Thursday, January 20, 2011

Don't Try So Hard!

I take pictures every.single.day.  Lots of pictures.  Sometimes I try to get the picture perfect shot, sometimes I try way too hard.  I notice when I don't try as hard, I am usually way more impressed with the pictures.  Yesterday Nicholas came home from school and made plans to meet at the park with his buddies.  Of course Noah and I met up with him later . . .

Of course I brought my camera.  And I was enjoying the fresh air, the sunset, and living in the moment feeling so utterly blessed.  I didn't think too much when I snapped these two photos.  And guess what, they are easily my daily favorites.  Have a look . . .

This is life as I know it . . .Nicholas always in motion, always swingin' away.  I love it, I love the glimmer of the sun, I love him so much!


He smiles and my heart melts.  He is adorable in every way.  Boy do I love this lil' guy!

And there you have it! My two favorite guys in the whole wide world!


Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Happy Wednesday

This past weekend was a long weekend for both Jay and Nicholas.  Jay was on a five dayer and Nicholas had both Friday and Monday off.  It's rare that the days work out like that and it was nice to have them both home.  We did a whole lot and then a whole lot of nothing. 

Yesterday Jay and I went running.  Boy it sure has been a while . . .woke up this morning feeling sore; but a good sore.  I'm hoping today I'll be motivated enough to go for another short run.  Yesterday I ran 2 miles in 22 minutes.  I've set a goal for myself; I'd like to run 2 miles in 18 minutes by the end of March.  I'm hoping to reach this goal!

I've got lots to do today while Noah naps.  Better get to it.  Just wanted to pop in, say a few words and post pictures from our long weekend.  Happy Wednesday!

Thursday we went to Nicholas' school to browse all the Egyptian Projects.  Doesn't Noah look so proud of Nicholas!


Friday we went to the outlet and the boys went nuts over the hats there.  Noah scored a Nationals hat in his size! 

Friday morning breakfast with the fam-bam! 

Noah being a goofball, as usual!

Saturday at the fields.  Here's to Spring baseball 2011!  Nicholas and his baseball buddies!

Sunday was a lounge day.  Besides leaving the house in the morning for practice, we stayed in all day and Nicholas played PS3 and listened to island music on his laptop :0)

Tuesday's after school snack was a smoothie.  The weather has been warm, warm, warm!

Love these reusable cups!  Eco-friendly baby!

Nicholas looks like such a teenager . . .sigh! 

My youtube babes . . .listening to island music.  Love this picture of the two of them!

Friday, January 14, 2011

A Quote

This quote is so fitting for the upcoming holiday, Valentine's Day!  The day of love!  I created this printout in photoshop and I'm going to frame it. 

Last fall I bought a plain white 8.5 x 11 frame at Target.  I bought it for a fall display project, and then switched it out for a Christmas printout.  Now I'm switching it out and putting this in the frame. 



The frame sits on my kitchen counter.  I love the idea of switching out the decor or display from holiday to holiday.  Or even just slipping in an inspiring quote. 

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Things Broken and Organization

So the New Year hasn't exactly started out the way I had planned or envisioned.  I have barely lived up to my resolutions and we're only on the 11th of January!  Sheesh!  We have had so much going on lately and I have wanted to do so much . . . and I just feel like such a scatterbrain. 

There are so many things that need fixing around here and Jay has been at work alot and I know he's feeling overwhelmed by all the things we're waiting on him to fix!

To top it all off, our Christmas stuff is still half up!  I know, I know!  Awful huh!  Today it's all coming down and I'm putting it in the front room.  Hopefully when Jay comes home tomorrow he'll take all the bins down so I can store it away.

I'd like to mention all the things that are or have been broken around here.  First our microwave (this has been since Christmas Eve), we've had a leak coming from our dishwasher, our coffee maker is also leaking (going to throw it out today - Jay tried fixing that one and no-can-do), the printer, Jay's truck.    I'm relieved, happy, and proud to say that Jay fixed the printer and his truck yesterday afternoon!  WooHoo!  Such relief!  And he found where the leak is coming from, as far as the dishwasher.  We have yet to fix the microwave, which has made for an interesting few weeks; warming up coffee, leftovers, and hot water has been like camping . . .the old school way which takes a very long time!  The good news, he knows what's wrong with it, it's just about forking up the money and finding the time to actually fix it.

All this and I'm on a mission to organize all the paper around here.  I'm trying to gain some control over all the stuff that circulates in and out of here.  It just seems like there is so much - I can't figure a system out that feels like it'll be successful.  Jay reminded me yesterday that I've attempted to do this many, many times in the past and each time it hasn't really worked out (nice way of saying it failed huh!).  So this makes me feel even more determined to create a system that works.  Right now this is the idea that is swirling around in my mind.  After reading this blog post and reading this helpful article I have decided that I am going to create a system using these bins.

I am creating 3 different stations:
  • Read & Review - a place for mail catalogs.  Nothing time sensitive.  Just leisure reading material that circulates in the mail.
  • Active Files - using the bigger bin I am going to create files that will breakdown into these categories: Jay's Inbox, Misty's Inbox, Receipts, Coupons, Immediate Actions, File, and Shred.  The purpose for this active file box is that it is to be maintained; things will and should be constantly rotating in and out through this file box.
  • Misty's Someday Box - this will house all the things that I think up and print, or write down.  I, so, need this box because I have tons of sticky notes all around the computer.  I am also going to be using files to breakdown my stuff into these categories: Projects/Ideas, Worth Saving (quotes I discover. And I love, love, love quotes!), Rotating Photos (a new thing I'm doing, rotating my photos out of the frames - keeps it fun and interesting!).  My box is meant to be a place to house unimportant details, non-time-sensitive material. 
In addition to these 3 stations, Jay and I have a plastic file system that holds all of our files that need to be kept but we don't need to refer to often.  This is put away.  I will also be giving that filing system an overhaul too.  I need to downsize and change some of the categories in that system, especially because we have gone paperless on the majority of our statements.

So there you have it!  One long post on what's been going on around here and what's been swirling through my brain.  Ahh . . . and here's a picture of the process.

Sitting behind all the markers, crayons, and pencils is a stack of papers-papers-papers!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Chicken Soup & OWN

Yesterday was a day of rest for me.  I haven't been feeling my 100% since New Year's Eve.  But I kept pushing myself and finally I gave in an rested all. day. long.  It felt good to rest, but at the same time I can't stand not feeling my best.  But who likes to be sick anyway huh?

On the upside Jay made some very, very good homemade chicken and vegetable soup; and I layed on the couch in and out of naps all day long.  When I was up I was watching OWN, Oprah's new network!  Oh my goodness gracious, I love all the episodes. 

So then today I wake up and feel a little better.  It's Noah's school day and I planned on going to the library while he was at school.  It was nice to sit and read for an hour, uninterupted!  I read Oprah's magazine and just felt truly refreshed and inspired by all the articles. 

I've got tons of catching up to do . . .laundry folding and vacuming - all fun stuff :0)

Just thought I'd share what a good soup Jay made and how much I'm digging Oprah's new network OWN!

Both definitely good for the mind, body and soul!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

A big day . . .

Yesterday was a big day for Noah!  It was his first day of pre-school!  I have him enrolled at the community center 2 days a week for an hour and a half.  It's a program ran by the city and lasts 10 weeks long.  Although it's rather short, it really doesn't matter to him.  All that matters to him, is that he is going to school, like a big boy.  He gets to pack a small snack and bring it along with him while he takes his first steps out into the world . . . all on his own.  He was all smiles, not an ounce of anxiety.  That's such a good thing, I'm so proud of him!

Of course I was the one who was nervous.  As a mom, it's instinct to want your child to be protected at all times, and at all costs.  I remember when Nicholas first started kindergarten; I was always worried about everything!  But he was always fine.  And when things aren't fine, we helped him work through it so he learned to makes things right on his own.  That's what parenting is all about, right?  But yesterday . . .well I was flooded with all those emotions again; it reminded me that sometimes the separation anxiety is as much a parents issue as it is a childs.

Here are some pictures of Noah's very first day as a big school boy!

Sidenote: I realize there are alot of pictures for just an hour and a half time frame.  But what can I say; I wanted to document every single moment.  This was a huge moment for our Noah!

Breakfast :0)

Healthy Snack :0)

Look how ready he looks!  No butterflies in this boy's belly!  Big boy for sure!


Walking into class.  Love that he loves taking pictures!

Unfortunately Jay had to work.  It was only me and Nicholas that dropped him off to school.  Mama and Noah boy getting ready for the big moment of "Good-bye!"

Love these two boys! 

Noah waiting for his teacher to call his name and into the classroom!

Noah settled in very easily.  He walked right into the classroom and didn't look back to, even once! 

One last snapshot before I leave him :0(

Pick-up time.  Waiting to be dismissed!


"Bye Miss Cathy, see you next time!"  For the record Miss Cathy said he was very sweet.  I happen to agree (wink,wink).

Noah had a great day!  Yay for Noah!

There was no fight to go down for nap. 

Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy New Year!

A New Year . . . Welcome 2011! 

If you know me, then you know that I love beginnings.  I love the possibilities, I love the clean slate, a fresh start!  A New Year is all of that to me.  I love it!  Needless to say, I am excited about this New Year 2011!

I enjoy making a resolutions list, a plan of how I can be successful in resolving specific areas in my life.  Last week I spent some time thinking of the things I'd like to resolve this year; both big and small things in my life.

Interested . . . read on!

{2011 Resolutions}

Devote some time, each day, in prayer.
I get up every morning early, before the rest of my family wakes up.  I'd like to spend some of this time in prayer.

Be physically active, at least 4 times a week
Last week, while shopping for running shoes, I overheard this lady talking.  She is a devoted runner, an athlete at best.  She said she gets up every morning at 3:30 am to go running.  Every morning she runs 8 miles.  On the weekends she runs 10 or 13 miles!  She said that someone once asked her, "How can you do that."  She replied, "How can you not?  How can you not?  How can you not give to yourself each day before you give to others.  It just makes you better at giving to others."  That has stuck in my mind since . . .How can you not?  So, even if it's a brisk walk, and not a run.  I want to be out there on the pavement at least 4 times a week, giving something to myself.

Manage my time better
I'm guilty of being a procrastinator.  I wait, and wait until the last minute to do things.  I do this in almost every area of my life.  It's one thing I dislike the most about myself.  Every year this is always on my list.  I never really have a concrete plan, as to how I will be successful in achieving this.  This year is different.  I plan on making a list of to-do's (and they have to be realistic/achievable to-do's).  I will create a list for the week and then another for the day.  I will break my tasks up so I'm not overwhelmed in completing what needs to get done.

Read more . . .with my kids too!
I didn't read as much last year.  I bought books and wasn't really intrigued and then gave them up.  I'd like to read much more this year and I'd like to utilize the library to do this.  That way I don't feel so guilty if I'm not enjoying the book so much and select a different one.

The advent Christmas book countdown was such a big hit with Noah.  We all enjoyed that time together in the evening when we devoted ourselves to snuggling in bed with a book.  I need to make that a priority and part of our bedtime routine.

Do something crafty/creative/artistic once or even twice a month
I'd like to try my hand at a few fun projects that I've read about on the blogosphere.  Whether it be floral arranging, a scrapbook layout, photo editing, or even a new recipie, I want to try something new! 

Be more colorful
Ahhh. . . this sounds cheesy I guess.  But this one pertains to my wardrobe.  I am such a bland dresser.  My favorite color is gray.  I know, I know BORING!  So I really want jazz things up.  Step out of my element and be more colorful.  

I have read and heard numerous times that it's just as important to write down your plan at attaining your resolutions for the New Year.  So there you have it.  My resolutions for 2011.  Now I'm really going to be held accountable :0)

Cheers to a Wonderful and Prosperous  New Year 2011!