Let's see

What have we been up to lately, you ask?

1.  Well, we took our first trip to the park a few weekends ago.  Sofia *really* enjoyed the swings!

 

2.  I bought a new camera, see post below

3.  I've been drooling over some etsy stuff for my camera.  The grey and yellow strap is etsy seller: MelVDesigns, the lens cap holder is seller: CraftStaci and the lens bag is seller: TracyJoy.  I wish I could get them all from the same seller so they would match, but unfortunately they don't all make those items, nor do they have the same fabrics.

 

 4.  I woke up at 6am this morning realizing I need to get to work on the finishing touches/plans for Sofia's birthday.  Invitations need to be ordered.  I've got to figure out where I want to have it and what activities there will be for the kids.  Gotta buy her outfit.  I also wanted to do a test run of the cupcakes and "smash" cake I'll be making for her birthday.

5.  Sofia turned 10 months old on March 25.  The pictures are currently in my camera.  I'll post an update soon.

New year, new beginnings, new goals

I'm not one for New Years resolutions.  The excitement of the new year fades quickly and most of the population does not stick to the resolution(s) they made.  But I guess you could say this year is different for me.  I feel more resolve to change certain things in my life.

I've decided to do a scaled down version of 101 in 1001.  Let's face it, a lot of things can change in 2.75 years.  So many things on my old list be came unimportant or things that just weren't attainable any more with a new baby.  But, I did complete quite a bit of it, and as a list maker, it made me feel good to cross off a few things here and there.  So, I decided that this year I would make 27 goals for the year.  One for every two weeks of the year.  They don't have to be completed weekly, I just wanted to scale down the number of goals.  I originally started with 52, but I trouble coming up with that many.  I'll start with 27 and if I have more to add I'll add more.

I've decided to make some of the goals more long-term and therefore, more difficult to achieve.  But others will be quick and easy.  That way I can feel like I'm accomplishing *something*.  So, here they are.

1. Get on a budget, and try to stick with it for good!  I've lived out of my/our means for a while.  Living on credit and not really having a solid plan to pay it off.  Right now I'm using Mint.com for budgeting, and I recommend it, it's pretty cool! (0/12)
2. Pay off credit card 100% and keep the spending within a limit that I can pay off *every* month- I'd say $500/month.  I paid the card off a few days ago using a lower (than the CC) interest rate loan that we already had.  But now the challenge is to keep the spending down every month so that I can keep the balance at zero. (0/12)
3. Lose 6 pounds.  I've got 6 pounds of baby weight left to lose! (0/6)
4. Lose 4 pounds to equal a total of 10 (0/4)
5. Lose another 5 pounds to equal a total of 15 to put me into the middle of my BMI range. (0/5)
6. Save for  and buy new camera (monthly goal $150).  I've got my eye on this one!  ::love::
7. Take pictures of Sofia monthly.  This one should be easy as I'm already doing it, but I want to make sure I continue it! (0/12)
8. Go to the dentist every six months.  To some this might seem silly, but I, sadly, have not been to the dentist in years.  It just wasn't something that was instilled in me in my childhood. (0/2)
9. Finish Sofia's growth chart
10. Hang curtain rod and curtains in Sofia's room
11. Get Bandit's claws clipped or filed every 3 months (0/4)
12. Buy and start a compost bin.  This is something I've been wanting to do for a while.  I really want to be better about not being so wasteful.
13. Try to finish C25K program- 9 weeks.  I don't know if this will be feasible for me because of my knee, but I think it might help me to get back into running. (0/9)
14. Sell maternity clothes, put that money towards camera savings
15. Start savings account for Sofia
16. Sell Sofia's no longer used toys and "gear".  Put that money into her savings account.
17. Get cloth diaper inventory up to 24 diapers and/or GroVia inserts (16/24)
18. Fill Sofia's month-by-month picture frames, 13 total pictures in each (0/13 x2)
19. Have a small, successful, and cute first birthday party for Sofia.
20. Buy an external hard drive, keep all pictures and important files updated on said drive.
21. Get house "baby-proofed" (stove button caps, oven locks, doorknob locks, cabinet locks, toilet seat locks, etc)
22. Try to be consistent in using coupons (i.e stockpile non perishables)
23. Work on my photography skills (do any one or more of the following- complete my photography book, complete the 12 weeks to better photography, and/or take a photography class)
24. Buy a chest for my Grandmother's silverware, polish said silverware and store correctly
25. Buy and install fireplace doors or screen (kind of counts as baby proofing)
26. Buy and install a ceiling fan for Sofia's room
27. *Possibly* re do fire place hearth and surrounding area with new glass tile
    

Picture Perfect Saturday

I have two things for this Saturday, AND, I'm actually doing it on Saturday.  YAY! Go ME!


First thing I have are some interesting friends I met on in my yard.  Here, take a look.  I'm kind of bummed that they're eating my passion flower vine, but I thought they were pretty cool.

The last thing is what I purchased for my step sister for her birthday and my step dad for father's day.  Just take a stab at where I got them... ;)  The far left is for my stepdad and it will say Kyle 6-20-10, the middle is my step sisters, it will say Zoe 5-27-10, and I got them each a small tin to hold them in.  I thought they were pretty cool.  Especially since they are both avid guitar players.  The picks might not actually be usable, but they're pretty and they were fairly inexpensive.

Picture Perfect Saturday

More etsy and current things I covet.  :)



ByHannahDesigns  I'll definitely be ordering one of these once Sofia is born! 

kmthomasdesigns, I'm going to be needing some more announcements.  I have the ones that I handmade (reminder: finish those asap), but those are going out to immediate family since I only have about 18.  I thought these were cute AND they have a dandelion on them.  I might see if the designer could change the pink to purple.

Etsy buys

Can't wait to receive my most recent purchases.  So cute!!


Both are from etsy seller, JolieBerry.  Adorable headpiece, small yet feminine.

THE cutest shoes on the planet.  They're sized 6-9 months, but I'll take 'em.  Holy moly they are cute!

Etsy finds of the week

Etsy is a wonderful place. If you don't know what it is or haven't really used it, you must! They have some really awesome handmade items. Here are my current favorites...

Seller: bitOwhimsy




Hair clips, seller: blissfulmoments




Leggings, seller: candyapplecutie




Headband, seller: cstirlen



Shoes!! seller: sewingsparklz