Random Thursday and a Vlog?

 

 

First of all, has anyone watched The Carrie Diaries?  We watched the premiere the other night and I love it!  The girl who plays young Carrie is perfect.  The other show Ryan and I are watching obsessively is the Joe Schmo show on Spike where they set up a whole fake reality show for one unsuspecting guy who thinks it's all real.  The psych major in me finds it fascinating. If you don't watch it, start!  Ryan is also pushing really hard for me to start watching the Bachelor, but I just don't think I can bring myself to go there.

 

So I decided to try a vlog for the Random Thursday prompt. I love a good link up and this one seems like fun. 

 



 

Ta-DA!

 

  

Please forgive the rough editing and Darth-Vader-like heavy breathing of my cameraman.  I'm a total n00b when it comes to videoblogging but it was fun, and I might try it again!  Hopefully next time I can relax a bit.  This felt overly formal.

And shout out to the girls who run the link up. I e-mailed back and forth a few times with Lin and she was so nice.

What random things do you keep in your bag?

New year, new goals

So with the new year, I have been thinking of what goals and tasks I have accomplished last year, and where I would like the see myself in the years that are coming up.

I have seen this floating around the blog-o-sphere and I decided, in the spirit of goal-setting, to write my own.  This isn't a "bucket list" of major things to accomplish before I die, but I thoughtful list of things I can change, and habits I can form in the next few years that would improve my life.

There are more details on this website.  Here is a little bit about the project from their website:

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

              

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.

 

Start date: January 6, 2013

 

End Date: October 4, 2015

 

DOMESTIC GODDESS

1.       Sew a baby quilt

2.       Can something

3.       Cook a turkey

4.       Purchase art from a local artist

5.       Compile favorite recipes into a book or binder

6.       Update 72 hour kits

7.       At least once a month cook a nice Sunday dinner.

8.       Host a holiday meal for family.

9.       Try 50 new recipes.

10.   Keep re-useable grocery bags in my trunk and use them for a month straight.

11.   Learn to eat with chopsticks.

12.   Get a professional family portrait taken.

13.   Start an herb garden.

14.   Buy a car that can fit all of the kids.

15.   Befriend the neighbors.  Be more social with people who live near us.

16.   Have a dinner party with friends.

17.   Learn to make some freezer meals.

18.   Use organic/natural/homemade cleaning products in my home.

19.   Get an allowance/chore chart system together and actually stick with it for at least a year.

HOUSE

20.   Repaint the powder room

21.   Turn the front bedroom into a nursery

22.   Put a ceiling fan in Isaac’s room

23.   Finish basement

24.   Paint and decorate the master  bedroom

25.   Pour a patio out back.

26.   Get/make an outdoor firepit.

27.   Have carpets professionally steam cleaned.

28.   Organize and display Ryan’s memorabilia.

29.   Get a grill.

30.   Get a stand alone freezer for the garage.

PERSONAL

31.   Find a great shade of red lipstick and feel confident wearing it.

32.   Invest in great fitting undergarments.

33.   Read 50 books

34.   Read Les Miserables (can count for 32)

35.   Blow dry my hair every day for a week

36.   Go totally blond again (for a short time, not necessarily indefinitely)

37.   Try being a redhead.

38.   Pay off all credit card debt

39.   Get an “emergency fund” together (amount to be determined later).

40.   Blog every day for a month

41.   Movie theater marathon: three movies in one day

42.   Take a cooking class with Ryan

43.   Take a self defense class

44.   Send a secret to PostSecret

45.   Unsubscribe myself from all e-mails that clutter my inbox and blogs that clutter my reader

46.   Learn how to tie a tie.

47.   Take a picture in the same place in all four seasons.

48.   Give away at least 20 cards as gifts.

49.   Purchase a web domain for my blog/cards.

50.   Seriously try to bite my nails less.

51.   Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Ryan.

FITNESS/HEALTH

52.   Try a spin class.

53.   Give up soda for a month

54.   Log my food intake for 30 straight days.

55.   For a week eat all of the recommended servings of vegetables.

56.   Do a family fitness class at the YMCA.

57.   Ride my bike to work at least 1 time.

58.   Try a pilates class.

59.   Try a hydro-aerobics class.

60.   Stay up to date with dermatologist appointments.

61.   Get a physical.

62.   Go to the eye doctor.

63.   Spend a weekend “unplugged”

PROFESSIONAL

64.   Get level 2 certificate

65.   Finish elementary ed certification

66.   Finish REAP application

TRAVEL/CULTURE

67.   Renew my passport

68.   Go on Steel Force with Ryan

69.   Visit the MOMA in New York

70.   Take the kids camping at least 3 times

71.   Go to a drive in theater

72.   Attend 5 plays or musicals

73.   Take a trip to California

74.   Go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

75.   Go to the Storming of the Bastille in Philly

76.   Do a Ride the Ducks tour in Philadelphia

77.   Take the kids to the Baltimore Aquarium

78.   Take the kids to New York City

79.   Go to Niagara Falls

80.   Go to the Smithsonian 3 times

81.   Visit ten other museums

82.   Try White Castle

83.   Try Brunish’s

84.   Go to a rally or protest in DC.

85.   Send postcards to friends/family from our travels.

86.   Go to a drag show.

87.   Attend a film festival in Philly.

88.    Go to a mudsale in Lancaster.

89.   Go to the auction with Selena.

90.   Go to Longwood Gardens

91.   Go to a live taping of a TV show.

92.   Take the kids snow tubing.

93.   Watch 5 football games with Ryan without complaining.

LOOKING OUTWARD

94.   Pay for the person in the car behind me at Dunkin Donuts

95.   Leave a 100% tip

96.   Send at least 50 cards to friends and family

97.   Do something for a charity as a family

98.   Do a Clusters meal

99.   Participate in a benefit walk/run

100.    Find a way to volunteer in Isaac’s school/classroom

101.    Send my mother and mother in law flowers for no particular reason.


I will be updating this page (see my sidebar) and blogging about things along the way.

 

 Wish me luck!

         

WIWW

I used to occasionally post in outfit link ups.  Not because I think I am terribly stylish, or that anyone should be interested in my outfits.   Participating in these posts makes me think about my outfit and try to do something a little more creative than simply throwing on a solid colored top and a pair of black trousers which is what I would be inclined to do. 

This link up is for the trend "stripes".  I have lots of things that are striped, but I couldn't resist picking up this shirt when I was shopping at the GAP outlet over the weekend.  Since I have put on so much weight (kind of the opposite of what you are supposed to be doing as you approach your wedding) I bought the shirt one size bigger than usual.   Now, looking at this pictures, I wish I wouldn't have.  It looks a little maternity-esque and that is never a look anyone goes for.

 

 



Classic deer in the headlights iphone in the work bathroom mirror post.... 

 

Classic have your kid quick take a picture of you before you leave for work picture...

 

I busted out some blue fishnets to add a little interest.  My school is pretty liberal with the business casual dresscode, but I have never seen a teacher wear fishnets before.  I thought I pulled them off though.

 

 

Outfit details

shirt- Gap outlet

scarf - ? Christmas present from my mom

cargo skirt - Old Navy

fishnets - Target (old)

boots - Kohl's

Linking up with Marionberry and The Pleated Poppy

This boy...

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later...

My rough and tumble little man has been sporting this splint on his thumb after a skate board mishap.  It was adorably tragic after the doctor told him not to play sports for a few days.  He was like, "Mom, that is really hard for a kid like me."

He also finally lost that wiggly top tooth.  He decided he was ready for it to go, so he packed himself an apple for a snack and that helped it along.

This is what I found when I went in to wake him up this morning.  He loves his new Jordan's so much he slept in them last night (with his pajamas).   

Happy Monday all! 

Yeah 2013!

Isn't that great?

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

I love reflecting on the last year and thinking about where I am heading next.  2012 was an incredible year that brought many exciting changes to my life.  I will probably be writing more about plans and goals later.

I started 2013 off by donating all of the "stuff" we worked so hard to purge from every nook and cranny of this house. 

On the way home from my parents house, we stopped by the Leola ReUzIt shop.  We filled up one whole bin with our donations!  It's such a nice cheery feeling thinking about people actually enjoying and  using our things.  And of course, the best part is I am thrilled to be purging clutter from the house.

More Christmas!

These pictures are courtesy of my sister Jennifer! She and Drew have been in town for several weeks and it has been so fun.

Isaac has an obsession with sports and fitness. Everyone enjoyed coming up with crazy excercises for Isaac to do. Here he is laughing his way through some wall sits.

 

 

He also got out the shovel and helped clear the driveway of snow on Christmas Eve.

As a Christmas present they took Isaac out for a day.  They started out with breakfast at the Waffle House.

 

 

Then they took him to a rock gym!

He is rocking his new Christmas clothes and hat.

 

 

They said he got a little nervous when he looked down and saw how far up the wall he had climbed, but overall, he did great.

 

 

Thanks Drew and Jen for a great Christmas present!

 

Favorite Holiday

We had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you did too.  Ryan, Isaac and I spent Christmas Eve with my family.  Jenny and Drew have been here for several weeks and Joe slept over.  Tom and Kelly Ann joined us later during the day on Christmas.

My mom has so many fun Christmas decorations.  She collects Nativities and has tons of them.  It is always comforting to go home and see all of the familiar holiday decorations.  Here are a small sampling of her collection.

Christmas Eve was a low key night.  We were going to do the light show at Hershey, but there was actually too much snow falling.  We set off but turned around after a few miles, since the roads were quite slippery.

Isaac did a great job waiting until 7:00 until her got up (despite a false alarm when he misread the clock at 1:00 in the morning). Isaac got me so many thoughtful presents and it was adorable because he could barely wait to give them to me.  I had to beg him to wait until Christmas.  This stamped coaster was my favorite gift from him:

 

Isaac made himself photographer for a while and here are the blurry results:

Ryan liked all of his gifts, but especially his tortilla pan set:

My parents got us a zoo membership and Ryan got me the Up fitness band, a beautiful pearl necklace and a bunch of Lush products.  Isaac was spoiled with helmets, jerseys, sports posters, and books. 

I also forgot to take pictures, but a few days after Christmas we had Ryan's kids over to open their presents from us.  His kids surprised me and Isaac with really sweet, thoughtful presents.  Ryan's parents and sister Katherine ended up dropping by and then later on his brother and his wife Patrick stopped by.  Patrick's present to Ryan was converting some hilarious home movies from VHS to DVD.  Ryan's siblings and cousins put together some hilarious "mystery" movies complete with soundtracks and previews.  We watched the movies together and it was HILARIOUS.  It was a really fun night with his family.

We are so lucky and so blessed!  Merry Christmas!!