12.29.2013

the year that was 2013

I've spend a few minutes here and a few minutes there thinking about this past year and reflecting on my goals.  I'm excited to start planning some new goals for 2014 and to use some new tools to make it a more productive year.

One big thing I've realized is that I need my goals posted in the house somewhere.  I'm not even sure the last time I looked at my goals from this last year, so no wonder I didn't accomplish them.

Also, 2013 was the year of very little sleep.  For about 1 month there, we got decent sleep but then the teething started and it's been rough.  And I can survive and parent relatively well on little sleep, but lots falls by the wayside when sleep is limited.

But, here are my goals from the last year and how I did on them.  17/30 completed isn't too shabby for a year with a new baby:

family
1. weekly date nights with mike (starting in march)- we probably had 1 or 2 the entire year.  but this is a big priority for us in 2014
2.  read a marriage book-didn't read one but maybe marriage counseling counts?
3. attend vandecasteele family reunion in july
4. camp for 1 night as a family
5.  day trip to denver as a family-zoo in october
6. attend at least one of the basement house show series concerts
7. keep family blog up to date and turn into photo books-big slacker here, but I'm pretty caught up now, so hopefully photo books in 2014
8. family pictures in June & December-got them done in December
9. complete 2 intentional activities with hudson each week-big miss here, but the activities we did do were fun!
10. nurse miles for 1 year-probably my proudest accomplishment and also the one that took the most time
11. potty train hudson
12. learn how to use the grill


spiritual
13. attend tuesday morning bible study*-finished the Vanguard study and then started attending Bible Study Fellowship
14. memorize romans 1, 8 & 12*
15. count 1000 gifts*
16. find somewhere to volunteer-I crafted with Restored Innocence for about 3 months

personal
17. exercise 2x/week (jan-march), 3x/week (april-june), 4x/week (july-sept), 5x/week (oct-nov)*-just laughing at this one
18. drink 80 ounces of water each day*-maybe 80 ounces of coffee each day
19. complete a 30 day sugar fast
20. complete 2 week long media fasts-i think i got one done
21. read 2 books a month*-i read a bunch but probably not 2 each month
22. wake up before the boys once miles establishes a consistent sleep pattern (april?)*-ha! consistent sleep pattern.  what's that?

home
23. develop weekly cleaning schedule*
24. plant a garden
25. paint something for the living room wall
26. bake all of our bread*-did great until I stopped eating bread and then I got a bit lazy with this one

craft
27. sew something for me or the boys 1x/month*
28. rebrand camera cases
29.  fully stock etsy store and keep it stocked
30. wear only clothes i've made for a week (jeans excluded)

12.09.2013

Cozy Cameras Giveaway

Happy Giveaway Day!!!

Giveaway Day

****Congratulations Laura! You are the winner of the camera case.  Check your email for details.

 I'm linking up with sewmamasew.com to give away one of my camera cases.

Winner receives 1 camera case of their choice from cozycameras.etsy.com.  Which one will you choose?









Details:
Winner will receive 1 Cozy Camera case from cozycameras.etsy.com.  Winner can choose from any of the ones currently listed.  Open to U.S. residents only.

Enter using the rafflecopter below


a Rafflecopter giveaway

12.06.2013

lately

ahhh poor neglected blog.  If only there were a few more hours in the day.  Specifically while the kiddos were sleeping.  There's a lot of baby chasing and car vrooming these days, with a little bit of sewing thrown in there.

A little pattern testing for ImagineGnats.  Love the Meridian Cardi which is now available.


Ran out of my first spool on thread on the serger.  


My camera cases are now available in Spices of Life Gift Shop in Denver.  We stopped by to see the shop after a trip to the zoo.  It's such a cute little place with amazing gifts.


I participated in 2 craft shows this fall.  The first was at Pine Creek High School.  It was a very successful day.  My cases were actually my best sellers, which was a bit surprising to me.  The 2nd show was the Farm and Art Market at Ivywild School.  It was great to get to know the other vendors there.  Not as successful sales wise, but a great experience and an honor to be chosen to participate.



A little behind the scenes of life these days.  The little guys naps are all over the place so I fit in sewing and photo shoots whenever I can.  And the chickens love to come help.


Come back Monday for a giveaway (hint hint...what do I spend most of my time sewing?)

10.29.2013

Monday Monday

After I wrote this I realized that it is actually the 16th. I am seriously loosing my mind.

I failed at 10 on 10 this month so I thought why not do 15 on 15, but I failed at that too. So here's 10 pictures from the 15th of September and a glimpse into our day.

Oh man I missed this kid. He just started saying mama yesterday and I love it.

Missed this one too! Peanut butter crackers every morning.

My iron got a workout this morning. Craft show prep.

Soaking up the last few minutes with Oma and opa.

Favorite outfit

A clean microwave thanks to my wonderful father in law.

Brothers

Enforceable statements how I love you.

Changing the way I parent. So much goodness.

A little craft business work.

9.06.2013

10 on 10 [august-birthday edition]

Miles wanted to be the first to wish me happy birthday

A good reminder for today and this next year

Birthday morning snuggles 

Thanks chipotle for the free produce from the farmers market

Speaking my love language with some quality time with my boys

This one missed the memo that it was nap time

Instead of some time to myself due to day 5 of a headache, I decided to hang out with president Bartlett instead

Starbucks #2 for the day

Fastest birthday dinner ever since we were running late

Worshipping Jesus is not a bad way to end your birthday

Today was probably my most fun birthday to date (minus the headache). So long 20s. I'm thinking the 30s are going to be fabulous.







7.10.2013

10 on 10 [july]

if i've got to be up early, at least i get to hang out with this guy

apparently 7:15 is not too early to paint

so much green

it's ok brother. don't be sad

such joy

happy mail

a little hand sewing

first canning of the season

Desperate for a pedicure but a sugar scrub will have to do

A little before bed reading

7.05.2013

happy 4th (on the 5th)

Happy 4th of July (on the 5th)!

so patriotic.

exercising his freedom from nap taking

last minute decorations finished on the 3rd

needed some red and some leggings so i sewed a pair up during naptime, you know,  like you do :)

7.01.2013

green shorts!

I found this great green fabric on the clearance rack at Joanns and decided it would be perfect for shorts.  It had a bit of stretch, but was heavy enough to have some structure.


I used Simplicity 1783 as a basic start.  I shortened the pants and added pockets to the front and back.  I also dropped the waist 2 inches.  It certainly was an adventure to sew, with lots and lots of seam ripping.  They ended up way to big so I had to take the pockets off and cut off 2 inches from the front.  Then the waist was too big in the back so more seam ripping. 


I love how they turned out.  Super comfy and such a fun green.




6.10.2013

10 on 10 [june]

a trip back to target to find the beloved giraffe.  because i'm too cheap to pay $15 for a new one.

where we will be hanging out all week

avocado day 2

bonding with my seam ripper and being thankful that our diapers are all snaps

way too hot

beans and peas.  please don't die in the heat.

thankful for a sale to cover the overdraft fees on the dumbest banking error ever.

praying with this good group of people

dreaming about many meals around this beauty

person i most want to have coffee with