Resolutions for 2009

Happy New Year's Eve!

As I reflect on this last year, that passed so quickly, I find my self very satisfied. I had a wonderful new husband, house and job--what more can a girl ask for? Which leads me to my New Year's Resolutions for 2009. Wow! 2009!

• LOSE WEIGHT! I think this is probably 90% of American's resolution, but still along with all great gains in 2008 I also gained a few pounds that found refuge in my hind-end. You know you have reached the point of no longer being that thin 20 something when you tuck the stomach fat in you pants when you sit down--ladies I know you can relate. I want to lose the 20 pounds I have gained in the last two years and will do so by keeping a calorie journal and actually exercising. My goal is to be back at the healthy 105-110 I weighed when I met my husband by April. Why April you ask? Because I want to fit in to my spring Lilly clothes!
• FIND A HOME CHURCH AND TITHE! I have fallen off the wagon of church goers! Since my hubby and I have been married I have not been to church on a regular or even semi regular basis. There is reasoning behind my heathen ways! I want to find a church that is "ours", meaning belonging to both my husband and myself. I am a member of my childhood church and he to his. I want us to find a church we enjoy attending and can become involved in and tithe our blessings to.
• START AND COMPLETE MY MASTERS DEGREE! I have applied, been accepted and will shortly begin the journey of completing my masters. I really want to learn how to help my students learn and retain more information and get a nice bump up on the pay scale.
• PLEASE MY HUSBAND! I know what your thinking and all I have to say is--Get your mind out of the gutter! I want to please my husband by showing him more respect. During our first few months of marriage we read an eye opening book called Love and Respect. It was amazing! It opened our eyes to every argument we had ever had and eliminated future disagreements over the same old stuff. I learned that my husband does love me and cherish me he just shows me in a different way. I also learned he best sees my love for him through respect for him and his position in our marriage. How 1700's your probably thinking, but it is so true. So, I plan to keep his house clean, cook man pleasing meals for him and just simply let him know how much I love and respect him.

So that does it! Ambitious I know! But If you know me, you know it is completely possible as I am a pretty determined gal.

Let me know about your New Year's resolutions. And go there! Be ambitious, make 2009 the best year ever!

Save Handmade!

I recently visited one of the blogs I like to "follow", http://www.screweduptexan.com/, and saw this post:

On February 10, 2009 Santa's Elves will be out of work and Santa himself out of business.
Why, you ask? Because Congress just passed the Consumer Products Safety Act which will require all manufacturers of children's products to scrutinous tests of their products to ensure safety to consumers of these products at the manufacturer's expense. While this may seem like a great thing on the outside, it will totally " decimate the small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust."

Moreover, "Moms who sew beautiful handmade waldorf dolls out of home, artists who have spent decades hand-carving trucks and cars out of natural woods, that guy at the craft show who sold you the cute handmade puzzle--even larger US companies who employ local workers and have not once had any sort of safety issue will no longer be able to sell their toys. Not without investing tens of thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling, just to prove that toys that never had a single toxic chemical in them still don't have a single toxic chemical in them.

In other words, handmade toys will now be illegal.

Check out Cool Mom Picks for more info and where the majority of this information came from and to find ways that you can help.

Makers of these products may soon find themselves out of business:

Handcrafted infant jewelry

Handmade dolls

Custom handmade baby accessories such as headwear

Crocheted and knitted clothing and blankets

Handsewn baby and children's blankets

Handcarved toys and puzzles

Handcrafted children's furniture

More...

What is our country becoming?

The Hills Finale

Its the final show for this year! I can't wait. Let me know your thoughts about how the show performed to your standards. I can't wait to see the fake Speidi wedding! and the scripted yet hopeful make-up of Lauren and Heidi! It is sooo sad how addicted I am to this show!

After show Comments: A few of my favorite moments from the show were...

• OMG I loved the look on LC's face when speaking with Heidi--even more I loved how she downed her champagne glass as if to drown out the awkwardness of the conversation. The line "It is what it is, sometimes its not fair" was priceless, almost as good as "I forgive you and forget you!"
• How staged was the Spiedi courthouse wedding scene, although I must say it almost made me like Spencer... then I woke up and remembered what a jerk he is.
• The final favorite moment was when Heidi's mom told Spencer she knew he manipulated and connived Heidi to the alter--but not quite as good as the comment made to US Weekly that he "drugged" her to the alter.

One final thought, How much does the After show suck? Between the web cams and man wearing cardigans I don't know which is worse.

Cleaning Day

My Saturdays are usually spent catching up from the hectic week and preparing for the next. Although I try to keep the house cleaned throughout the week, a deep cleaning is kind of refreshing. Like a good southern housewife, I make my own cleaning wipes to make the weeks cleaning easy. They are my frugal and organic version of the expensive wipes you buy in the store.

1/2 c. vinegar
1/2 c. water
1/4 roll of paper towels

Using a screw driver punch a whole in the top of a Ziploc container.

Combine vinegar and water in container. You may add 1 Tbl. of lemon juice to cut the smell of the vinegar.

Roll paper towels and place them into the solution.

Place on the top and voila earth and wallet friendly all purpose cleaning wipes!

Happy Cleaning!

Check back tomorrow for a once a month cooking friendly recipe!

The True Events of the Honeymoon

As I recall all of the wonderful times had during our honeymoon I can't help but think about how relaxing the mountains were and what the honeymoon was really about...

Pajamas all day long!

You might be a redneck if you have pickles and mountain dew on your honeymoon!

Memories

It is hard to believe Kevin and I have almost been married for a year! Our honeymoon was perfect! After orchestrating my dream wedding I was locked away in a snowy cabin in North Carolina for a little over a week with my new husband. I still giggle when I say that... husband, husband, husband. After waiting for over SIX years it still feels new!

As we traveled up the mountains it began to snow. The perfect beginning to our mountain adventure!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from our trip to Ruby Falls.

We traveled into the center of the mountain. This is a picture of the underground spring the flowed inside the tavern (as my husband calls it).

The underground tavern was cold and had a strange odor. The tour guide was so entertaining! He reminded me of Ben Stein...Bueller, Bueller, Bueller.

The limestone pillars are amazing! ...Pillar, Pillar, Pillar


The best feature of the tour was by far the cascading falls in the center of the mountain. It was so dark that the pictures were not able to capture the wonder.

Another newly wed couple were sweet enough to take our picture.

Check back to see more pictures from our perfect honeymoon! Feel free to leave any wedding/honeymoon questions you may have for me in my comments. I will answer any inquiries in my next blog.

XOXO

My First Post!

This is my first post! I am so excited. Thanks Lindsay for your help!