I need a What Not to Wear Makeover

Everyday when I get dressed I put on a boring pair of jeans that are either too tight or too baggy and a plain boring t-shirt. On rare occasions that I have to dress up it is all black. My hair is long and in a pony tail most of the time. I have decided I need to call on Stacy and CLinton desperately. Do you ever feel that way. I am only 28 years old and I think I wear mom jeans literally. AHHH!

On another note though, my tulips and other bulbs are coming up. It is so exciting. I think I check on them everyday to check their growing progress. It just makes me happy. Now if the wind would only not blow and the temperature would increase a little more. I can't really complain. Today I raked out two flowerbeds and a spot for the play area and burned it. Really more like smoked it. Now I stink like a fire. It is nice to have a little work done that is on the list.

Speaking of lists, I got all the family history stuff done that I have. What am I going to do with it? Who knows. The important thing...it got done. I installed smoke alarms too. Four to be exact. Not replace, put up new. Our house has only 1 smoke alarm for all these years. Next on the list...finish or get it closer to finish...the guest/my sewing room. I am so excited. The garage is in the organization works too. Some do spring cleaning like clean their blinds I work on projects. Some little some big but still the same they are projects. Good luck with all of your projects. Here is to spring something!

more randomness

Today is Saturday. I have already cleaned the kitchen and vacuumed the living room. Brian painted the garage this week. Framed up downstairs. Have a little left to do. Making progress. Brian is doing a great job at working at our little projects. It is nice to feel like you have accomplished something. I have worked on primary stuff this week since I am now the 1st counselor in the primary presidency. Trying to find subs is a little tough. Haven't rode the inside bike for awhile. Have had headaches and been to the DR 4 times this week. Neck is out and need to find some options for stress relief. Watched the snow melt. Some still here. Thinking about planting garden and flowers. The eye is slightly beginning to water. Mold, mold oh how I love you. You do great things to my eye. Sun, sun please come out again and stay forever. Went to friends house last night and played ticket to ride europe edition. Lost, I have yet to win, someday. Reagan is being a nut. Her and Jaxon slither like snakes off the couch and they think it is hilarious. Weirdos, sure do love them. Hope everyone has a great Saturday.

What we did today and what a mess

Today, A would be so proud. I cleaned. Not just a little, like a mad woman. My house is fabulous now.

While I was making red velvet cake for Valentines Day, Reagan was bathing. She needed me to come in to wash her and while I was doing that Jaxon was pulling off the rest of the eggs off the cupboard. In that egg carton I had a bottle of red food coloring. When I opened the door of the bathroom, there Jaxon was with a spoon eating the read food coloring. That explains the picture for all of you that were worried. He gets into a lot of stuff. A month ago it was 18 eggs off the cupboard again and a quart of bubble bath right into the carpet. It doesn't come out.

Today, we also cleaned the fridge. I had some great helpers.

I probably should go shower now.

Brooke at her best randomness.

I really don't have much to say. I rode my bike today. The inside one not the outside as Reagan calls it. I did the Wii Biggest Loser yesterday and for only a 19 minute workout my legs are so today. Yep, that's right I am weak. I started to clean my desk but now I am obviously not cleaning. Working on planning a family reunion. Figuring out how to get Jaxon to sleep without him screaming for 45 minutes. Not peaceful. Forget the re-potty training. Trying to accomplish my list. REading the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Very insightful. Started a craft blog. http://makinitdomestic.blogspot.com. Having craft overload in my head. Making some more bags. Wasting my time. Thinking about ordering garden seeds. Yes, there is still snow. Looking through garden magazine thinking up all the stuff to do in my yard. Think I need to go tanning to feel some warmth. Had to cook dinner yesterday. Ripped off sheetrock while I was practicing my Sheera moves. Cleaned the toilet. Contemplating getting rid of all my baby clothes and paraphenilia. Who knows. Ate my 1oz of almonds everyday...they were covered in chocolate...does that count?

Good Things
1. Garden magazine
2. Sunshine
3. My inside bike

Hope you all have a great and wonderful day.

Gratitude

I made a list of all the things that I am thankful. Here are some.

1. Good Parents
2. Good, Supportive, Loving husband
3. 2 Beautiful children
4. Good Family
5. Good In Laws
6. Washer and Dryer
7. Modern Plumbing
8. Electric Blanket
9. Being a member of the Church
10. Knowledge of the Gospel
11. Seeing it in action
12. SUnny days
13. House
14. Cars to drive
15. Being able to pay my bills
16. Health
17. Computers
18. Willpower
19. Being able to be with my family
20. Scriptures.
21. Prayer
21. Answers to Prayer
22. Just knowing everything will work out.

There are a few off my list in no particular order. I have so much to be grateful for and so often don't express my gratitude for things or people in my life.

On another note, I have been meaning to write this and forget. When Reagan sings I am a child of god, she sings with parents kind of dear instead of kind and dear. Such a funny girl. Oh, a few days ago I made waffles for breakfast. Jaxon was putting his sleeves in the syrup trying to reach his milk and she says to him: "Dude, you are getting syrup on your sleeves". I thought I was going to die laughing. Reagan is very helpful and likes to help anyone do stuff. She helps me cook and often helps Grandma when we are over there.

Jaxon has quite a vocabulary. He says lots of words I can't understand them all though. He is a very loving, forgiving child. When Reagan does something mean to him or takes a toy from him, rarely does he fight back. He just lets her have it and moves onto something else. He loves to give hugs and says luv u. He brushes his teeth a lot and loves to get his hair combed. He is a sweet boy.

I need some ideas

Since today is the last day of January and I am pretty sure this makes a blogging record for me I thought I would post.

I am not buying anything and that is great and all. But now I don't ever leave the house. When you have been awake for 40 minutes, your kids are driving you nuts, and it is only 8 in the morning there is definitely a problem. I need to get out of the house to do something. Brian and I were talking about my hobbies. I have a fair amount of hobbies they just all happen to be things I do at home. Sewing, gardening, craftiness. Okay so that is apparently all of my hobbies. At least that I can think of. So if any of you have any great ideas of hobbies that you have you do away from your children let me know. My sister said she was taking voice lessons. I need something to do for some serious sanity.

I got my bike on Friday and Saturday morning I got up and went for a ride, right in my basement. It was nice. I saw some garden seeds in Lowe's the other day and it made me so happy. I should make a bouquet of garden seeds and put it on my table.

I want to know if you want to develop some hobbies with me or if you have any great ideas for me. I will take either.

Yes, I am still not buying anything

I am almost one month into not consuming. Has it made me happier? I think it has started. I find myself enjoying my day more and not thinking that I need a new picture or a new shirt. I did just purchase a bike and I may have to get a new washer and dryer. My washer is not spinning my clothes out so it is still soaking wet when the cycle is done. I buy diapers and food but have not purchased clothing. My sister was telling my about her friend that is doing a operation appreciation with her kids. I think she might be onto something. She has given her kids a limited amount of clothing, toys, and a few things. I was thinking about that and what an easier way to live. After all do we really need 15 shirts and 8 pairs of pants? Or how about 10 pairs of shoes? Reagan wears about 3 pair of pants because she doesn't like the others. They just sit in her drawer. This has made me think that we all really live in excess. We have way too many things.

In Stake Conference on Sunday, Elder Porter of the seventy told a story of a woman coming in to his office as a Bishop saying she just wasn't happy. They talked about some changes she could make and met again in a month. When they met again she was beaming. Elder Porter asked what she had done to change to be happy. She told him she had stopped looking at catalogs. She said when she looked at them it made her realize how much more the people around her had and she wanted that. But when she stopped looking at catalogs she no longer wanted those things that other people had because she didn't see them. I thought, if it were only that simple. Well, maybe it is that simple, maybe if we could not look at the things that neighbors have or that is seems so much easier for them we would be a happier people. Those neighbors may be the ones struggling with debt or spiritual problems or a variety of other things that are unseen to us.

What I have realized by not buying anything is...we just don't need anything. Our basic needs are met by shelter, food, clothing, and most importantly love. The rest of the stuff we have is simply just stuff. It doesn't define us, make us a better person, make like easier, or make us happy. I am also learning I need different hobbies. If I needed time by myself I would go shopping. I don't need to shop for a hobby, I need to find something else to do, take an art class, go to the library, play the piano. The same sister, I called last week and interrupted her voice lesson. I thought that was a good thing. As we become mothers, he develop children not hobbies. I think that sometimes we get lost after we have children. We know what we need to do we just don't do it. We need to be active participants in our lives and not just in our childrens lives. So I am going to take an art class and maybe this summer I might take tennis or golf lessons. Let's all be proactive in doing things to enrich our lives and the lives around us. I think when we do this and stop looking at catalogs we will all be happier people.

Good Things:
1. Sisters
2. Developing talents
3. Making progress.

I hope this gets us all thinking.