New patio set

We finally got a small patio set this weekend which is something we've wanted for a while! We waited and this set went on mega clearance and we also got Todd's discount so it was an awesome deal! Finally a place to sit and relax in the evenings or while the kiddo plays outside. I wasn't originally thinking I would want something with much color but I really like the blue!



30 by 30...revisions and updates.

I started my '30 by 30' list back in either 2008 or early 2009.  I will be honest and say I haven't done much on the list yet.  So, my executive decision is to remove some of the goals and replace them with others because some of them are either not physically or financially possible. 


Anyway, here is the original list and some of the updates to it.  At the end of the list, I will note which ones I am removing and what I am adding and come up with my new list.  I really would like to accomplish as many of these as possible by October 23, 2012, my 30th birthday!


The original text/goals are in BLACK.  The previous updates to the goals are in BLUE and the most current updates are in RED.


Here goes:

1. Get a tattoo. Still want to do this one.
2. Lose 30 pounds - On my way. I am down about 10 or 11 pounds. I actually did this last year but have gained some back - time to get back to it! 7/11 update - still down about 20 overall from this goal, but would like to get to my goal weight, which is about 25-28 pounds down from where I am now.  Need a plan.
3. Scrapbook my son's first year of life - Doing ok on this, need to catch up though. Still need to finish this! 7/11 - Ugh.  Still not done!  Have a plan for this one though.  My kid is 2 1/2!
4. Go on a hiking trip. I think we will do this soon now that we live in Colorado! Yay!  One that we have done!  We went hiking earlier this year.  It wasn't a super long trip but it was a couple of hours!  I would like to go on more hiking trips and I think we will.
5. Get family pictures taken - plan on doing this when Xander turns 1. Booo. I never did this but had scheduled this last fall and then we moved before our appointment. Soon. 7/11 - We haven't had a single professional family picture since our son was born, but this is a top priority for me, especially by Christmas this year.
6. Start playing piano again. Not yet, but want to buy a piano for our new house. 7/11 - Still haven't done this but we have no place for a piano in our new house, so I was thinking about getting a keyboard.  We'll see.
7. Start swimming again. Still haven't started this, not sure if I will since we are in a contract with a gym that doesn't have a pool.
8. Do another scrapbook of some sort besides Xander's baby scrapbook - also working on this. I've started a few but need to finish these. I plan to once we move into our house. 7/11 - Still haven't done this, but am motivated to do start/finish.
9. Visit two states that I haven't been to yet.  Haven't done this yet, but we want to go to Vegas this fall so that would be one state we haven't been to.  We also want to visit New Mexico or Arizona in the next year.
10. Be able to run 3 miles without stopping. I got close back in 2009 but gotten back into running for a while.  7/11 - Haven't attempted this again.  Thinking about dropping this goal.
11. Read at least 25 of these novels.  I realized this link doesn't even exist anymore, so will try to find the list, but I think I have read one or two of these so far.
12. Have my A1C level below 6.5 for 1 straight year.  Haven't done this to date, but am on my way.  Working on taking better care of myself.  I think I will up the goal to 7.0 or lower since that is more realistic.
13. Have our second child if we decide to have another. Probably not going to happen before 30 but who knows!  7/11 - Won't happen before I am 30 unless it is a 'surprise' more than likely, if at all.
14. Have at least one car that is paid off.  Hmmm, sad to say, but this won't happen either.
15. Travel overseas, preferably to France/Spain. Also won't happen unless something dramatic happens with our finances.  That's ok though.  This can be a longer term goal.
16. Have made at least one cake with fondant and be able to say it turned out well.  I'm going to scrap this one from the list since I just don't care about it that much.
17. Win a photo hunt contest like this one. Just one picture needs to win for me to be happy!  No winning here, but had a picture or two chosen of mine that were in the top 5.  Not sure if I will continue with these but I do like to take pictures and want to get better at it.
18. Sew at least one article of clothing from scratch.  Also scrapping this one since I don't have the time and just don't care that much to do this.
19. Have hair longer than my shoulder for once in the last 10 years! Yay!! I did this one - and recently chopped it all off!  Growing my hair out again now so unless I chop it off again, it should be longer again soon.haven't
20. Go to a pro football game.  Planning on it this fall now that we live in a city with a pro team.
21. Go to a pro basketball game.  Also planning on this since we live in a city with a pro team.
22. Go to a pro hockey game.  See response to last two.  Also planning on it.23. Run a half marathon.  Thinking of scrapping this one.  Not sure this is realistic with my work schedule.
24. Pass my series 53 test. Woohoo!  Done as of February 2011.  Maybe my next goal is to get my 4 or 3/31.
25. Go back to college (as to when I finish, that is up in the air). No progress here.
26. Get invisalign (have wanted this for years).  No progress either, but there have been more serious talks about this, so a good possibility.
27. Hike a 14er (not to be confused with my general goal of going on a hiking trip).  We have talked about this recently and want to work on getting in better shape so we can hike one this year still.
28. Go to Las Vegas.  Planning on going this fall.
29. Have my home fully decorated (so I don't feel like there are any rooms unfinished).  Well, since we moved into a new house since I started this list, it might be harder since decorating costs money, but we already have a couple of rooms done.  I would like to stick with this goal though.
30. Crochet something that looks good.  Again, don't care that much about this one so will scrap it.


So there you have it.  I am going to list the goals that I am getting rid of and any I am modifying as well as adding new goals and then I will make the new list again at the bottom.


Modifying #12.  I don't think being under 6.5 for my A1C is all that realistic for me, especially since I am so high right now.  I think 7 is a more realistic goal.


The goals I am scrapping are #'s 7,13,14,15,16,17,18,23 and 30.  I am going to make some new goals and number them with the above numbers for the goals I removed.


New #7 - Take photography 'lessons' online.  To me this means doing a ton of research and watching videos to get much better at taking pictures and also editing them.


New #13 - Organize my office and get a new desk/hutch.  Our office is a mess and I want to get it organized once and for all and have filing cabinets and to have a place for everything.  We also have a glass top desk and that is just not working anymore.  Time for a wooden desk.


New #14 - Get through a full round of P90X.  I did pretty well with this last year but want to start doing it again.  I feel awesome when I do these workouts and want to make it through one full round, even if I don't follow the nutrition to a T. 


New #15 - Get an insulin pump.  I am on my way to doing this.  I have awesome insurance that pays for most of it and my doctor wants me working on taking better care of myself first and after a few months, if I am doing well, he will recommend I get one.  I have to admit I am nervous about getting one and using it, but I know once I get going I won't want to go back.

New #16 - Try out a digital scrapbook.  You upload your pictures online and choose pre-made backgrounds and then add you pictures to the pages, place your order and the company prints the pages for you and you assemble the book when they are shipped to you.  I think this would be an easier, guilt free way for me to document some pictures and some of our life.

New #17 - Create a slide show of pictures for Xander's third birthday.  I know we probably won't have anyone come out here for Xander's third birthday but I still want to document the first three years of his life in a nice way and save it on our computer so we can look at it from time to time.  I am sure I will post it on here as well.

New #18 - Do one other fun activity that I haven't done before or in quite a while.  I haven't determined what it will be yet, but something like riding horses or white water rafting, riding a gondola or going skiing or tubing at a ski resort.  Something fun with good memories.

New #23 - Go on a roller coaster again.  I don't think I have been on one since high school and I love them!  Now we live in a city with a major theme park so this shouldn't be too hard.

New #30 - Visit a winery here in Colorado.  This will be harder now that we have a child, but we had so much fun in Napa that I am sure we would love doing this!


So here is the new list, all put together.  It will be marked in blue if it is completely done.  If it is in progress, partially done or not done at all, it will be normal text.

1. Get a tattoo.
2. Lose 30 pounds.
3. Scrapbook my son's first year of life.
4. Go on a hiking trip.
5. Get family pictures taken.
6. Start playing piano again.
7. Take photography 'lessons' online.  To me this means doing a ton of research and watching videos to get much better at taking pictures and also editing them.
8. Do another scrapbook of some sort besides Xander's baby scrapbook.
9. Visit two states that I haven't been to yet. 
10. Be able to run 3 miles without stopping.
11. Read at least 25 classic novels. 
12. Have my A1C level below 7.0 for 1 straight year. 
13. Organize my office and get a new desk/hutch. 
14. Get through a full round of P90X. 
15. Get an insulin pump. 
16. Try out a digital scrapbook. 
17. Create a slide show of pictures for Xander's third birthday. 
18. Do one other fun activity that I haven't done before or in quite a while.  I haven't determined what it will be yet, but something like riding horses or white water rafting, riding a gondola or going skiing or tubing at a ski resort.  Something fun with good memories.
19. Have hair longer than my shoulder for once in the last 10 years!
20. Go to a pro football game. 
21. Go to a pro basketball game. 
22. Go to a pro hockey game. 
23. Go on a roller coaster again. 
24. Pass my series 4 test.
25. Go back to college (as to when I finish, that is up in the air).
26. Get invisalign.
27. Hike a 14er (not to be confused with my general goal of going on a hiking trip). 
28. Go to Las Vegas. 
29. Have my home fully decorated (so I don't feel like there are any rooms unfinished). 
30. Visit a winery here in Colorado. 

Why can't I do what I want to do?

The short answer is probably because I have no idea what I want to do!

This applies to several areas in my life.  My job, my exercise routine, my hobbies.  I know, right?  Who doesn't know what hobbies they like/want to have?  Me.  Well that's not entirely true.  It's because I love to do several different things but either don't have the time, money or energy to do them as much as I would like. 

I love taking pictures but don't have a lot of time to work on photo shop or different techniques.  I don't have the money for better equipment either, though the camera we have is not too shabby. 

I love to scrapbook but am not that good at it yet and don't have much time for it either.  Plus it can get expensive.

I used to like to exercise but again, feel like I have no time and also feel like I lack the energy most of the time.

Also, I used to play the piano.  But we don't own one, don't really have room for one and also don't really have the money to buy a nice one.

Then there's my job.

I do really like my job but cannot see having an hour and ten minute commute each way, every day for the rest of my life or at least even a few more years.  I really want something closer to home or if it can't be closer to home, something that pays more.  Haha.  Not trying to sound greedy but I guess I feel like if I was paid more, I could excuse the fact that I have so little time at home every weekday a little bit.

I don't know what I want.  I've considered going back to school and getting a degree for what I do now, or for teaching, or for something in the medical field, or to be a lawyer.  I feel like I am 18 and have no idea what to do with my life or what I want to be 'when I grow up'.  Problem is, I am 28, nearly 29 and still don't know.  I feel a little pathetic but also realize I have a lot of years left or working, so even if I wanted to switch careers now, if it is only 4 years until I have a degree or even 5, I still would have a lot of good years left of working and earning potential.

Why are these decisions so hard?  I think I keep putting off a decision because I am a little paralyzed with fear.  I think I am afraid that if I get a degree, I will be locked into one thing and what if I end up hating it?  I will have wasted all of that money on nothing!  I also want to get a job where I feel like the college degree was worth it monetarily.  I don't want to spend $60,000 on college for a $30,000/year job because I make more than that now.  Not trying to sound snotty, but at least to me that wouldn't be worth it.

I also considered quitting my job to become a classroom aid (para) at a school and make hardly anything for the chance to have summers off every year and spend a lot more time with my son.  I would also have some time off at Christmas and various other holidays throughout the year.  I wouldn't make a lot but it would be awesome to have that much time off.  I thought about doing that and working on a teaching degree at the same time so I could eventually be a teacher and still have the same hours but at least make a little more.

I have never had a serious conversation with Todd about this but need to because what I do affects him too.  If I decide to go back to school, that's great, but that will likely require student loans and more debt obligations.  If I downgrade the job, we will have less income.  We need to make a decision as to what will be the best thing for us in the long run.  I have to remember to look at this long term and not short term.  Even though a lot of things would change in the short term, the long term outcome of such decisions could be very different depending on what I choose.

So, I suppose it is time to finally choose.  I can choose to go back to school.  I can choose to stay where I am and try to keep working my way up (which has worked well for me so far, but I'm afraid a cap on my success is coming soon without a degree) or I can go for the para job and do nothing else, or go back to school at the same time.  I can choose to change career fields not including teaching.  I just don't know.

Ok, that was a lot of ranting for nothing really.  It didn't help me make a choice, just helped me feel better about not having made one yet by letting it all out.

I think if I don't make a decision by the end of this year, I will give myself a deadline of very early next year.

That's all.  Thanks for reading.  :)

Happy 4th and my to do list.

Happy Independence Day!  Today I am thankful for the freedom we have in this country that we often take for granted.  I am free to write this post because I live in America and because we have fought hard for our freedom.  And freedom isn't free.

Hope everyone has a safe and fun day!

As far as my holiday and to do list, here is the breakdown:

We went and saw fireworks last night.  It was so fun to see Xander so excited to see the fireworks.  That's probably the only major fireworks we will see, but it was a good show and free!

We aren't doing much today because Todd has to work.  I think tonight once he gets home we are going to do our little bit of fireworks on the back patio for Xander and just relax. 

In the mean time, I have a ton of cleaning and laundry to do today.  I'm also finally going to order pictures for scrapbooks that I have been putting off for months. 

Tomorrow I took the day off of work, but it won't be that fun because I have to go get my drivers license in the morning and go to the doctor in the afternoon.  In the middle of the day I think I will run a few errands.  I need to return a couple of items and even though I went to the store yesterday, I forgot a few items so I am going to have to go back.  I also need to return a broken fishing pole.  Todd bought me one and the first day we used it, it stopped working.

I am hoping to get a lot done today so I don't have as much to do tomorrow.  At least I have a super short work week this week and Todd's parents come this weekend along with our two nephews that they are watching and we have a couple of awesome things planned for this coming weekend.  I think we are going to Colorado Springs to Garden of the Gods and maybe the Royal Gorge, then the next day we are probably headed to Estes Park or maybe Rocky Mountain National Park.  Either way, it will be awesome since those are places I have wanted to go since we moved here.

Looking forward to the next two days and the coming weekend!

Today's plan

So I am going to try to fill this weekend with a combo of fun and productive activities since I have four days off and don't want to waste the whole weekend doing nothing.

Today I have done nothing so far which is fine with me but I am about to start on some stuff.  Xander let me sleep until 8:30 this morning so that was great!  It felt awesome and made me rested to help me get through the day and that also tends to make me in a better mood throughout the day.

So here is the plan for the rest of the day and for the other three days this 'weekend'.

Today

-Go outside with X in a few minutes with lots of sunscreen to let him swim in his pool/play at his water table and get some sun for myself.

-Sort and file coupons.  My coupon file is out of control and out of date so this needs to be done.

-Talk to Todd about a schedule for the weekend and possibly when to go test drive some cars (we think we may get a new one soon).

-Fireworks show tonight? Depends on how Todd feels after work and we may end up doing this tomorrow night.

-Vacuum upstairs.

-Give X a bath.

-Clean up the living room.


And for the rest of the weekend:

-See a fireworks show for Xander.

-Let Xander swim at least one other time.

-Do other cleaning around the house/laundry.

-Light off the few fireworks we bought for Xander.

-Return a couple of items and pick up a few sale items at the store.

-Make a to-do list of stuff I have been putting off.

-Start cleaning up the office (Todd's parents are visiting next week and it's a mess).

-Clean our room/Xander's room.

-Do at least one other fun activity with Xander.

-Tuesday I have to get my drivers license and I have a doctor's appointment in the afternoon.

-Exercise at least 3 of the 4 days I have off.

-Find my favorite swimsuit....I haven't been able to locate it, so off I go to look for it!

A little road trip

So me, the hubs and the kiddo are headed to Nebraska this weekend for two things.  To see my best friends new baby and to visit with family.

It is going to be a short one.  Drive out this afternoon, get in about midnight, spend tomorrow with family/my friend and then drive back Sunday.

It will be a super short trip, but is still one I'm really looking forward to!  I love seeing tiny babies and can't wait to meet this one!  Also, we moved here to Colorado just over 6 months ago and I haven't seen any of my siblings since January.  I miss them!

Should be fun and tiring.  Can't wait!

A product review - mascara

Ok so no one really reads this anyway, but I do love to write about things I love!

I have this mascara right now that I just love, and even better, I got it for free!

It is Lorac Multiplex 3D Lashes mascara.

Here is the link to it - http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P280403&categoryId=B70

This is awesome mascara and I have never been a loyal mascara user for any brand or type because I have never found 'the perfect one'. 

Maybe I am weird as I know most people find a product and stick with it but I actually like to try new mascara's (except when they turn out to be crap).  :)

Chai Tea Obsession

So my newest thing is chai tea, and if it's from Starbucks, then all the better.

I decided I am going to try to make some at home to try and save money so we will see how that goes.  I have looked up recipes online and a lot of people say to use vanilla soy or almond milk with the tea to give it the perfect sweetness.

I think I am going to go ahead and order some and try it out instead of my $4 a day habit at the coffee shop.  We will see how it tastes!

30 day challenge

I know, these type of things are usually boring to read about, but this is for myself and my family, no one else. 

My 30 day challenge is this - no buying any clothes or shoes or accessories for me or my kiddo.  We need NOTHING!  I sometimes forget that we live in this country that is so blessed and we have way more than we will ever need when it comes to clothes and shoes and such.  We are rich compared to the rest of the world and I am a serial shopper.  It's not that I spend a fortune on stuff - I don't.  I am a bargain shopper through and through.  I hate spending more than about $10 on shirts/sweaters and also any more than that on shoes for me.  For my kid, I hate to spend more than about $6 on tops and $8 on pants/shorts.  Shoes for kids seem to be harder to find deep discounts for so if I can find shoes for him under $15 that are the color and size I need, I consider that reasonable.

Anyway, we both have an abundance of clothes and other 'stuff'.  I always give in to a bargain and have an overflowing closet because of it (and so does Xander).  Again, I don't need anything! We are blessed beyond measure!

I am hoping this will help teach me a lesson in contentment.  I have more than enough and need to be happy with what I have.

I will still buy food and any household items needed (dish soap, trash bags, etc.) and a few things that we need for our house in general since we just moved in, but I won't buy extra stuff that is not on a previous list just because it was a good deal.  Also, I cannot speak for my husband.  I will try to get him on the bandwagon but I cannot guarantee he won't buy anything and he buys far less than me anyway so I can't say he is the worst offender in our house!  :)

I think this will also help me practice the 'think about it' principle.  They always say that any time you want to buy something, you should wait and think about it for a week or more to make sure you still want it as bad as you thought you did and also to research the best price.  I bet if I think I have to have a sweater or some shoes or anything else and leave it in the store to think about, I won't end up wanting it so bad after all. 

My personal challenge starts today and I'm sure it will be hard since all the cute new spring clothes are coming out for me and for the kiddo. 

If there is something I am dying to have, maybe I will post it on here to get it out of my head and then see how it goes.  Wish me luck!

I've Lost It!!!!

I can't believe I lost my last blogger account!

I had a blog already - you can check it out here- http://123vests.blogspot.com/

I know that my password was correct and also my security question, but the stupid system says that it is wrong and that they can't identify me and since it is a free service, there is no way you can get help from Google or anyone that works for them.  I have tried filling out the form to get access back several times but it keeps saying they can't identify me.  I almost wonder if someone hacked my account, but nothing else weird has shown up in that regards.

So frustrating.

Anyway, I went ahead and chose a new title for my blog since my last one is still taken.  :(  I wonder if it will sit out there forever or if they shut it down after a while.

It will take a while to get my new blog to where I want it to be as far as pictures and links and other stuff.

I chose this new name, not because we travel or move around a lot, but because that is my mind constantly.  It is all over the map.  I jump from one thing to another, from one thought or idea to another, all without hesitation.  I am a random person by nature and I just can't apologize for it!

I have so many things I could write about.

I look at losing my last blog as a chance to start fresh.  I am going to cover a variety of topics that interest or affect me instead of just general info about me (which I am sure is somewhat boring).

Here are things I want to talk about:

-Parenting and all the fun that comes with it!

-My diabetes - not just about it in general (cause that's just boring) but how I want to work to be healthier.

-My weight.  Always a struggle and if I am accountable and write things down, maybe I can stick with doing something about it.

-My family life.  The dynamic with all three of us and including our extended family.

-Scrapbooking and/or crafts.  I haven't worked on this in months and want to get back to it.
-Work life - while keeping it vague as to not get in trouble!  :)

-Money.  Goals, accomplishments in paying certain things off.  We are ok with money but need to be better.

-Random thoughts in my head (which is what this blog is all about anyway).

-Love and my relationship with my husband.

-Pictures.  I have gotten really bad about taking them and am going to start again soon.  I like to tell a story with them and I need to take more artistic pictures besides just the usual family ones.

-Product reviews.  I am a dork but I love to mention stuff that I love or even sometimes that I hate.

-Anything else I choose to write about.  Hey, it is my blog right?  I will write about whatever, whenever cause that's the way I roll (or something).

Ta ta for now!