party {mickey mouse}

my original plan was to use the same theme for coleman's daycare party. keep things simple, ya know??? but about a month or so before he turned two, he fell in love with mickey mouse clubhouse. i felt bad that it was too late to incorporate that into his party theme. so, at the last minute, i opted to do mickey mouse as the theme at daycare. since i did this in literally 24 hours, i went with generic store-bought items...

i took the red goodie bags that i already had and added mickey mouse images from leftover cupcake toppers.

basic goody bag stuffers...

plain cupcakes + red sprinkles + mickey cupcake wrappers & toppers

party time at daycare

two candles = two special years

he wouldn't take the candles or topper off...insisted on just eating around them.

everyone got into the gift opening!

after the party, the four of us went out to supper. coleman was mesmerized by the mariachi band. they even came over and sang happy birthday to him.

party {elmo 2nd birthday}

our dear friends & neighbors hosted an adorable elmo themed second birthday party for their son colton (born 2.5 weeks before our coleman). in years past (particularly in relation to spencer's birthday parties) i've been against using "character" themes. after seeing this awesome party, i realized that you can make cuteness out of anything!! it was around this time that i was sad coleman didn't fall for mickey mouse a little earlier (so i could've done that as his theme).

so, let's take a look at the elmo party...

primary colors were perfect for a toddler's celebration!

this decal served as decoration, but also doubled as a "pin the nose on elmo" game.

since the birthday boy loved elmo, themed toys & books were set out for guests to play with.

fantastic frugal decor idea: use a plastic tablecloth as a "swag".

the elmo visors were a huge hit with my toddler!

choosing a character theme lends itself to some awesome goody bag options. these kiddos racked up with stickers, coloring books, handmade crayon rolls and more!

cupcakes + sprinkles = pure delight.

festive food display

again...character themes really increase how much matching stuff is possible! loved that she was able to find coordinating juice boxes and sippy cups.

my little tot loving the balloons (from the dollar tree!!)

coloring books & crayons set out on kid-sized tables provided great entertainment.

the birthday boy (in the white shirt) playing "pin the nose on elmo". (and yes, that's a 12 year old in the middle of the action!).

custom paper elements were designed by design girl 16

celebrate {february}

celebrate {big moments}

• coleman turned two years old
• spencer made a new travel ball team
• holly lost about five pounds

celebrate {little moments}

• coleman has started using the potty somewhat (over at aj's, not so much at home)
• matt and i watched the super bowl
• spencer showed some improvement in school on his progress report

celebrate {struggles}

• coleman was allergy tested (all clear!)
• mom had a biopsy (all good!)
• mom experienced a lot of pain from some shoulder issues (she's still struggling through it)
• i went to cleveland for two days on a work trip (if you've ever been to cleveland in february, then you won't be asking why this is listed as a "struggle")

celebrate {family}

• matt and spencer went to a celtics basketball game (one of spencer's christmas gifts)
• we celebrated valentine's day (though we really didn't do much)
• three days of birthday celebrating for coleman

celebrate {friends}

• all four of us attended colton's 2nd birthday party
• all four of us hung out at the chandler home and had a great time playing just dance
• lots of time in the yard with neighbors. enjoying the warmer weather.

celebrate {words}

• read acts, romans, 1 corinthians
• finished reading james patterson's swimsuit
• started reading ann voskamp's one thousand gifts and participating in an online book club
• wrapped up debt free for life

celebrate {home}

• opened our home to friends and family for coleman's birthday party
• i hosted a bridal shower for matt's niece
• our home cycled through from valentine's day decor, to red & white radio flyer decorations, and then to black & white damask with red accents.

goals {march 2011}

even though it's halfway through the month, i still want to provide a list of march goals!

{organization}
-- help matt purge some a lot of his clothing carried over from february
-- clean out the kitchen junk drawer carried over from february
-- clean out my car
-- purge downstairs coat closet

{time management}
-- select one weeknight for "super productivity"
-- plan out meals for the week on sunday night

{blog improvement}
-- begin making my way through the blog design class (not finish, just start) carried over from february
-- create an "about the chronicles" page for the blog carried over from february

{scrap studio}
-- clear off the floor!!! carried over from february
-- order photos from coleman's birthday party

{weight loss}
-- exercise at least once each week
-- lose at least 4 pounds
{faith + spirtuality}
-- finish reading one thousand gifts (while participating in the book club)
-- read 4 chapters of the New Testament every weekday morning (as feasible while reading above book)
{financial}
-- work with matt to map out the use of my bonus
-- cancel rhapsody & netflix (two inexpensive services that we just aren't really using)
{writing}
-- write four journal entries.
-- start the creativity boot camp workbook. carried over from february.

related posts:
goals for 2011
january goals and january end-of-month progress report
february goals and february end-of-month progress report

inspired by:
3 in 30, as presented by ap freewriting 101 and the tuckers take tennessee

goal update {february 2011}

i'm quite late in reporting on my february goals (which doesn't bode well on tackling march, but oh well). i will begin with a disclaimer that i knew my ability to accomplish much in february. hosting two parties at the end of the month meant a lot of free time was spent planning & prepping. my goals were a little overambitious, to say the least. i wish i had accomplished more but i'm trying not to beat myself up!

{organization}
-- help matt purge some a lot of his clothing nope :(
-- clean out the kitchen junk drawer nope :(
-- bring home 2 binders from work (to use as home management & recipe binders) yes

{time management}
do laundry at least twice a week. yes. i've done well with this. i've been doing it over the weekend and at least once during the week. i also like starting on it as soon as the workday is done on friday (schedules allowing). then, i will do it again on sunday which allows me to start the work week with a clean (laundry) slate.

{blog improvement}
-- begin making my way through the blog design class (not finish, just start) nope
-- create an "about the chronicles" page for the blog nope
in addition, i haven't been posting as often as i'd like...

{scrap studio}
-- clear off the floor!!! unfortunately this got worse instead of better (because of the parties).
-- order photobook of christmas 2010 photos nope

{weight loss}
-- do the elliptical machine (30 min) at least once a week  nope. i did well at the beginning of the month, but then slacked off.
-- eat out no more than one meal per week doubt it.
-- lose 6 more pounds yes (i think)

{faith + spirtuality}
-- read 4 chapters of the New Testament every weekday morning. in order to do the item below, this has to be pushed aside slightly. it's still a priority, but second to finishing the book.
-- begin participating in the one thousand gifts (by ann voskamp) book club  yes. i'm working on chapter 8 right now (of 11 total). in addition to reading, i've been watching the book club videos, reading the blog posts and journaling.   

{financial}
-- finish reading "debt free for life". yes.
-- start making bi-weekly mortgage payments. oops...forgot!

{writing}
-- write four journal entries. yes, because of the book club mentioned above, i've been journaling a lot more lately!!
-- start the creativity boot camp workbook. nope. again, took a backseat to the bookclub.

related posts:
goals for 2011
january goals and january end-of-month progress report
february goals

inspired by:
3 in 30, as presented by ap freewriting 101 and the tuckers take tennessee

dieting for dummies {3.13}

total weight loss: as of wednesday (my WW weigh-in day), i had lost 13. but over the weekend, i came in more like 12.

exercise:
as i mentioned last week, we recently purchased "singstar dance" for our PS3. both saturday and sunday of this weekend, i did about 45 minutes to an hour of dancing on this. coleman loves it and hops around with me. it's tons of fun and makes the time go by quickly. plus...i can sharpen up my routines and beat spencer the next time we play against one another (shhhh....don't tell).

tip: fruit & veggie prep
prior to joining weight watchers, i didn't eat many fruits or vegetables. it's nothing personal against the little guys - many of them are quite tasty - but i just didn't. that's probably been one of the best things that i've gained out of WW....an appreciation of the them. hopefully that will stick with me long past this diet.

however, i have learned one thing. the easiest way to eat fresh fruits & vegetables (for me) is to make sure i prepare them right away. when i get home from the grocery store, as part of putting the groceries away, i make sure to take the time to clean, chop, and package my fresh goodies. obviously some things don't require thing (like bananas). but things like strawberries, bell peppers, celery, etc....those do. i clean everything, and where appropriate i chop them into manageable sizes. then i usually put some in a plastic container to keep in my fridge at home. but i also put smaller portions in little ziploc baggies so that i can easily grab them before work in the morning. this one tiny step makes all the difference between whether i actually enjoy my yummy fruits & veggies or whether they go bad in my fridge, waiting on someone to grab them.

rewards:
i'm happy to report that i've been enjoying my newly expanded wardrobe. no, i did not go on a shopping spree. i'm actually able to comfortably fit into lots of clothes in my closet that have been in hibernation for a while. a long while. luckily, some of them are still relatively in style!
plus, when the temperature highs have a 20 degree swing in one day, it makes your wardrobe seem twice as large -- sweaters one day, t-shirts the next; boots & flip-flops all in the same week...gotta love spring in the south.

gifts {the bath}

i could've written...

~ the chance to take a nice, relaxing bubble bath

but instead i wrote...

~ opportunity for solace with an inspirational book
~ patience to repeat the important words
~ warm water over my skin
~ the flicker of candlelight against dark gray walls
~ iridescent bubbles covering my body
~ gentle, soft crackling of the suds, otherwise silence
~ cool wine against my lips
~ gentle heat in my cheeks, remnant of the sun

i will not pretend that i am able to stop and find the gifts at this level of detail often. i'm trying. and i have so far to go. but every so often, in the calm, in the quiet. i am able.

this list makes 300. in my trek to one thousand gifts.

 

story {clarity}

last night, i came home from work emotionally and mentally exhausted. i greeted spencer by biting his head off about something stupid. i was equal in my treatings to both matt and coleman. the only night this week that the four of us would be together and i was acting like a witch. we even kind of got lucky...2 1/2 hours on the baseball field for a scrimmage was cancelled due to rain. instead of finding the gift in that, i was grumpy & obnoxious.

i tried to humor spencer and start chatting with him. coleman was entertaining himself while hanging out on the kitchen counter, busting out everything in one of the cabinets. spencer knew something was up and not-so-subtly decided to entertain himself with my company and his inquiries. we talked about school. about tv. about his crazy brother. there were silly antics involving some of coleman's cabinet discoveries. and i told him about what was going on at work. and he listened. and discussed.

eventually he said "i'm glad you're in a better mood now." what a slap to the face. looking back i can't help but wonder if spencer intentionally set out to *fix* my mood. and how horrible it is of me to put him into that position. instead of focusing on the stresses of the work day, i should've been enjoying my family...the people that i hold most dear.

instead of walking through my front door happy and excited to finally be where i belong...i took my worries out on them. but spencer saw my flaws and worked me into a happier place. whether intentional or not, my attitude (and our evening together) was completely salvaged by the efforts of a twelve-year-old boy.

dieting for dummies {3.6}

total weight loss: as of this morning, i'm up to 12 pounds

struggles: party weekend
last weekend was tough for the weight watching. having parties in our home two days in a row lent itself to lots of nibbling. plus, to keep the house clean, we avoided cooking family meals. friday night, we went out to eat at a mexican restaurant (first time since the diet began!!!). saturday night we ordered pizza. see the problem??? ultimately, it was OK though. not every day can be perfect.

tip: find fun ways to exercise
we just purchased "singstar dance" for our PS3. doing a few of these dances is a blast and definitely counts as exercise!

tip: portion control
i've probably said this already but it's such an important element. when matt fixes burgers, now i only eat half of one and with no bun. and guess what...i don't feel hungry or cheated! so much of watching food intake is just eating a more reasonable amount. eat slowly, noticing when you start to feel full. don't eat just because it tastes good (i really stuggle with this at mexican restaurants!!!).

a few random thoughts:
~ i'm still feeling a little baffled that more of my clothes don't fit any longer. there are definitely a few pairs of pants that i can't wear, but many things are just fitting differently (which i guess is still good).
~ fat free half & half is a lifesaver for my coffee
~ technically at the 10-pound mark i could treat myself to a new piece of clothing. i did pick up a new st. patty's day t-shirt and a cute tank top. not very exciting, but that's ok.
~ for the first time in a long time, i saw the target swimsuit ad and didn't cringe. instead i thought "hmmm, in a month or two, it might actually be fun to go buy a new bathing suit!". crazy!

right now {catching up}

as you  may have noticed...i haven't been around much. i thought it'd take a few minutes to catch you up on my life as it is right now.

<> i am learning to live with allergies - something i have never had before. a couple of weeks of exhaustion, several days of sneezing & watery eyes that were previously foreign to me, combined with a couple of sleepless nights eventually led me to my doctor's door. one shot in the rear and two prescriptions later, life goes on!

<> as you know from my multiple postings, i am now the proud mother of a two-year-old. with that came lots of party planning over the last several weeks. and a house full of friends and family this past saturday.

<> on sunday, i hosted a bridal shower for matt's niece (yes, you read that correctly. two back-to-back parties at our home). lots more planning and decorating and another day full of guests.

<> four days later, matt and i are still trying to reclaim our home. we are getting there. slowly.

<> work has been insanely crazy. it's good crazy, but so ridiculously busy.

<> my mom has been suffering from some pretty severe back/shoulder pain lately. many doctor and hospital visits, tests and plenty of meds. she is trying to mend and we're happy to learn it's nothing super serious (though that doesn't make it any less painful for her).

<> i am three episodes behind on american idol. blasphemous, i know.

<> i am reading one thousand gifts and participating in the online book club. i was staying on track until last week. right now, i think i am two or so chapters behind. i'm ok with that. i'm really trying to take my time with the book, the videos, and my own personal journaling. i'd rather be behind than to rush through it. i've also started my own list, working my way to 1,000.

<> above mentioned book has taken over most of my morning quiet time. this means i have not made the desired progress in finishing up the Bible. though i wanted to stay on track with that, this book is good and it's not always feasible to devote the time during other parts of my day.

<> coleman has turned from an early riser to a ridiculously early riser. though there are still some days when he may not wake until 6:00 or 6:30, it has become all too common for him to wake anywhere from 4:45 to 5:15. there does not seem to be any correlation between his bedtime, medicines, etc. we are fresh out of ideas. this, too, is interferring with my morning readings.

<> we have had some beautiful spring weather during the last several weeks and we have been enjoying it immensely. this week is a bit chillier (highs in the 50s & 60s), but we will survive.

<> spencer's baseball season is in full swing. he is tackling both a travel ball team and a recreational team at the same time. he currently has practice 5 out of 7 days a week. matt and i think it's pretty insane, but we will see how he does.

so, there you have it... my life in a nutshell. no pictures. no fancy words. just life...

<> my *celebrate february* post is ready to go except for pictures

<> i'm really behind on my photo process. hope to work on it some over the weekend.

<> coming soon: my february goal progress and march goals.

<> since i missed *dieting for dummies* this week, i'll just play catch up on sunday.