Changing It Up! (Holy cow a post!)

We're still alive!

I've decided that with two kids in school, one crazy busy toddler and my Thirty-One business taking off (never heard of Thirty-One? Check my site out here), I need to change the format of my blog. Clearly, I just don't have time to enter full posts like I used to when I was working full-time (ironic, isn't it?) so I've decided to just post those random thoughts/questions/observations that come to my mind. Similar to the "tweet" or "status update" but MUCH more entertaining and less vague :)

So, here's to the new format *cling glasses*

- Do you have any idea how hard it is to make pudding when one box is instant and the other (right behind the instant, mind you) is the "cook-n-serve" kind? Really frickin' hard. That is all.

Are we ever NOT busy?

I fell like I'm a motor that runs all the time! It's weird to think back to the days before kids when I would ask my husband "what are we going to do today?" and he wouldn't have an answer. I don't even remember what we used to do those days--watch TV and go out to eat?

Nowadays, I miss those lazy days. And I know as the kids get olders, things will just get busier and busier. I am very lucky to have great neighbors that I can organize kid swaps with so we can get some alone time.

I like to take a shower without someone knocking on the door.

It is what it is

What? That phrase doesn't even make any sense.

I find there are a lot of popular phrases that make no sense at all. At least to me, they don't. It's possible it's because people just use them out of context, or maybe they don't use the phrase correctly at all. Or maybe it's because I don't like phrases that literally wipe oneself clean of any responsibility.

Here are some of the most annoying--

"It is what it is." Well, yes---of course it is. Because that's what "IT" is. Thank you Doctor Obvious. It would make more sense to just say "It is."

"I could care less." This statement is probably used incorrectly in most cases--but still. Even the person saying would have to realize, as it was coming out of their mouth, that it doesn't make sense. If you *could* care less, then why make the statement at all? It's most likely that they are saying they "couldn't" care less-meaning, they really don't care at all.

Which leads me to the next one--

"I couldn't care less." Really? REALLY? There's nothing less interesting on this planet that you could possibly care less about? Maybe the mating habits of spiders--I bet you could care less about that, right?

"High level overview" I heard this a lot at my old jobs. I understand that not everyone needs all the details of a project or idea but hearing "high level" always made me think they were saying "You're too stupid to understand the details, so we're just giving you the high level". I'll admit, I've used this phrase in the business world too and I normally DID mean it was because they were too stupid to understand the details.

"On the books" This would make sense if you were actually writing in a book--like a financial transaction. Normally this would mean "on the calendar" when it comes to an event or something you need to make a note of.

Ahh- I feel better.

Learning a new skill

I'm learning to crochet!

At first, my projects all turned into little triangles. I was missing the end stitch.

Then I worked on just a square-that went well although my stitches were really tight. I think it was the crap yarn I bought.

I graduated to a short scarf for Olivia. That turned out well--but it's super itchy so she won't wear it.

Now, I found yarn I like and have half a baby blanket done!

Leap Day

I've been reading lots of creative ways to use this "extra" day of the year. Here's how I used mine:

Found for 15 minutes to get my daughter dressed. Then gave up and told her to go to school in her underwear. She thought about it for a few minutes, then made the right decision to get dressed.

Stressed about the "6-12" inches of snow we were supposed to get to wake up just finding lots of slush and rain.

Ran my boys to the sitter/school and enjoyed 2 kid free hours of running errands. I spent almost $300 on new sheet (our last set was from our wedding and we've almost been married 8 years) and am SO excited to use them tonight.

Enjoyed a McDonald's iced coffee--in my car--all alone. It was delicious.

Watched 3 hours of Grey's anatomy on DVR while the boys had some rest time.

Crocheted 3 more rows on a baby blanket until my wrist was on fire.

Made tatertot casserole.

Went to Zumba.

Showered.

More TV then bed.

Happy Leap Day! What did you do on your extra day?

Hoarders

I think I've blogged about this show before.

I'm still watching....and in disbelief.

If you ever need a kick in the ass to clean up your house, watch this show.

No, I don't have dirty adult diapers piled all over the house but I'll be damned if I don't get that cobweb out of the corner of the ceiling.

Clorox is my friend.

I almost feel like the bugs from their house can crawl through the TV into my house.

Yuck.

That is all.

My best mom advice

I was asked today what my best piece of mom advice would be.
Considering my kids are perfectly behaved, I figured just about anything I had to say would be a GREAT piece of advice.

I thought on it for a second--thinking I'd have some perfect solution to getting a newborn to sleep or a toddler to nap.

My answer was "Never start a routine you don't intend to keep forever".

The new mama looked at me like I was a little crazy (she must have been expecting the perfect solution to diaper rash). I explained....

"When my daughter was little (and the first born), our bedtime routine included 5 books, lots of snuggling and kisses, talking, counting, singing and double kisses/hugs. Not that it wasn't precious time that I enjoyed....but it took about 45 minutes-sometimes, over an hour. When my son was born, he was rocked for 10 minutes, given a hug and into bed he went. By the time my 2nd son was born, it was a kiss, hug and bed. I didn't realize the 45 minute bedtime routine would carry into her 5th year of life---and she can't go to bed without it.
As much I love it, there are 2 other small people that need me at bedtime and a bunch of other things that need to be done. I wish I would have scaled it back as she got older so that her transition to bed would be easier."

If you have a routine that works for you, keep it. Bedtime is one of the best times of the day. For us, 5-7 minutes for each kid is the goal!