Post A Day (full disclosure - I'm totally not planning on posting every day)

So, my friend Jenny (who totally inspired me with this post on running a 5K) is doing a post a day challenge for May. I thought it seemed pretty interesting, though we all know I couldn't do it. Partially because I post once every 3 months...and partially because if I started posting too much I'd probably get questions about my priorities seeing as I haven't finished the last book club book (ok - that's a lie...I'm like 7 books behind). THE POINT IS I'M STILL READING...

Anyway, some of the prompts still seemed interesting. So I thought I'd play the "Blog Every Day In May" - Or Just the Ones You Find Interesting Because You'd Hate To Over Commit Edition.

Anyway - the prompt for Tuesday (because if you aren't going to play the game correctly, you might as well just make up all of your own rules) was "The thing(s) you're most afraid of". Here is where you have the option of going serious, and emotional...or serious (and in my case) probably borderline crazy. I picked crazy.

I have two fears...ok - three fears that are probably less than rational...

1) Eyeballs. Ok, I don't actually fear eyeballs. Like, I don't think they are going to do anything to me...but I fear something happening to eyeballs. Mine or other peoples. I'm pretty sure the whole thing dates back to a story I heard in gun safety when I was in Jr. High (but seriously, how many people can pinpoint when they FIRST started fearing something?) The best part about a fear like this is you get a lot of phone calls saying "hey - if you go see this movie...close your eyes at this part"...and THAT is how you know who really cares about you.



2) Axe murderers. Pretty self-explanatory right? (Note: A GREAT idea for people who have an irrational fear of axe murderers is to watch EVERY EPISODE of Law and Order: SVU...because that isn't crazy at all). 

3) Snipers. I'd put this in the least likely bucket - except when the Republican National Convention was in town, I totally saw snipers on the roof of the buildings across the street from where I work. Which was pretty much terrifying. 

And now, because I realize this post made very little sense...I'm adding cute baby pictures. Because EVERYONE loves cute baby pictures...

It's All Fun And Games...

Until they start moving...

Seriously though, one month ago we could barely crawl, and now we can make it up the stairs. On the plus side, he seems to be entertained by throwing a ball and them chasing it...what a good independent player ;-)

Happy (late) 2013

I love New Year’s. It is an excuse to do a few of my favorite things: goal planning and list making. (I’m pretty wild and crazy). Generally I have the same few goals – I want to lose 5lbs, save lots of money, and cook more. At the end of the day, I generally end up in December in about the same place I was before. This discourages some people, but since I just love the planning portion (and obviously not the follow through), I’m pretty much unfazed.

This year, however, I feel more motivated. Motivated to choose a goal that will actually have an impact on my quality of life. Motivated to make it happen.

This year I want to check out (more) from technology.

Somehow my 6 month old is starting to understand my cell phone. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t something innate that he came out knowing, so I’m pretty sure it’s something he’s learning…and I’m guessing probably from me. I don’t want my son to think that I’ve got something more important going on (especially since I’m usually just playing Words with Friends or pinning items on Pinterest). I don’t want to miss what is going on right in front of me because I’m envying the lives of people on the internet. I’m tired of filling my time with things that don’t matter (television shows I don’t care about), and missing out on things that would actually add value to my day. Somehow I don’t have time to do the things I love (reading or painting) or the things that might help me distress after a rough day (a nice bath or yoga) but I’ve got the time to watch TV every night and check Facebook every hour. 

I don’t plan on totally dropping technology. I do enjoy reading blogs and catching up with friends on Facebook, but I want to be more strategic with how I’m spending my time. Because these first 6 months have already gone too fast, and I don’t think it will be slowing down any time soon.

 

Holiday Ideas House 2012

The Bachman's Holiday Ideas House is always one of my favorites. This year, the baby has been a really good sport about joining my mom and I as we walk through and take photos - dreaming of how to incorporate the look into our own homes. This year, he even "helped" take the photos...which meant that every photo had to be taken at least twice, and some still turned out to be a blurry mess. Oh well, he's cute :)

One of my favorite parts of the house this time was the built in spice rack. Super practical, so I'm not sure why I loved it so much, but I did!

I also loved the large mirrors over the couch. It made a huge statement, and the room looked WAY larger. I thought it was neat how the bottom row of mirrors actually start below the couch too. That's something I definitely wouldn't have thought of.

The master bedroom had a really romantic feel. The dresser isn't really my style, but there were a lot of the other details that I could see trying to work into my house. I especially loved the mirrors above the dresser (I guess that might be a theme) and the winter Christmas trees.

I was also loving the use of music on the walls, and the music note wrapped candles. I'm not sure how practical it would be to cover the walls with paper, but it is a fun look :)

Finally, the game room had a more cabin vibe. It isn't quite a look that would work at my house, but it did remind me a lot of my in laws. It also made me want to utilize more storage baskets!    

  

I also liked that the TV was hidden behind a framed photo. Not only does it hide a rather ugly TV, but it also lets your wall space do double duty, which would be helpful in some of my rooms where wall space is at a minimum.

 As always, the Ideas House is full of fun inspiration, and while not all of it would work in any one house, it gets you thinking! I also liked that they decorated more than just the main rooms for the holidays, which is something I never do. Maybe next year I'll add a little more Christmas to the rest of my house...though that might be a stretch.

Still Working On It...

I think this may be the latest in December that the tree hasn't been decorated...but I think I have a cute excuse...

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas

I had to leave out the "a lot", because that would be a lie, but at least we'd have somewhere to put the presents in the event that this is as far as we get!

A Birthday Reflection

One year ago today my life looked very different. Brandon and I had been in our new house for a few months. We didn't know we were pregnant yet, but I avoided alcohol just in case.

About a week later we would find out that we would be having a baby...and that this year would be life changing.

And it was, but not only in the ways I expected. This year I lost my best friend. It was unexpected, and the hardest thing I have ever been through.

A few months later I would give birth to my son. I never knew how much one event would change me. I've turned into a nervous nut :-)

In the next year I am looking forward to enjoying my little family and every day  that I'm given.