I haven't been really feeling very great the last few weeks.  I sometimes feel like it is more emotionally and sometimes physically--just tired and sluggish and unmotivated.  Part of it is I haven't been very busy and I really function better under some pressure.  I also have an evil stomach (IBS)--I haven't talked about it much hear because really I just don't like dwelling on it more than I have to.  But amazingly I have been pretty good- I have been able to eat a lot of things that a few months ago would have had me doubled over in pain.  But I think maybe the flexibility I am allowing myself in diet is part of my sluggish feeling.  I mean, I will take sluggish ,I guess, over miserable, but it is getting old.  I am thinking about taking the plunge back to my old diet...maybe not as severe.

Basically I couldn't eat anything with sugar in it.  Fresh fruits and veggies- out, breads- out, caffeine, chocolate, ice cream, fruit juice, yogurt, all out.  It did help though- -I have done that on and off when my tummy flares up and it helps settle it down.  I still can't handle caffeine or juice-- especially acidic juices.  I have found I can handle small amounts of sugar from fruit if it is not on an empty stomach...I know it is a mess.  My poor hubby can never keep up with all of these things.  So I am going to cut out all refined sugars- still trying to keep the fruits and veggies- and keep the whole grain bread- that does have a little sugar but no high fructose--it has never given me issues.  I am hoping that and getting exercising will help.

I also just need to admit that I need more social interaction than I get in a day, and it wears on me.  Most of my stay at home mom friends are either content to stay at home a lot, or are really involved in "kid activities".   I just want to hang out and let the kids play, but I feel like I am always the initiator and that gets old.  What is weird is I was chatting with a friend who told me that she things everyone feels that way....hmmm...maybe?

So..yeah...I have been really disjointed in my posts lately- thank you all for reading!


Question--what keeps you motivated and energetic???

A day in my brain....

My baby was so tired today- he has been waking up early and almost fell asleep at 11am sitting at the kitchen table, helping me make some pumpkin bread.

Have you heard the song Breakeven by The Script?  It is super catchy I think.

I am working on a material list for my garden (first ever!)  I am gonna need to find some free dirt though...haven't figured that into the budget.  I was looking into doing a compost pile but I think that will wait for now.  I am super excited to do this little project!

Funny story- my friend Chris gave my hubby and I, a Crate and Barrel gift card for our wedding..yes over 5 years ago=)-- I really thought it had $25 on it and I have looked online. but never really found anything I needed and forgot about it.  A few weeks ago my Hubby found it and took it with him to San Fransisco and saw a Crate and Barrel and they scanned it (guess we could have done that online just never thought about it) and it had $60 on it!  Funny huh?  So I bought myself a fancy Cuisinart waffle maker- since I have been using my mom's and she wanted it back.  I haven't gotten it yet but I am super excited and glad I forgot about that card!  It cost me $1.99- whoohooo=)!  Thanks Chris!

My son is the cutest kid ever.

I made this orange cleaner- basically orange peels and vinegar then dilute it in half.  It smells kind of funny.  I can't really decide what I think...

I think we are having Salmon and salad for dinner tonight...I haven't been feeling my meal plan this month...I am still using it, I just never want what I am supposed to make on the day.  Next month my Hubby and I are doing it together.  It will be good I hope..a little worried he will want to spend more--more fancy stuff but then I guess we will see!

I Like

1.  This bag on Piperlime under "Girl on a Budget"- super cute huh?

http://piperlime.gap.com/Asset_Archive/PLWeb/Assets/Product/847/847254/category/pl847254-00viv01.jpg

Tried to paste a picture but it was not wanting to go-- seriously though I think I need it=).

2. www.lynnskitchenadventures.com   I haven't made any recipes yet but I like looking at them.  She also has gluten free which is nice-- we are not gluten free, but I have a few good friends who are so it would be nice to have good recipes ready.


3.  www.organizedhome.com  great ideas that are doable-  I am using this and the Money Saving Mom's printables to start my home management notebook tomorrow.  I am excited I need to get everything in one place--I am naturally scattered.  And I love templates- they are my friend.

4.    This is actually a lot rolled into one- I like the Mover, and summer, and playing outside at my parents with the Mover and his cousins (which we were doing in this picture last summer--wow time flies!)  I also kind of like his hair here..I miss it longer...

5.  Days off- as in tomorrow when my hubby is taking the Mover all day so I can just have ME time!!  I am getting a massage and going to a baby shower and to lunch and hoping to get some home management notebook going and scan old pictures into my computer that never happens.
  Oh and I like my hubby who is taking over for the day!!

Confessions

I don't really feel the need to appease people often by pretending I am something I am not.

1.  I don't eat all organic food.

2.  I don''t eat all wheat flour.- or I do eat wheat.. whichever concerns you.

3.  I eat sugar (as much as my ridiculous body allows- not much) and I let my son have sugar.

4.  I buy Walmart brand (just not those few things that are yucky like biscuits and cereal)

5.  I let me son watch TV- Blue's Clues hear we come!!

6.  I don't always understand being a mom or wife.

7.  I don't always trust God.

8.  I listen to non Christian music on Pandora (lately Wilco and The Fray)

9.  I want more of God.

10.  I want to be honest.

I feel like I am finally to a place that I am pretty secure in myself as a house manager..I usually think I am good as a mom, but then a new phase hits --God keeping me humble!  Not that I am perfect, but that I am not going to be easily swayed by other's notions about how it should be.  I may change my views on things through time- actually I am sure I will, but I am OK today just striving to honor God and raise a man with a godly heart and love my husband well.  Basically the grace of God is a beautiful thing.

Off the subject my computer is temporarily working...it is a TOTAL mystery!  So a few old pictures for you.  Happy Tuesday.  I am tired- Goodnight.

This was for Christmas Eve service...OK I know it is April!  Sorry!  But so cute huh??

Christmas Morning Little Mover and the Hubby with his new tent! 

Thick and thin I love these boys!

" Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in love." Romans 12:12

I appreciate you all!

Snow and other stuff

Big white snowflakes falling today..yes it is April in Wyoming...which pretty much means bipolar weather patterns!  Yesterday I wore flip flops for the first time since ..oh summer and cleaned out my window wells and cleaned up the flower beds a little.  Today yeah...not so much! 

So I have started to "feel" a little freedom in my grocery budget from my few things I am making at home these days.  Loving the $15 or so increase a month from not buying paper towels.  Figure I am saving about $10-15 a month on laundry detergent.  Also made a batch of cream of anything soup- just a simple powdered mix that makes 6 cans worth for maybe $2.  Got that one from www.hillbillyhousewife.com .  That is really all but I can tell I feel let stressed about the food.  It is nice.  Makes me want to figure more easy ways to be able to spend more on what we want and less of the budget on what I used to think of as needs.

I have been really annoyed with my cloth diapers lately.  They are stinking really bad when they are dirty.  Ok maybe that sounds dumb but if you are a cloth diaperer you know what I mean--really ammoniaish ans way more than it should be.  I have stripped them with Dawn and bleach like BumGenius says to and about 3 days later--stinky again.  They are still absorbing so who knows!!

My little Mover goes in Tuesday for shots and all that..icky.
Speaking of the Little Mover- he is really testing lots of boundries right now.  Ok pretty much every boundry we have establish this far in his short little life he is being testing.  Hitting, not laying down for bed, not coming when I call him, yeah-  it has made for a trying week or so.   God grant me patience and consistency!

I passed my Eleutian Technology (teaching English to Korean students online) test and mock lesson.  Didn't go as well as I would have liked, but I passed so now I just need to get some paperwork in and start looking for positions. 

I need to go be consistent with my little man right now. :)

Making Money...hopefully

Back to the workforce for me!  Part time at least...I kind of forgot how intimidating being evaluated could be!=)
Tonight I had my first training for Eleutian Technology.  It is a Wyoming company that teaching English in Asian countries via Skype or other similar tools.  I left my Mover for 7 hours today and 7 again tomorrow- ugh- but the huge benefit of doing this is that you are teaching during the day on their side of the world and night time for us.  So pretty much I wouldn't miss anything really except the Mover sleeping (and my hubs sleeping too:).  I am only going to do it a few days a week because I do still have to get up with my little guy at 6ish everyday so I don't want it to drive me to a sleep deprived insanity.  But so far so good-  I am a little intimidated but I think I can learn the systems and hopefully learn to talk slower=)! 

What else??
Oh I found pictures of the Mover from Christmas SO CUTE!  Then my computer freaked (again- Nate if you are reading this HELP ME) and will not turn on!  I haven't had time to figure it out the last few days, but I have to admit I am losing sleep thinking about the dumb computer!  I know I know-- my hubby tells me that is a silly reason to lose sleep too, but oh well it doesn't stop me really!

I also loose sleep because my Mover has these little red bumps on his foot and I start thinking about it in the middle of the night with a tired, irrational brain- ugh- wish I was better at shutting it down.  Anyways he has a Dr. appt. the 5th of April so I am not going to worry.

Second day of training tomorrow at 9 and my momma is watching the Little Mover.  I miss him but honestly he does not miss me!  He has so much fun with his cousins or grandma!

Confession-  I have been living in wind pants lately.  Today I wore jeans and felt so restricted!  Who ever decided that looking "nice" or "professional" or whatever had to be uncomfortable?  I am back in my wind pants for the night but I guess I have to face the reality that no one wants to see me in wind pants and yoga pants everyday=)!!

Prayers

Last night I heard sad news.  A little boy about my baby's age passed away a few days ago.  He had a seizure during nap time.  It was unexpected.  Completely.  I just met this little boy and his loving parents last week.  It is shocking and heartbreaking.  There is nothing you can say or do besides pray.   I cannot imagine that kind of pain.  I cry just trying to.  I am not one to quickly question God but, this is one of those moments for me.  I struggle to understand why God would allow this precious sweet boy- with loving, caring parents to leave this world so early.  Too early.  I guarantee he meant the world to his mom and dad, just as my Mover means the world to me.  I say all this to ask you to pray for this family as well, since it is all I can think to do at this point.

Oh and hug your babies- whether they are old or young- many or just one.  My baby slept with us last night.  I didn't sleep real well getting kicked all night, but I didn't want him out of sight- ya know?

Makes me realize that my little complains are just that "little".  I didn't lose my home or family in a tsunami or have devastating, unexpected loss. 

Thank you Father for our many blessing and be with those who are struggling, lonely, or broken today. 

Thank you for your prayers.