I'm Dreaming Of A White... Sweater

Living up here in the "Great Northwest" has it's challenges. For example the cold seems to seep into your very soul thanks to humidity. I know everyone from Utah is going "It gets cold here too!" But folks it's not the same! I am sorry but it's not. Now you East coasters probably can say "I hear ya!" So this is what I am imagining and dreaming of while I am all wrapped up in a blanket and waiting for the temperature to go up (btw my house is set at 73 because I am tired of always being cold). *Note: In my dream the boots would be gray and I'd have cream colored thermals under the pants!*

Warm & Toasty by learningranch featuring gap sweaters

It's What Time!?! And You're Still Awake!!!

I am sure all parents have said that to their children but how often do we have to say it to ourselves? Well I do. I have insomnia and pretty sure it's chronic too since I have had sleeping issues since I was a kid. (I know I am a whole heaping of weird!) So here I am in the middle of the night blogging! (I must be devoted!)
Why can't I sleep? Good question. Some times I feel like God forgot to give my brain an off switch. My mind goes over anything and everything (this is one time being self-aware does NOT pay off). I think all I need to do, want to, have done, hope to do, am afraid to do, wish I could do... Well you get the picture. So why am I blogging all this? What can you take away from all this? Well hopefully you can think "I am so glad I am not her and sleep like a log!" Or maybe you can say "Hey I am not alone! Here is someone else who is secretly a superhero with amazing amounts of energy waiting to be tapped into when the world is in crisis!"
And before I get a million comments (slight exaggeration) on how I can get sleep, here are things I have tried and do use;

• Tylenol PM (I hate taking it though due to the Tylenol but it works!)
• Visualization (Thinking of a relaxing spot and visualizing it)
• Ambien (I didn't do well with it and probably spelled it wrong)
• Trazadone (I REALLY didn't do well with it and had every side affect not considered a allergic reaction)
• Relaxation (Relaxing every part of your body)
• Hot shower
• Hot bath (Along with lavender bath scent)
• No caffeine
• Getting out of bed and doing something else (Doing that right now!!!)
• Making lists of everything in my head
• Visually "wiping out my brain thoughts" (Brain thoughts? Oh boy lack of sleep is becoming apparent)

So just a few things! Oh I forgot to mention I have been to see a professional sleep person doctor thing... She told me I had all the tools and not more she could do for me. And what is there to take when the only thing that works is Tylenol PM? Plus I am on night duty with a baby. I am not discouraged or even frustrated by not being able to sleep. Maybe it's the lack of sleep or maybe I just have not known what it is like to be able to sleep at night at a decent hour like a normal human being. Who knows? I do know there are lots of others out there like myself who don't sleep for one reason or another. And I bet they are reading this in the middle of the night while counting the hours down till they figure they can wiggle some sleep in. Hopefully this will at least entertain you and maybe give you an idea you haven't tried.
Bytheway, when does the greeting go from Good Night to Good Morning? It's 2 AM. Just some food for thought.

What's For Dinner

I hear at least once a day (from my hubby) "What's for dinner?" So I figured I'd share a couple tips about menu planning. (Writing this since I need to menu plan anyways.) So let's get started!
First I think everyone has to find their own style or what works for them. My mom plans every week and makes every meal the day she has written down. I on the other seem t do it by the fly of my seat (granted I have a 6 month old demanding time). My style is more like a list of meals we have ingredients for and what we happen to feel like that day.
Second make a list of what you need/want. I know this seems like a no-brainer but it is a life and gas-saver. Especially for us since the store we shop is 10 miles away. To get there we have to drive down a packed freeway. Which leads us into...
Third decide how often you will shop. I (theoretically) go grocery shopping twice a month. We shop every payday. It works out nicely because then we have food right off and should be covered for the rest of the month.
Fourth sometimes it's better to play safe than try new things. I admit it. We eat a lot of the same meals each month (sometimes twice each month). Why? Because I know it will be eaten! New things too often end up going bad and I hate wasting food. It makes me feel guilty! Side note: My hubby is just as picky as me about what he will eat. He just shows it through not helping with the leftovers!
Here are some Recipes we eat a lot of!

• Chicken Fajitas
• Chicken Enchiladas
• Farmer's Country Breakfast
• Pot Roast With Vegetables
• Marinated Steak

I think you get the general idea. Taste Of Home is a wonderful resource for finding recipes and trying new things. (Yes I know I said sometimes it's safer to play it safe.)
I believe you should be enjoying what you are cooking and eating. No one can tell you what to eat or make. Sure be mindful of everything you eat. Add green beans to your steak. Milk with your country breakfast. Rice & beans with your enchiladas or fajitas (I am a HUGE Mexican food fan!)... I hope you all enjoy planning your menu. I'm off to work on mine (considering I have a husband hovering wanting to know what we are going to have for the rest of the month. Heck it's an every day question! "What's for dinner?")

Happy Veteran's Day!

This has extra meaning for me being a military wife. I am proud of my husband for serving and the example he is to me. He is truly the type of soldier kids look up to and say "He's a soldier." He is hard working and willing to give his all for his country. He serves proudly and ready to answer the call of duty whenever they deem they need him. I am thankful for the men and women I have met because of him. They are wonderful and amazing. I am also thankful for the example my ex husband is showing our son in his serving of our country! THANK YOU ONE & ALL WHO SERVE AND HAVE SERVED!

{Hubby & Friend Aust}

{Hubby & Friend Ben}

{Full Gear}

{Our Wedding Day}

{Sunbeam wearing Daddy's Boots}

My Bucket List (This Is For You Karina!)

My friend Karina from Karina's Challenge is huge on bucket lists. So I am finally giving in and starting my bucket list. So here we go...

• Pay off car with tax return
• Save 100 dollars a month
• Get out of debt
• Begin a ranch
• Become self-reliant (aka grow our own fruit, veggies, meat, and eggs)
• Finish redoing my kitchen decor
• Have more kids
• Build the house of our dreams
• Home-school our kiddos
• Be sealed in the temple
• Bless our Little Miss
• Go back to school
• Spend more time with our boys
• Make a quilt
• Learn to knit socks, etc
• Make more homemade food
• Learn how to be even more frugal
• Grow my hair out
• Learn new ways to do my hair
• Buy more books (I believe you can never have too many books)
• Read to Little Miss every day
• Talk to my sisters more
• Learn new recipes
• Learn how to play the piano
• Have a craft room
• Go to Prince Edward Island, Canada
• Learn Spanish

That is all I can think of right now. UPDATE on the tree... It is up! Hubby gave in and said yes. Looks fabulous! And Little Miss is sporting her Thanksgiving shirt (see we are celebrating it too). Here are some pictures of the tree and Little Miss!

To Put Up Or Not To Put Up... That Is The Question!

I am super excited! We finally have our very own Christmas tree! Hooray! I have been wanting one forever but we always go to Utah for Christmas. So getting a tree seemed unneeded. However last year I realized we spend more than half the month here at home! It just didn't feel like Christmas because of that.
I was determined to change that and fabulous Wal-mart (about the only time I will ever say I like Wal-mart) had fake trees for as low as 20 bucks! AND it was blessedly 6 feet (I am not a fan of smaller trees). And when you get a tree you must get ornaments to go with it! This leads us to the current dilemma.
Do we up the tree now or wait till after Thanksgiving? We have one against celebrating holidays till the one coming up has been dutifully celebrated (that would be my wonderful hubby) and one of us who is impatient and after all Christmas is my FAVORITE time of year!
I love everything about Christmas! The lights, the smells, the tastes, the snow (yes there should always be snow), the sights, the songs, the feeling! People are suddenly kind and courteous. Kids are excited and good. Decorating the tree and house. The FOOD! (Need I say more) I love giving gifts! I usually could care less if I get anything. I rather spoil everyone else! And I love decorating. Here are some examples from pinterest of what my dream Christmas would look like!

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Wesley on Pinterest

Source: delightfulorder.blogspot.com via Wesley on Pinterest

Source: centsationalgirl.com via Wesley on Pinterest

Source: piperclassics.com via Wesley on Pinterest

Source: starrfam.blogspot.com via Wesley on Pinterest

Source: wmcraftgoodies.blogspot.com via Wesley on Pinterest

Source: myantiqueattic.blogspot.com via Wesley on Pinterest

These are just a few I love! To see more click on Wesley and follow my boards!

What I Am & What I Am Not

Lately I have been giving a lot to who I am as a person and who I am not. And figured it was time to strike for independence from all these other blogs (though I enjoy many of them)! That is the first thing I am NOT...

• I am not like other bloggers. I have no clue what I am doing. I don't know I really want to make my blog "profitable". I just want my voice to be heard and make sure I am not alone in this great big universe!
• I am not complicated. I always have been an open book. I am blunt, can't take hints (hardly), and avoid conflicts at almost all costs.
• I am not a thin as I use to be. I'll admit it. I use to be a size 2-4. I am now a size 10-12. And I am PROUD of that fact. I am not a model. I am not a runner (anymore).
• I am not the type of girl who fixes her hair in beautiful crazy ways. Nor am I the type who does her nails or can make any outfit looks amazing.
• I am not very crafty. I cannot come up with all these wonderful ideas and actually execute them!
• I am not popular. I have social anxiety and am completely shy.

Those are some of the things I am not. Here is some things I am;

• I am unique. I am pretty sure there is no one else out there like me. Which means I am the only one with these thoughts and ideas. Though I do believe this applies to all of us and sometimes we choose to go with what we think we are SUPPOSE to be rather than who we ARE.
• I am old-fashioned and simple. My attitude is if it was good enough for my grandparents it's good enough for me. (Note this doesn't apply to everything in life... Moderate!)
• I am a mother and am too busy trying to keep up with my kiddos and making our home a place people want to be rather than be away from. I am healthy and that is more important to me than how I look. Besides my husband likes me as I am!
• I am a pony tail wearing, jeans and t-shirt type of girl. I don't do my nails because I am too busy using my hands (please note that I am not saying you can't do your nails and be productive. I just don't know to do both for myself).
• I am good at some crafts and appreciate (and buy) the craftiness of others. I think I am good at working with wood and I enjoy cross-stitching. I am too practical minded to really be artistic.
• I am a good cook and enjoy baking.
• I am frugal and know how to stretch money.
• I am loving, kind, and loyal. I am always willing to help others and will do anything for those I love.

This is ME. I am what I am and I accept that. My blog will be different from now on because I am going to be true to myself. I will write without fear of no one reading. This is my blog of the attempt to reach my dreams and enjoy life as is along the way!