-hold-of-it.

So, my list consists of: Dusting the ceiling fans, (finish) painting the master bedroom, paint the laundry room and plant a garden (our first one! so excited!).

I love looking at "Spring Cleaning" (blegh) as more than just cleaning.....more like a time to get things done. Notice I didn't have the word "clean" on that list anywhere? That's cause it's my nemesis :)

So, wanna tell me what your plans are for the next couple months? Any fun projects or plans or, heaven-forbid, "cleaning"?

Eating like kids is a good thing!

Remember how I visited that nutritionist that said I ate too many "kid" snacks? Well, guess what? I just found this article that says eating like a kid is good for you! Yes!!!! But before your brain starts telling you things like: "sweet! let's go get cotton candy then eat Butterfingers then have a HUGE soda and top it all off with sour patch kids!" let me explain :)

Many moms are so concerned over their children's eating habits they let their own slide (*cough cough* totally guilty). We are always telling our kids to finish their milk, eat their veggies and to lay off the junk. Don't you think we could really benefit from that advice ourselves? So, here's what the article said about healthy kid habits and why we should eat like our kids do:

1. Eating veggies.  A recent government survey says adults only get 25% of the recommended 5 (yes, 5) daily servings. 
2. Drinking milk (it says it can even be chocolate milk!) Gotta get that calcium in, as we age (and we ALL do unfortunately) we need it even more.
3. A quick bedtime snack (that's not TOO big). Apparently I'm not the only one out there who sees the time after the kids go to bed as "relax and reward" time. Yes, that ice cream may be amazing tonight...but in a few months when all those bowls have added up to tighter pants....well, you get the idea. The article says having a quick snack then brushing, flossing and turning off the light to the kitchen (to signal "kitchen closed" hahahaha) should do the trick when it comes to nightime snacking.
4. A limit on sweet treats....do I really need to go into this one? We all know it, doing it is the hard part.
5. Sitting down for meals. (SO guilty of this one!!) How many times during a meal do I tell my 2 year old to sit down? And the whole time I'm walking around in the kitchen nibbling on things as I go.....yeah, great example there Em! Let's not forget the lunches while standing over the sink and checking email on your phone and emptying the dishwasher all at the same time...Apparently you can't taste your food when you're distracted, therefore you eat more and more often. Good to know.
6. No snacks right before dinner. You want your kids to have enough room to eat all the healthy things you've prepared for dinner, but in the meantime you're nibbling at every little thing in the kitchen as you prepare for this healthy meal....did you know the average bite is about 25 calories?! Holy cow that adds up, and fast!

 So, I still may have to nix all the "kids" snacks, but I think I may focus on eating more like a kid from now on. It's amazing what we can learn from ourselves...and a magazine article :)

Do you do anything with your kids that promotes a healthy lifestyle but find yourself not following your own advice? Wanna tell me all about it....please?

Thanks so much for stopping by! I love all your comments!!!

The Lord's Law of Health

 I teach the 2nd Sunday of every month at Church. This month, the lesson is on The Lord's Law of Health (also known as The Word of Wisdom). The following is my outline for the class I will be teaching. I always enjoy seeing how people interpret different things, so this is my interpretation. Comments are always welcome!
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Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(1 Corinthians 3:16)

The choices we make about the use of our physical "temples" will effect us throughout all eternity. 

• Our bodies are holy
• Because our bodies are so important, Heavenly Father wants us to take good care of them, no GREAT care of them :)
• Heavenly Father knows we can be happier, healthier people if we take care of our bodies.

So, what is the Lord's Law of Health and why do we need it?
-The Lord's Law of Health is revelation given in the scriptures. The Lord knows there are temptations all around us to treat our bodies unwisely or to take harmful things into them. So for this reason, He has told us which things are good for our health and which things are bad. Much of this info can be found in Doctrine and Covenants section 89.
-The Lord's Law of Health isn't just for our physical health, it is for our spiritual and mental health too.

There is no question that the health of the body affects the spirit, or the Lord would never have revealed the Word of Wisdom.….To a great extent, we are physically what we eat. Most of us are acquainted with some of the prohibitions of the Word of Wisdom, such as no tea, coffee, tobacco, or alcohol. But what needs additional emphasis are the positive aspects—the need for vegetables, fruits, and grain, particularly wheat. We need a generation of people who eat in a healthier manner.     

–Ezra Taft Benson

 

I thought this story, by President Brigham Young, about how the Word of Wisdom came to be was pretty interesting:

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“The first school of the prophets [a special school for the early leaders of the Church] was held in a small room situated over the prophet Joseph’s kitchen. … [This was the room where] the prophet received revelations and in which he instructed his brethren. The brethren came to that place for hundreds of miles to attend school in a little room probably no larger than eleven by fourteen [feet]. When they assembled together in this room after breakfast, the first [thing] they did was to light their pipes, and, while smoking, talk about the great things of the kingdom, and spit all over the room; and as soon as the pipe was out of their mouths, a large chew of tobacco would then be taken. Often when the prophet entered the room to give the school instructions he would find himself in a cloud of tobacco smoke. This, and the complaints of his wife at having to clean so filthy a floor, made the prophet think upon the matter, and he inquired of the Lord relating to the conduct of the elders in using tobacco, and the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom was the result of his inquiry” (in Deseret News [Weekly], 26 Feb. 1868, 18).

I thought that story was pretty great. Why? Because it shows how much of an influence a woman can have on some pretty important things :)

So, we are commanded not to take certain things into our body, what are they?

• Wine
• Strong drink (meaning drinks that contain alcohol)
• tobacco
• hot drinks (according to Church leaders this is in reference to coffee and tea)
• Drugs, unless necessary as medicine
• We should avoid anything that we know is harmful to our bodies
• We should not use any substance that is habit forming
• We should also avoid overeating.

The Word of Wisdom doesn't tell us every little thing to avoid, but it does give us a great guideline. The Word of Wisdom is a very valuable temporal law but it is also a very valuable spiritual law. By living the Word of Wisdom, we become stronger spiritually (awesome!)

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“Our physical body is the instrument of our spirit. In that marvelous revelation the Word of Wisdom, we are told how to keep our bodies free from impurities which might dull, even destroy, those delicate physical senses which have to do with spiritual communication. The Word of Wisdom is a key to individual revelation” (President Boyd K. Packer in Conference Report, Oct. 1989, 16; or Ensign, Nov. 1989, 14).

-What are some things that are not specifically mentioned in the WoW (Word of Wisdom) that we should avoid?

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The Word of Wisdom is one of the recognized and distinctive practices of members of the Church. Generally, others not of our faith acknowledge that members in good standing abstain from tobacco, coffee, tea, and all alcoholic beverages. Scientific studies have confirmed that Latter-day Saints have less incidence of heart problems, all forms of cancer, and other diseases because of their adherence to the Word of Wisdom. These studies have demonstrated that not only will one live a longer life, but also that the quality of one’s life will be better. 

-President Ezra Taft Benson

-The WoW teaches that certain things are good for our bodies, what are they?

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Wholesome herbs
• The flesh of birds and animals
• Meat should be eaten sparingly
• Fish
• Grains, especially wheat

How has the use of the things blessed you?  I know in my attempt to have a healthier and longer life I have stopped drinking soda and eating fast food. I have noticed a huge difference in my energy level and just the overall way that I feel....I just feel cleaner, if that makes sense.

-Work rest and exercise are also part of the Lord's Law of Health. Why?

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 A latter-day prophet has told us that we should keep our bodies healthy. He counseled, “Nutritious meals, regular exercise, and appropriate sleep are necessary for a strong body, just as consistent scripture study and prayer strengthen the mind and spirit” (Thomas S. Monson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1990, 60; or Ensign, Nov. 1990, 46).

-What are the blessings we can receive from keeping the Lord's Law of Health?

Physically we have been promised good health. As a result of this good health we “shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint” (D&C 89:20). This is a great blessing, but the spiritual blessings He has promised us are even greater than the physical ones.

The Lord promises us that we “shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures” (D&C 89:19). (What are “hidden treasures”? The most sacred and deep things of God) We will be taught important truths by the Holy Ghost through revelation.

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President Spencer W. Kimball said, “For observing the Word of Wisdom the reward is life, not only prolonged mortal life but life eternal” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 211).

What a great quote! Love it.

I personally know how great I feel when I live my life in accordance with this wonderful revelation known as the Word of Wisdom. The part of the Word of Wisdom that has always been difficult for me, is overeating. I have made an extremely conscious effort in my life as of late to put things in my body that help me be a better wife and mother, things that fuel my body to be the best I can be not just stuff that looks good and is full of sugar and other wonderful things :) 

The Word of Wisdom was given to Joseph Smith in the form of a revelation in 1833 (that's a whole lot of years before the world of science caught on and started recommending the things learned in the WoW as a good practice for everyday living).

President Ezra Taft Benson told this story, which I found pretty neat:

Several years ago an investigator gave this testimonial about Joseph Smith. He said that the Word of Wisdom was the revelation that most attracted him to investigate the Church. “There is no possible way,” he said, “that Joseph Smith could have known what we now know in the medical world about the harmful effects of tobacco, alcohol, tea, and coffee. Yet this has all been substantiated by medical science.”

He said that this was the beginning of his earnest investigation of the gospel, for he reasoned that if Joseph Smith could be so accurate on a matter that medical science validated over a hundred years later, the rest of the teachings of the Church deserved investigation. He did so and is now a member of the Church.

Isn't that a great story?

I'm grateful for the Word of Wisdom. I am grateful for the guidelines it gives us. I am grateful for the blessings that I have received and that can be received by following the guidelines. I know these guidelines were given to us to help us live better, fuller lives. And how can anything that does that be considered bad? It can't.......end of story :)


I would love to hear your comments!
Thanks for stopping by!