Day 1 of No Refined Sugar

We started the Healthy Families for God no-refined sugar challenge today. I've been calm/mixed with anxious. I just hope I don't blow it by absently shoving something in my face. I've also discovered that I'm more likely to mess up on one of these challenges when I'm hungry. So, I'm trying my best to not be hungry. It was tough around lunch time, I didn't have time for breakfast but I don't really care. I guess it would make lunch easier and I was thinking about making a shake for breakfast and I may get to that. If I can wake up 30 minutes earlier then I think I could do it. That means I'll have to go to bed between 10 pm and midnight and I'm not sure how I can do that unless I 'm more efficient and use my time wisely between 8 and 10 pm (8 is the kid's bedtime and quite frankly I like to sit on my butt and do nothing with Tim).

I made a breakfast granola last night. It took forever! More than the time it said on the recipe instructions, and it made my house smell weird, like an old cinnamon spicey cat lady's house. The smell has finally left the building 12 hours later! The kids hated the granola. LOL I should have paid attention to it being loose granola, best to be served with something! But what? Every yogurt I have found has a forbidden sugar/sweetener in it. Well, I did find ONE brand, and it was yogurt made from goat's milk. I'm down with that. In fact, even more so than greek yogurts and the regular stuff. Sehara is snacking on that granola/yogurt mixture, plus strawberry's mixed in.

Sehara's Snack

I'm actually nervous about eating goat yogurt. But(added later on in the day), it's pretty good!

The biggest problem I'm having right now is getting confused with this challenge, and I mean that most everything I find is not just about no-refined sugars, it's about being Gluten free and dairy free and a few acronyms and abbreviations that I can't care enough about to look up! We don't really need to go gluten free (right now). As far as we know, we can handle it.  Separating GMO's and going organic matters, yes, taking out GMO's is more important but they seem to go hand in hand as far as I can tell. I have found some things that don't, though, which is good for me because those things don't cost as much.

Now, with all that being said, we are definitely willing and happy to make recipes that take all that other stuff out, AS long as it is easy, not costly,  filling, and good (won't know until after we try it).

I'm seriously considering taking a tylenol for my headache. I'm assuming that's a withdrawal symptom? Either the sugar or I haven't had as much caffeine, or both! Heck.

Ok, here's my list of today's surprising sugar-added foods:
-breakfast sausage
-frozen broccoli and cheese "healthy" steamable (ha)We usually buy fresh, but got lazy, joke's on us.
-seasoned frozen french fries (also, usually buy potatoes and cut them, blah blah)

Meals:

For Breakfast: Healthy Families for God's granola mix and fruit (pineapple and apple)
Lunch: Onion, Garlic, Kale and Eggs
Snack: Goat Yogurt, Granola Mix, Strawberry's
Dinner: Quinoa, Corn, Tomatoes, Kale Chips, Pineapple
Snack: Banana and orange shake with vanilla and unsweetened cocoa

Being Honest

I've had a rough few days, let me tell you about them.

I've tried really hard to stop being passive-aggressive (especially on facebook) and I've done a great job. Life is tough and sometimes I think in facebook statuses (lame, but I'm sure I'm not the only one...)

I bought 100 bow cards from Vista Print. They were awesome. Sunday morning, Carson did the exact opposite of what Sehara and I both told him to do and spilled tea all over them. It was the first time I'd "officially" purchased some professional physical branding item. I was disappointed in him and a little angry.

Sehara laid them all out before church (they had the little wet wrinkles in them) and they were dry by them time we got home. So, we stacked them up and put some heavy things on top and they are fine. Crises averted. But he was horrible during services, and I ended up with 5 extra kids in my Sunday School class, which wasn't so bad except Sehara was in the other class, part of the 5 I ended up with and she was chatty and obnoxious. We had to leave early, I just couldn't do it. I'm officially drained!

I entered a contest for a free hour-long photo session with some free photos and a print, I thought I had a chance if I put up a professional photo: MY PHOTO, the one I PAID for, with MY children on a different photography site. I didn't feel weird about it, I didn't even think it could be awkward until someone commented on it, tagging the photographer who took it (whom I adore) and said ".......look familiar?"  Ok, So I messaged the photographer, who I am coming to think of as a friend and she said no worries. Great!

But it set me in a weird mood. And then the other girl deleted her comment. Hey, if you aren't going to vote, don't bother commenting! Turns out, after 2 hours, I realized there was no way we were going to win (I mean, right now, the lead has 188 likes and I have 31! HA!). That's why I don't compete, ever! I don't feel upset about it, I just got excited to see what she'd have to offer, and see how her photos are different than any other I have bought.  I'm actually a little embarrassed.

BUT, don't feel bad, we already have 3 shoots booked with Folino Photography.

That's loyalty. In case anyone was wondering.

We moved, and it's been a wonderful mess. We had some friends come over to help move, and a few family members, and a few friends come over the day after to help out. Then a family member took the kids on her birthday (What a Big Heart!), and someone else came over a few times and that ended up in confusion. But, that's IT. NONE of my family came up (even though I asked) and no more help from Tim's family. This has been a solo ride. Yes, I know big things have happened on both of our sides, but when you sit back and look at how everyone goes out of their way for everyone else and not you, it becomes a problem (and we're definitely included in the people who go out of our way). I haven't even bothered asking anyone to take the kids because the past few times have ended in No's.  (Quite Frankly, my feelings are deeply hurt but it doesn't matter..)

On the 2 days my kids go to their Grandmother's, one day I have Ladie's Class, and then the other day I HAVE to get bow orders done(I generally try when the kids go to bed and stay up until 2 or 3 but it isn't the same and I need sunlight!), or stop and go quick shopping that's a pain when you have to get two kids in and out of car-seats.

Having our own home has been a BLESSING. Carson had calmed down and he's starting to show soft affection again. With space, Madeline has taken off with walking and she's stared talking(not sure space is involed in that). Going to Grandmother's helps with that, too. She can teach them anything, and Madeline adores her!

SO, I'm super tired. All of the time. I'm not complaining, I'm just tired. Because I'm tired and my schedule is so messed up, I can't go to sleep when I need to. When has that ever happened in the history of me? I can normally find any spot and lay my head down and fall asleep whenever I please.

I think of a few blog-post ideas daily and I write them out in my head and I HAVE to remember to put a pad of paper in my purse and beside the bed so I can write them down. This page would be much more interesting if I did and people might actually get to see the real me.

I have had so much fun creating new bows, and getting a flood of pictures of babies wearing them. That's been an upper. Hanging up photos that have been stored for years is a huge deal, AND finally printing recent ones is so nice. It makes booking a bunch of photo sessions worth it! :)

I thought that maybe writing about how that girl commented on the photo would help me get over it, but it hasn't. I'm still upset about it. I understand she was probably looking out for her friend, but I didn't steal the picture, so I dunno... But, I guess from that perspective, I feel a little better. 

I know there's going to be some sort of backlash to this post, somewhere and it's not my intention to hurt anyone's feelings and I'm not being passive-aggressive, I'm just trying to be honest. If I wanted to hurt people, I would hint around and say more and not be clear but that's not my goal.
I have to take back my corner in the blogging world and going around pretending my life is a walk in a field of flowers would be a lie, and I'm not up for lying. I just want to be me.

About Nothing

I don't have much to really say, but I'm going to say something anyway. Maybe it'll get the writing juices flowing.

I'm just sitting around thinking about all the crafting activities I want to do. I'm eagerly pinning on pinterest. It's so much fun to see all the readily accessible crafts just waiting for me. I wonder if I'll ever get to any of them. I have so many things I want to do, and there isn't usually an opportunity to do them.

But then that can't really be true, because I've learned to do lots of things lately and I've done them, so who am I kidding... There's time! I just have to get crafting and stop procrastinating.

I've been thinking lately about our Anniversary coming up. I hope we get the weekend to ourselves. I don't just want Friday night alone. I can't believe Tim didn't put in a request for Friday, too. We could have had Friday, Saturday, and a little bit of Sunday. Hm. It's okay, I guess.

Our anniversary is Valentine's Day. This is our 3rd one. It seems like we've been married 1082348723 years though.

Folino Photography

 Happy Valentine's Day (almost!) Don't you just want to kiss those little lips!!!! And pick her up and hold her and hug her?

New Yearly Goals

The New Year bring new goals! While I may not make resolutions so to speak, I do embark on some "goals" (not sure there is a difference, but...people just don't like the word "resolution").

Even though it's taken me this long to write about it on my blog I have been keeping my goals.

Here's my short list:

Goals for 2014:

No soft drinks

Organize Toys more often (and then teach the younger ones to do it)

Read my Bible in front of my kids.

Pay attention to the words in songs I am singing (esp. at church)

Write More Letters

Drink More Water

Send Out Birthday Cards

*100 Miles Workout* (facebook thing)

Buy a House, or rent an apartment

Build Better Friendships

We've been working on some here and there and not doing obvious ones (like no soft drinks).

Christmas 2013

Christmas was good to us this year. We have spent a lot of time up here in Ohio to be with Tim's family. For obvious reasons. It was the best decision we could have made. :)

I think for the first time since we have been married, we felt like as much effort as we put in others, we were given back (not just material things... the more important stuff).  We were well prepared for Christmas; we did most of our shopping earlier in the year. Although, I do have to get one more thing (oops) and then send my sister's presents to her in Kentucky.

Folino Photography

It is hard to swallow the fact that we probably won't be able to have the relationship with some family that we would like to, we just don't have the same goals and personalities to have a deep relationship (but we definitely have an amiable one).

We had to put our foot down about Madeline getting swept under the rug. We got a lot of "she's so young, we won't include her in this or that". That was hard, but it's behind us now.

 

Christmas morning was nice and calm. We gave the grandparent's our gift before we went to the family Christmas and they really enjoyed it. Practical and sentimental gifts.

Hopefully this year we can start making more traditions.

I did a lot of crafting. I wanted to do some more for friends and family but I just didn't have the stamina with all the kids underfoot. Maddi and Addi orders came before crafting. The good news: now I will have those things done well before next Christmas.

One of our goals was to spend some time bonding with our kids, making relationships deeper, learning to open up and trust more. It worked with some friends, failed with others.

We got to travel down to Kentucky two days after Christmas and were surprised with a big family dinner and gift exchange! It was lovely. There's nothing better than having your whole family bombard you with hugs and kisses and punches!

So, here it is, a late Merry Christmas. 

Things You May Not Have Known

LeAnna tagged me at 10, so here I go.

1. I debated ignoring this. Then I thought that maybe I should write it on my blog to direct traffic there then decided against it. I'll probably copy and paste this and write more! 

2. Earlier this year, I finished reading my first chapter book since 2010. During my senior year at college, I dedicated myself to reading all of the assignments and burned out. I read a few books, then burned out again. I just finished Percy Jackson two nights ago and I'm addicted again. Hopefully it will last!

3. I've made a lot of bad decisions in my past and I have a lot of regrets because of them. I think it's a delayed sense of remorse because for a while I didn't care and then I thought I wouldn't be where I am now. But I think I could have learned to be me without doing some of the things I did.

4. I hate being interrupted. I'll stop talking when it happens and smile and nod the rest of the conversation. Tim says that's part of having a conversation, but I disagree unless it's an exuberant girly fast-paced thing. Actually, I get interrupted almost every time I talk.

5. I bleed blue! UK ALL THE WAY. But I don't care about watching games or if we lose. I just gloat when we win.

6. I don't like passive-aggressive facebook posts, texts, emails, or comments (although I've been guilty before). I do understand it's hard to vent outright when you're friends on FB, or when they are in person and you're not ready for the confrontation. I have made a goal to not do it, and have been pretty successful lately!

7. I'm conceited. When I was a teenager, I had a long conversation with my oldest sister and accepted some facts about myself(in particular; my appearance). I know what I've got and what I don't have and it won't affect me. Ain't nobody got time for insecurity.

8. I've slowly turned from being more democratic and having more liberal opinions to being more republican and having more conservative opinions in the past 4 years. I still struggle with a lot of things, because I want to believe in mainstream acceptance  but I can't argue with God's word. Sometimes I feel ashamed because of it, so I feign disinterest in political conversations and ignore talks or posts or whatnot (even though I read them and get upset or confused or whatever). Then I go to Granddad or Uncle Don or other trusted people and casually ask like I just wanted to know, lol.

9. I don't like living in Ohio. I AM grateful for the relationships I've made here, the church family I have and the family I married into. Most of all, I'm grateful to live with Tim's Grandparent's and see the fine example they live. You can't hide anything when you live with people and I know I've changed so much just seeing how honest and good two people can be. It's such a good living arrangement. To me, it's a flat ugly grey land full of cornfields. Last summer I finally saw beauty here, driving to and from Friends Nursing Home. I couldn't ignore the sun shining brilliantly.

10. I have mommy issues. I can't understand how a mother could put her children through the things my birth mother put us through. I am so grateful for my mom now. She helps me emotionally when I need her, tells me to get over myself when I'm being stubborn. She talks praise about me and brags on me. I just love her.


11. I love taking my kids to the library but I always end up sweating and getting aggravated and rush Sehara to leave. But I don't feel bad, it takes her 5 minutes to pick out a million books. I love to sign Carson and Madeline up for Mommy and Me time there. I've forgotten to do it lately.


12. I love getting family pictures taken. I love photos of myself, my husband, and my children. I love photos of my family and friend. I plan on having full walls! But not in my living room.I need clean lines and walls to not be anxious. Our latest photos have been through Folino Photography. She's amazing!

13. I'm an introvert. I find social gatherings exhausting and cringe at the thought of going and hanging out. Surprising, because I'm great at being around people, I can always strike up a conversation and get people to talk back. I have excellent icebreaker skills too.

14. I have to sleep for a long time after social gatherings. (Church not included) Or be by myself, take a shower, read, put the kids to bed or SOMETHING so I can have a few minutes. I tell Tim that he can't talk to me for an hour.

15. I miss being me. I decided yesterday that I'll just have to create a new me. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

16. I cloth diaper. I breastfeed, and Tim and I co sleep. I love doing all of them. Some days, I despise doing all of them. Then I think about the alternative and I mentally smack myself.

17. I'm selfish. I don't like sharing. I warned Tim before he married me. He married me anyway. Most days, I'm not too bad, then others he looks at me like he's surprised!

18. I honestly love corrective feedback about things. EXCEPT, about my parenting WHEN it's happening. Like in the middle of a tantrum or unhappy screaming kids. I'll sass you if you try to then. But after (and I really mean waaay after) I'm all ears. That doesn't mean I'll do it, or that I'll agree, but I will listen. Unless it's stupid advice. I accept feedback about me, but you have to give me a few days to think about stuff.

19. I married the most wonderful guy in my whole world. I see those articles being posted everywhere about "Boring men" and "Marriage isn't for me" and all those and think; "I've got me one of those men".

20. I'm more negative than positive, but it's an emotional goal I've been working on.

21. I give up something for a whole year, starting New Year's until the next. This year I gave up adding salt to my food (except for when it HAS to be baked into something or goes into a potluck dish). I won't be adding salt to my food anymore. There's no point. I like the taste of my food as is now.

How To Make Your Cricut Cutting Mat Sticky Again

HOW TO MAKE YOUR CRICUT BOARD STICKY AGAIN

During my darkest moments in some serious frustration with borrowing my church's cricut machine and trying to figure out how on Earth to use it, realizing the main problem was the board not being sticky enough, I realized, wait, there HAS to be a cheap solution for this...

I wanted to throw the thing. The paper kept slipping and the blade was cutting through all my precious tags for MaddiandAddiBowtique.etsy.com but you know, you can't break what ain't yours, and you shouldn't ruin your things either...

HOW TO MAKE YOUR CRICUT BOARD STICKY AGAIN

A basic swagbuck search popped up a lot of different options (Gotta earn those free Starbucks gift cards through swagbucks, link below). One I like best was using Spray Adhesive.




It's so simple, you don't even need pitcures. I even have safe Amazon links for you to click and buy. I'm that good.

Take your board (whatever brand you use, I hear there are a few), cover the frame: the non sticky part around the sticky part. It's important. The rollers go over this part and you don't want the rollers getting sticky stuff on them. I used scotch tape and regretted it, but it's all I had. You can use painting tape, or even cover it with paper.

Spray the adhesive spray around the board. Not too much in one spot (and remember, when it wears off you can always reapply more). If you spray too much in one spot, your paper will really stick. Learn from my experience. ;)  I sprayed the board I use right there on the floor. It isn't messy if you're careful. Easy Peasy.

LET IT DRY completely. It's not sticky until it dries.

Remove your tape and enjoy!






Swagbucks link: swagbucks.com/refer/JenniBrenni
It's a simple, easy way to do some basic polls and surveys to earn free gift cards to your favorite places!

***I'm part of the Amazon Associate Program. If you click on the safe amazon link and buy that item, I get a small percentage, and isn't that nice?!***

Busy Making Bows

I feel like more often than not, I'm posting about how I neglect my blog.

I've been busy! I have been trying to get my etsy shop up and running and it's a lot of work.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaddiandAddiBowtique

The Proof is in the Puddin', go ahead and take a look at it.

I realize a few things about myself are as true now as they were years ago: I'm not a photographer. I'm just not. I try and try to get great pictures of my products and I am lacking the eye for it. I've come to terms with it, but it has to be done. It gets frustrating.

I can get caught up in bow making and ignore the noises around me. It's usually a good thing because I work into the night, but if I need to have something done during the day, it can get bad. Kids need supervision. I'm glad Carson is starting to be able to play by himself.

I miss working. I really do. I feel like I need to contribute more financially and I do, I want to, but thinking about leaving my kids is tough.

So, hopefully this bow stuff will kick off!

Carson's Lego Birthday

Here I am posting a little late about Carson's Birthday.
It was pretty good. Super stressful, but worth it in the end.

Plates on the wall: Party City, taped together

Streamers: Party City

Cupcakes: Me

Lego Heads on Cupcakes: Melted Wilton yellow chocolate on mini pretzel sticks

Bunting: Walmart or you can convo MaddiandAddiBowtique.etsy.com and have me make you a fabric one that you can hang on your kid's wall after!

 

Part of the goody bags included these handmade lego notepads that Jeanine basically made for me. I also had the party hats as part because they are a lot to do, and are really special. Big Candy bars were also involved. I didn't have enough time to get legos and bag those up, too. BOO to that.

Kayt decorated the sugar cutout cookies. I ate them all.

 

Keep in mind that I am NOT a photographer and I have is a phone camera.

Birthday boy!

 

 

 

He's already 2!

Munchkin Straws[Amazon Link] !

Who doesn't need these? Perfect for cleaning sippy cup, tumbler cups, and every other little reusable straw you have.
I can't believe I just discovered them.

P.S., I'm part of the amazon associate program. If you click on the link and buy this product, I get paid! :)

Via: Amazon