Sunday, May 27, 2012

Going to the Temple

Living in Utah you see a lot of LDS temples. 
I love seeing them and even like seeing the houses around them. 
I had the opportunity to go to the temple yesterday. 
Adam and I have made a goal together to go to the temple as often as we can.
That has been about once a month. For others I believe this number can be more than once a month
or less. It is whatever you feel is right.

I've been struggling really bad with, well a lot of things. 
We recently moved, cut our monthly pay check in
half, and Adam is gone all the time (these seem to be the root of all the other things I have been struggling with). Lets just say I haven't been the happiest person or the nicest.
Yesterday was raining and its Adam's only day off. We really wanted to go on a bike ride or
hike but because of the cold rain decided against those activities. We made a new plan we'd go to the
temple and then eat lunch. After lunch we would play racquetball. We followed through with our plan.

Going to the temple and seeing all the smiling faces just melts your heart. 
You don't have to be perfect to go there (obviously because I go!) just worthy. 
While serving in the temple I started to cry with joy. (p.s. this never happens to me) 
I overwhelming felt that not only was I doing the right thing but that Heavenly Father loved me
and was so happy that I went to His house. I felt so welcome. 
I felt so happy. Going to the temple makes me a better person. Just ask my husband.

I hope there is a temple close to you. Everyone is given the opportunity to go through a temple before it is dedicated. It is called an open house. I hope you would go. It is a holy place and makes me a better person. I'm more patient and kind and I know it is the Lord's work in me because it doesn't come
natural at all.

In our latest general conference Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 
talked about Coming to Ourselves. He talks about realizing who we are and our "hunger for the sacred blessing that only He (Heavenly Father) can provide". Please read that talk, AGAIN. 
We all need guidance, we all need love. Heavenly Father loves us all even when we make mistakes.







Friday, May 25, 2012

Celebrating 6 months of cloth diapers


6 months of cloth diapers!!! Can you believe it?
Little man is turning one next month and has been saving just a tiny part of the environment and not even knowing it.
This post is about some of the things I have faced and some of the things I have learned.
I hope this helps you if you are thinking about cloth diapering or trying them out as well.

The cloth diapers I use are flip I have a few Indian Prefolds as well for at night.


First things first the bag...
I bought a planet wise diaper pail liner (about 17 bucks) which worked just fine other than you have to have a diaper
pail (price varies on how fancy you want to get).
I also with the help of my mother (ok so maybe all I did was buy and pick out fabric) made this bag which I
now use instead of the pail and pail liner system and I love it because it
1. takes up WAY less space
2. Easily sits next to the toliet
3. Can travel with us
4. I got to choose whatever style and size I wanted
5. IT ZIPS!!!


Don't worry it normally doesn't sit on the counter.
And please don't zoom in on my toes.
Baking soda helps combat the stink. Just sprinkle a little into whatever you hold your diapers in.
Finally verdict I like my bag A LOT better and it was cheap to make.
 (google tutorials on cloth diaper bags to find one you like)

Another thing I have learned is that it is always nice to have disposables on hand
It is not fun having a sick baby with runny poop every diaper in cloth.

Unfortunately I found out later that you should wash your diapers every couple of days. I bought enough
diapers for 4 days. which is really nice to have the extra but really 2 days worth of cloth diapers (plus a couple extra for while they are being washed is all you really need.

Hope this helps! I am sure loving the cloth diapers and the sense of security they bring.
i don't have to worry about running to the store for more diapers or worry about if they are on sale.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Mothers Day Weekend

Part of the apartment living is finding and using multifunctional things.
Something that we love to do is go on bike rides.
My mum got Thayne this wonderful multifunctional baby thing...




We love it! More importantly though is Thayne loves it.
It hooks onto the back of your tire but better yet you can fit 2 little bodies.
Even better it also double as a jogging stroller. (and still fits 2 little bodies.)
(Don't worry I'm NOT pregnant nor thinking about having another one any time soon)
I just love that if we take care of this and our other stroller we wont have to buy another stroller again!


Don't let him fool you he was asleep half the time.





As we were biking we heard some very loud motors...
come to find out a motor cross race was going on right next to the bike trail!
This bike/jogging trail goes on and on. Pretty sure we did over 20 miles.
We started in Bountiful and ended up in Salt Lake. I believe its called Legacy Parkway.

Sunday

Mother's Day

We started the morning off right by skyping Garett.
We are all so grateful that we are able to see him on Mothers Day.
but that also meant that he gave the best mothers day gift.
He is serving in England right now and has some sort of Chinese/British accent
My friend Amber also came to visit. We went on a lovely walk around the Bountiful temple.


Mom reading the card I wrote her


She wanted skinny jeans pretty bad and I found some at the DI... couldn't help it.

Before dinner a friend from the ward came over and brought mom this sweat band,

it's actually too true.



Hope you all had a fabulous mothers day weekend! We sure did!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

A day full of nots

A day full of nots.

Today we learned a few things...
We learned how NOT to season a cast iron pan
Adam learned how NOT to put out a grease fire
We learned how NOT to hit the ball in tennis
I learned how NOT to act after losing again and again
We learned how costco coupons are NOT needed at costco
I learned how NOT to be enjoyable to be around

Apparently today I was a grump. Here it is 5:00 and hopefully I can change that.
I have noticed that my routine is completely thrown off and that it has been hard for me to adjust.
Am I the only one that happens to?
 Today is Adam's last day off before school again.
Luckily he is only taking two classes this summer so hopefully we will still
get to do all the things we want to do.

Meanwhile we are enjoying the pre-summer weather

Here is Thayne splashing water into his face it wasn't quite warm enough for the pool but just right for splashing.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

How simplifying got me an iPad

Here is my ipad. I didn't go into debt to get it or sacrifice any of our paycheck.
I did it guilt free.
How? 
I simiflied.
I had to work hard to do it, but it happened.
I sold some things on ebay.  
Things you probably have and don't use.
We had 1 old iPod that we weren't really using
and 1 iPod touch we were using BUT
we figured that once we had the iPad we
wouldn't really need the iPod touch.
(we still have one old one for running don't worry)
We also sold a tablet and
Old cell phones (yes people buy them)
We got a case, a screen protector and the original 32GB iPad.
With even a little money to spare.
Things that were cluttering our home are now gone and now we have
our iPad.
The reason I tell you this is because part of my organizing has been well,
spring cleaning.
But I've been able to get money back from things cluttering my life.
Don't be afraid to simplify.

Another thing I've been simplifying is my closet...
don't judge its not perfect


If you've ever watched HGTV when a couple goes into the master room closet 90% of the time you'll hear the wife say, "Now where are you going to put YOUR clothes?" and laugh.
Every time I hate it. You really have that many clothes?
Then I realized that Adam and I didn't share a closet before.
I wanted to change that and taking a lot of courage I started noticing my favorites.
I started to eliminate the clothes that weren't my favorites. I started getting money back...
so I got better quality clothes, then I got rid of more and so far
this is what I have. Probably still too many clothes.

These are dresses, blazers, and suits


These are Adam's shirts

These are my shirts AND skirts!
(are you proud?)
I haven't missed any clothes at all. I love what I have so much more
and now am able to mix and match better because I actually can see what I have.

My system of getting rid of clothes is wearing them "in order".
Meaning whatever 3 shirts are first are my choice of the day.
If I don't feel like wearing the first I go to the second...
if not the second the third.
If I choose the third one I think really hard on the first two.
Why did I not choose them?
Maybe I really just don't want to wear them that day.
After 3 times "skipping" a shirt I try it on.
Maybe its just not in season... maybe... I plum just don't like it.
Then I get rid of it. Via ebay or D.I.
Simple as that.

Don't worry not a minimalist just simplifying!

P.S. those are wooden hangers... and I love them.