Trigger Happy

so funny!

Have you seen this?  

The Date Cards

For Christmas this year I wanted to do something different...kids are getting older- we were spending differently this year- and of course, there's Pinterest, so I had different ideas.  This is one of my faves!  Being avid watchers (I can't say "fans") of The Bachelor, I have some good knowledge of Date Cards, so that's the format I took with this gift- straight up printed off of Pinterest links.

I used two different sets, then did a mix and match so that each month we had a date with a different kid.  January- Beth and Mom, Matt and Dad, and switch.

That is what led Beth and I to HomeTown Buffet on a glorious Wed night.  Deeelish.  (not really)  Those commercials really intrigued her.  And she's a Souplantation fan, so she was in.

The boys went to The Cube to see the Indiana Jones Exhibit.  They had fun.

Here's the first set I used:

Source: survivingthestores.com via JoAnn on Pinterest

 

and here's the second:

 

Source: lets-explore.net via JoAnn on Pinterest

 

 I loved it.  The kids loved it.  We had good conversation (the girls) and laughs (the boys).  They were excited to open up February's Date cards!  I will be shopping and cooking with Matt, and Drew will be woodworking with Beth. 

These would make great Valentine's gifts too....don't you think?  XOXOX

Happy Month of Love :)

Happy Places

SLO

Chicago

San Diego

Newport Dunes

My cozy front room.

Happy Thoughts for a Monday :)

Tuesdays with Trader Joe's

OMG- another Trader Joes + crockpot for the WIN!

One bag- turkey meatballs (frozen)

one bag- multigrain blend with vegetables (frozen)

one carton- free range chicken broth.

cook.  DELISH!

a sad day

the day started out crabby.  i try to 'zen' myself on workdays from 6 to 6:30.  no zen today.  technology at work wasn't working and i am technology spoiled in my teaching.  pissy.  went to recess.  phone went swimming.  said lots of bad words (not in classroom- in my mind) called drew and told him to google fixes and no i don't have any rice in my classroom!  put phone in car to 'bake' it till i could get home (silly recommendation, but i was stuck with no other options so might as well have).

after i was home- emailed two friends who i text almost daily but don't even know their numbers to call.  there are more than those two....shite.  oh well, hopefully i will have a phone before the others text me.  got this response from friend A:

 

Oh no what happened? Back pocket, rebound into the bowl?

 

I laughed so hard I couldn't even read it aloud to drew.

 

the bowl was pre-pee, by the way- just to keep it real.  I can't even re- read it here without half busting a gut.  thank god for laughter!

inspired

New blog- You Are My Wild  made me think of this pic- and a few others from this exact set of 5 minutes- which when I saw said "these are my kids" to me.....Beth, drink in hand- it was a shake, there was NO WAY she was letting it go till every drop was gone.  Even though she's lactose intolerant and will have to poop like 5 times in a row after drinking it......Matt, book in hand.  Everywhere he goes, usually a book in hand AND a lego guy/bionacle/skylander figure.  Something to DO- cuz you gotta DO something, right?

Legs for days- sun shining off blonde hair.  Somebody standing too close and risking getting wet after I probably warned against it 400 times.  These are my kids.

frickety frack

I answer that question every Sunday for the whole week (or mostly every Sunday, but sometimes Monday or Saturday- whatever day I can get my shoppingin).

I  have written two posts glorifying my favorite tool for that- the Paprika App for my ipad.  I lost them both.   Now I am pissed.  But I do like the app a lot.  Check it out.

love this idea!

join in!

I made a choice!

seems so silly, right?  but for me- for reals- I was debating this purchase....between a couple of styles and actually a couple of different websites.  I chose this one from Lisa Leonard.   I love it because it will be personalized with "choose" on the front, and "2013" on the back.  Also the little heart.  My main goal is to live a wholehearted life, and I am making choices as a means to that end (not that that goal is really an "end" since it'll be a lifelong process- but you get my drift), so that little heart reminds me of the true purpose of my one little word.

Anyway- yay, me!  Side note- I notice that when I barrage myself with too much information, it impedes my choice making.  I need less to feel more decisive.  I have to remember that because I looooove being a researcher!  I think less stimulation in general is a bonus to my happiness...but that's a whole other Oprah.....

What worked: 2012

I did a huge post this morning and lost it all. Aggravating. I wanted to reflect on what I did this year and what worked or didn't work, with photos. I am going to ditch the photo idea and make a list, hope it doesn't fail this time.

App- project365pro. Worked! I took a pic every day this year. A PDF from January should attach to this post. Pretty cool, I have one for each month! Also LOVE Instagram, probably my favorite place to visit online.

Site- Ohlife.com. I wrote a blurb daily this year- love it! What I don't live is that I have to transcribe it into my ten year journal. That's not my favorite part.

Scrapboking- project life on shutterfly.
Totally works for me. Ten minutes or so each weekend to catch me up. Two books, 12 X 12.

Monthly family pics. Love that. My favorite thing, actually. Ensures that I am in at least one pic a month ;)

I will continue those things. Also- my goal for this year was to meal plan and work on my health. Drew and I both improved our health significantly. The meal planning made a huge difference, and we will be continuing that.
I am also planning to learn to grow more plants in 2013. I was most successful with cherry tomatoes this year, but I am hoping to go further. That is my "learn something new" skill for the year.
Also planning to incorporate more crafting into my life again next year. I have missed it so much.
My "word" for 2013 is "choose". My family is going to join me in using that word as a talisman to guide us. Drew and I have some choices to make this year and making them without vacillating will make our life so much easier. I want to make and embrace my choices more easily. I am also making some personal choices to help myself live more wholeheartedly. I am hoping to have a better focus this year with a guiding word. Looking at years past, some I have chosen words and some I have not- I was most focused on a theme when I have named one for myself by choosing a word. This year I choose. I choose "choose".
I have been incredibly blessed in 2012, and incredibly challenged. I read a quote that stated to be "grateful for everything that happened in the past year, for it has brought you where you are today" (or something like that). I am grateful for both the blessings and challenges of 2012- because today I am exactly where I want to be- on this journey with my husband and family.
Can't wait for 2013- BRING IT ON!