The Simple Life

Feed your creative passions...

Levi and I were talking about how much we enjoy our hobbies and why it makes us happy! I can't quote him exactly...but he was saying how some people just don't understand why he would spend thousands of dollars into building his bronco, he does it because it allows him to be creative and build something that he loves. Same goes for me and scrapbooking.

 

Hobbies are a passion. It gives you that drive to think and dream creatively. The inspiration that we get to cReaTe. He loves to walk into his garage and just open up all his drawers and see his tools so neatly organized, and see his Bronco next to mine, and his road bike...and everything else in there! He said he's just like me when I walk into my scrapbook room. We have everything there and when we have an idea we can just walk right in and create something. "You grab a photo, pick out your cardstock and paper, and ribbon and 'fibers' and create that page that you had in your head"...yes Levi said that! He knows too much about scrapbooking, but it's because he knows that I love it, and I'm passionate about it! He said something that stood out to me..."as much as we love what we do, it doesn't matter if we ever get it done, although I will finish my Bronco, but it's that creativeness that we need and thrive on..."

I don't worry about being "caught up in scrapbooking" {although it would be nice!} I know I will never scrapbook every photo I ever took. I'm not on a deadline. I just enjoy making whatever I want, when I want.

This hangs on the wall in the garage next to all of Levi's photo collage of broncos...I gave it to him for Christmas. It's a reminder that I am always right :)

{ok, and him too! although, last night he admitted that I am almost always RIGHT! so I win!}

 

This quotation says it best:

"Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievment, in the thrill of cReaTiVE effort."

This is what I'm using right now...

 
I was talking about these embellishments the other day, that is why I have been dying to find that Making Memories houndstooth paper! To use with all this stuff!

Talking about passions...made me think of this page I finally finished last year...in Cherry's circle journal. Her book was on passions & pleasures. {sorry it took me for.ever!}

 

What are you most passionate about? What are your hobbies?

 

We got snow...

Woke up to all this SNOW this morning!

{yes, I feel bad for Idaho...this is normal, every single day! so sorry!}

 
And we didn't even complain, because ONE: we hardly get snow down here, and TWO: snow = work! {snow removals for bank properties}

Work in general for Levi has been extremely slow, almost dead the past 2 weeks...very scary. So we are grateful for all the snow today, hopefully all weekend too.

 
Wore my snow boots this morning on my way to the chiropractor.

I wanted to turn around and punch him, because my leg hurt so bad! But I didn't!

Came back home and ate some rice krispy treats, I made these yesterday...we were going to have some after dinner, {we ate at Panda Express} but we forgot about them. Well Levi remembered around midnight so he had one then!

I usually use these the Choco-Nilla Rice Krispies...but I haven't seen them around for a year, I don't think they make them any more? So the last couple of times I've just mixed the cocoa rice krispies with the regular ones, although I only had a little bit left from last time! I like them chocolaty! 

 
I spent a couple hours today clearing off my table in my scrapbook room, putting away misc. stuff and updating my photo blog! It's all caught up as of today! I'm excited to scrapbook tomorrow!

I'm baack...

I found my long lost houndstooth paper today. {along with a couple other papers} I have been missing it since we moved.

 
I bought it in Oct of 2009...then we moved in November, and I don't know why, but it has drove me crazy not knowing where it was, and not being able to find it! But I found it today...I can't even tell you how inspiring it is! Maybe because it matches stuff that I bought at the expo last year...I tell ya, when something gets stuck in my head, it really gets to me! Sure I've made stuff since then...but I have been dying to use this stuff since I bought it...but I couldn't because I wanted my paper too! Okay rambling on...can't wait to start scrapbooking pages again! I don't think I'm making any sense? Any way, I found my missing paper sandwiched in between scrapbook paper from my store! Which I did start to take everything out and set it up in the basement...so I can sell it all. I want it gone. I have come to realize that I am okay if I never have a store again. Of course I would like too, but for now, I would rather have all of my inventory gone, displays and such too. That way I can get more of what we need in our food storage, like diapers, wipes, toilet paper, personal hygiene stuff etc...we have a lot of food, but we could always use more, but we need to get these items as well.

Also...I've been going to the chiropractor regularly. Actually for about a month now...I think. Time flies. Any way...I have never been to a chiropractor until just recently...and I had no choice but to go, because I literally could hardly walk, it has gotten so bad. It's my tail bone, but for the past 6-7 months or so, I've had problems with my left leg/hip...I've never really known how to explain myself! But basically it gives out...and I have almost fallen lots of times, too many to count. Sometimes even while holding Anthony. Luckily, I've never fallen completely, I've always caught myself against the wall, or counter, car...whatever happens to be there. Levi says I need one of those 'life alert' buttons. Actually that would have been helpful, on several occasions. It's been very frustrating. Not being able to walk normal. Not being able to go places by myself with my kids. I have, but since the last time I've gone out, I realized that it's not smart...unless I have Levi or someone with me. So I will either go by myself, or only take one kid. Only because I can't bear weight on both my legs evenly, I can't chase after Isa, I can't hold the heavy carseat, and grab a hold of my girls' hands while walking into a store! So I went to the chiropractor and he took x rays and looked for sublaxations and such... and wow, I have all sorts of problems! Isn't that what happens when you see a doctor? They tell you everything that is wrong with you! So my right leg is shorter than my left {I think, I forgot already, it could be the other way around} and I put more weight on my right because of my left leg/hip...he said it must be from an injury, possibly when I crashed on my dirt bike...years ago. My neck is out and curved wrong...{again probably from the dirt bike} he says he sees that in patients from car accidents involving whiplash. My sacrum is tilted and is off so much...probably from having kids, hmmm what else. Oh yeah...my jaw, doesn't shut like a normal person, it shifts several times before it actually closes! Wow, who knew! So I am on a schedule of regular weekly visits, 3 times a week for a month, then two times a week and then one time a week. So hopefully by May, I should be better? Well improving anyway. And I've been so good at going at working out...up until 3 weeks ago, when he said I had to hold off for about a week, which secretly that night I went to work out anyway, because I'm stubborn. And then about killed my back! I did stop. Then that next week we got sick. Then I worked out a couple times and we got sick again...now we are back to getting better. It has been very discouraging though...I remember the first adjustment he did. I was anticipating too much, I knew it was going to hurt...I said 'mother fuuuuuudge' no I didn't swear, I really just said fudge, you know like on the Christmas Story! The chiropractor thought it was funny. I did say a few other swear words though, I couldn't help it! Now I'm getting used to it...but I still hate the 'drops' that he has to do...freaks me out, and it kills my leg, but whatever it takes to make me walk normal! He says I have a weak muscle and so the nerve is shooting pain and making my leg give out. It's a nuisance, please make it stop!

But that's about all I've been up to lately...just trying to get my family over this sickness crap, the usual chores that make my life feel like the movie Groundhog Day, and not staying caught up on my 365 photo blog...maybe tomorrow??

 

Seeing Yellow...

 
I wore these cute flats today, bought them last year for my birthday. Actually the real reason was the sandals that I wore at the mall were killing my feet! Then I bought these and made them even worse! Still trying to break them in...ahh the pain that we put our feet through for cute shoes!

 
We had a secret sister activity for church Tuesday night, and this is what I picked out for mine. She loves yellow and chocolate truffles. I love anything with polka dots! That is why I made these into tags for the prizes. It was fun to get to know more about everyone, I feel like I still don't know who everyone is...

 
Yellow is such a happy color! Looking at it makes it feel like summer already!

happy he{art} day...

Instead of explaing to you how every thing went wrong today...I will leave you with these. Yes I am finishing them up started these tonight and need them for tomorrow night...procrastinating, it's what I do best. I actually started to do them last week, but with being sick, and every time I tried to work on them, just didn't work out. But see how cute they turned out? They wouldn't have been nearly as cute if I actually did them early!

 
 
 
 

*And as always...I use the cutest stuff from House of 3!

The girls' room...

Just now sharing pictures of my girls' room, all decorated, I did finish this last year!

Remember when I finally painted it here? Well Levi never did finish up the edges that weekend. It's back to becoming my project again. I painted the walls Scarecrow by Benjamin Moore, but I had it mixed at Ace Hardware with their Ace brand.

And I didn't paint Gulianna's headboard, so picture it an off white :)

 
The room is a perfect size for now, I would prefer to have one a bit bigger to fit two twin beds with enough room...hopefully in the next house.

Isa sleeps in the crib, well she did up until around September of last year...then she started sleeping at the end of Gulianna's bed. I finally got around to switching it out. I love the color of the wood on the crib, it looks a bit red in the picture, but it's not. Don't ask how much the crib and bedding was...I spent way to much, but I picked it out because it would go well with both girls and boys. Except it hasn't had much use, since we keep moving so much. We have still used it, just not as much as I would have liked!

 

Gulianna's lil froggy...

 

 

The metal flowers and frames are from Rod Works, I bought them when I was pregnant with Gulianna. They don't have the flowers any more, but they still carry the frames, just not in that same color of red...which I like better, it's more of a rustic red.
 

G is for G U L I A N N A
 

I is for I S A B E L L A
 

These get played with daily...it was Gulianna's Christmas present from Santa in 2008, right before I had Isabella!
 

Their mini armoire, that is very functional...tv sits on it, reading books in the basket, jeans are behind the doors. I didn't get around to painting it. It will match the bed. Or maybe I will get something new, next time we move.
 

Mini polka dot lamp is from Hobby Lobby! Five Dollars! It's so small and cute!
 
 

Coats, sweaters, and swim suits hang here :)

Flower rod Iron hanger is from Rod Works. {again...bought when I was pregnant with Gulianna}

The tiny closet! But we made it work! I don't care for the sliding doors...for a while Gulianna and Isa were constantly getting them off their tracks...such a pain to try to put them back. 
 

Left side...
 
Right side...

Dress ups are kept in the big round basket.

I recently updated the tags on their baskets...so now they have their own. They are labeled with their name, and then we keep pajamas, socks & underwear, tights in them! 
 
Cute little shoes...

I took these pictures last fall, so I've taken out all their sandals. As well as their summer clothes, and whatever they outgrew. The closet is small enough as it is, so we have to make it work!

 

Magnet board, at their height, so they can put their artwork on it!
 
This is Gulianna's favorite picture apparently! She keeps getting it from my scrapbook room! I don't know if she likes it because her hair looks straight in it, or that she is wearing her heart shirt with her blue minnie mouse pajamas...those were her favorite! She misses them...they made their way to the DI last year!

 
I am proud to say that their room is kept clean all the time. Sure they get out their dress ups and babies and shoes, but they know to clean them up when they are done. I don't clean it up for them. Gulianna will make her own bed first, and then I will go in and help her with it after. All I do is make sure that every thing is in it's place, and then vacuum, and hang up their clothes. Gulianna loves to organize her shoes...she used to say "mom, I don't know which order they go!" But she has figured it out! Not that they have a specific order, but she has all hers together, and then all Isa's together! Isa loves to come in and try on every shoe! And she loves to wear the boots, just like Gulianna did! They now have a cute little kitchen with pots and pans and cooking utensils, that Santa brought them.

I would love to have a house with a little play room so that toys can be kept there instead of in the bedroom. But for now this is all we have!

I can do A LOT...

Tonight while Anthony and Gulianna were taking a nap...{yes, I said Gulianna!} Isa and I shared a blue symphony bar while I searched for a recipe to make something with chicken...and whatever else we had on hand.

I found 3 recipes, although I didn't have all the ingredients, I was just going to use what I had...then I began to trim off the excess fat on the chicken, and got disgusted when I found several white flat 'things' running through the chicken! I usually don't get grossed out...but when I saw those things, all I could think of was that they were flat worms! That was the end of it..

I forgot to mention that the reason for me attempting to make something was because Levi was working late...he cooks dinner for us almost every night! You can either look at this as being spoiled or the fact that I don't have patience for cooking  we work together in our home. You see, I take care of our kids all day,while he goes out and works...I usually always clean the house, but he helps too. What? You say your man doesn't clean? Oh...he's not the oldest in his family? Uh make him do it anyway! Just a little sarcasm there, if you didn't clue in on it. Any way...we both have always just done our chores in our home, dishes, laundry, vacuum, floors, toilets etc...so it has never been a problem with us. For the longest time Levi would just wash his own laundry, because, well he's cool like that. I understand that may be foreign to some of you. :) He changes diapers, bathes the kids, even puts pony tails in the girls' hair.

I don't even remember where I was going with this...

ah yes...sometimes...only sometimes, I feel bad for not having dinner ready for Levi when he gets home from work every night. I do have a few select things that I will make...so with that being said...

 

Amy Butler...

I love Amy Butler's fabulous fabric!

I didn't know she had rugs...wait...maybe I think I did...but I obviously forgot!

I only wish I could buy one of these...

This first one is my favorite pattern, my camera strap is made out of it,

 I would die to have it in my living room!

 
 

But I love this one too...I have this in scrapbook paper!
 
or this one!

 
okay...all of them?

 

Ten things you might not know...

about ME! okay you most likely don't!

Or maybe you do? Let's see...here we go!

 

1. I am really finicky {definition: excessively particular, as in tastes or standards; fussy}with just about everything...I have always been that way. I was born that way, ha ha! I like to organize everything. I like a place for everything. I like to have things a certain way, at its best. I don't like it when anything is done half assed...it drives me crazy! Like say...you can't just wash dishes and say your job is done. You wash the dishes. Clean the sink of all it's crumbs and such...Wipe the counters, tables and chairs. Put the clean dishes away...and then you have to sweep the floor, because well...that's just how I do things. I think this goes to number two...

2.  I like to always have a clean house, and clean bathrooms. This does not mean my house is always clean. But I am always cleaning it. I do not like clutter. I still have clutter. But it is not visible to others. This does not mean that I shove things in closets! Because that drives me nuts, just put things away in it's proper spot, so that you don't have to do it again when you open a closet! Right now it just ends up in the basement because I don't have the proper storage, or it goes to the DI. I vacuum daily. Sometimes twice a day or more, when my girls sneak into the cupboards and then eat in the living room. {Because they can't wait a mere twenty minutes while I am taking a shower, mind you they had breakfast maybe 5 minutes before!} I love to vacuum. I always have. Don't get me started on the vacuum lines...you'll think I'm crazy. I often think one day I could turn into Howard Hughes...

3. I am a creative person. I like to make things. I like to scrapbook and to decorate. It makes me happy! But before I can sit down and do something creative, my house has to be clean and in order. It clutters up my brain if my house is messy. I enjoy being surrounded by beautiful things! I love walking into my home that I decorated. I love sitting in my scrapbook room and going through all my stuff. My ideas are neverending. That doesn't mean I never get stuck in a creative rut. I think creatively, I dream creatively.

4. I am the oldest of six kids in my family. And Levi {my husband} is also the oldest in his family. This is where we get along so well, and have a lot in common. But at the same time it brings about the perfectionist in each other, and who is more perfect, and more right! Of course we know we are far from perfect. We both know that we have to take care and look out for our siblings and others. It's how we grew up. We both are diligent with our responsibilities, and just get things done. Take care of it-if you will.

 
5. I am ME {and nobody else} I am happy with who I am. I like to dress up and do my hair. I take a shower, brush my teeth and put on makeup every day. Even if I am just staying home and not going any where. I always like to look my best. I paint my toenails, and that's about it. The last time I painted my finger nails was when I was in high school. I don't go out to get manicures and pedicures {uh...please don't make me say it...hearing "mani's and pedi's makes me cringe. yeah, I can't even believe I just typed that!} I don't like acrylic nails on ME.{they look good on other girls} I've only had them once, and I did them myself, and I instantly hated it. I have flimsy finger nails. I can bend them and they won't break. That is until they get longer. Then they will. They are naturally very white. I get asked all the time what I do to make them so white. Hmmm...I don't know? From washing dishes?! My feet are very ticklish...though over the years, I have overcome that. Levi desperately wishes that I would go out and get a pedicure, but I can't bring myself to do it! My feet used to be a small size 7.5 {actually that is huge...compared to my mom and sisters' feet, my 'honkin' shoes were always in the way, and they still are according to Levi!} but since being pregnant they have grown...I wear an 8-8.5 sometimes. I don't like that. Levi says that my feet used to be pretty and small, now I have ugly ogre feet! And I could care less. Sure I wish they were smaller, but oh well. I am funny. Actually to myself I am hilarious, I crack myself up, I laugh at my own jokes! Sometimes I think that you can't tell my humorous personality when I type, because you can't hear me. But I can hear myself, and sense my own sarcasm. Most often I'm just trying to make you laugh! My favorite movies are Dumb and Dumber and Little Women. Such a contrast right! But they remind me of my personality...and that's why I love them. I quote lines from Dumb and Dumber daily.I am a lucky person! I most always win! I have won countless random contests and prizes and such. I always know when they will pick me. If it is a contest on the radio...I know that I'm supposed to call, and when...and I just win! I'm psychic. Not psycho...ok maybe sometimes. Well it hasn't happened in a while, probably because I'm not in tuned like that now, but I remember in middle school, and high school, I knew what song would be next on the radio, before they played it, before they announced it. Almost every single time! I could hear the first couple lyrics and the melody in my head just seconds before they played that song. Wierd, I know. I am stubborn. I choose not to elaborate on this. I just like things done my way. Which turns into selfishness. Yes I am a selfish person. Example: I have a very hard time when I am shopping for someone else. Because I instantly always find something for me. Most of the times I will buy it for myself. But at the same time I have the will power to put it back...and go with my original intentions of shopping for someone else. But I am stubborn and selfish! There is always room for improving myself. I am a hardworker. I've had lots of different jobs. Wow...I think that was more than ten things just there!

6. I am married to my best friend. We are almost exactly the same. We think the same way, we have the same interests, we love the same things. Of course we have our differences now and then, but who doesn't. We both had the same qualities that we were looking for in a person and more. We were meant to be. I love him so much!

7. I am scared of the moon. Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you've heard! I guess I could say that I'm not as scared as when I was little, but I choose to not stare directly at it for a long period of time. When I was younger, I would look up at it, and I would see that the moon had a scary, freaky looking face! Not kidding. It would look at me, and then its eyes would follow me where ever I would go, I would be so scared! Now it's kind of funny. Just a little.

 
8. My favorite color is ...green.But not just any green. A lime green. Celery green. Avocado green. Chartreuse. That puky green color that looks like something that I won't mention! Yep. My favorite! I make green look good! Of course I like other colors too: pink, red, blue...I would say that I am a very colorful person. I have always needed color in my life! Color also makes me happy!

9. I miscarried a baby. 5 years ago with my first pregnancy, I was almost 4.5 months along. I possibly could have died. I had an emergency d&c on Christmas evening in 2005. It was horrible. I remember every last detail...and I choose not to talk about it right now. Only those very close to me know about it. I think about that baby every day. But I know that it was supposed to happen. I now have 3 very close little ones...I love them so much!

10. I intimidate others. Well mostly other girls. I was just talking about this with Levi the other day. I don't know why??? Well of course I'm lying. I'm perfect. They are jealous of my beauty. I make people stop what they are doing to look at me. I distract others. Wait...that coming from Levi too, not just me! But actually it is true. People do tell me that I am beautiful. Gorgeous...blah blah blah...I know already! Totally kidding...but with that being said, I don't go looking for compliments, I just accept them somewhat shy and kindly. But beauty comes within...that is most important.

Now the irony of all this...is that I just typed this post, and I haven't showered, or cleaned my house yet for the day...but we did all have breakfast, and lunch, and I nursed Anthony for the tenth time already, and it's not even 1pm yet...because life just happens...and today is one of those days!

Enough about ME. Tell me something about you...maybe do your own post of ten things about you {or more!} and then let me know here, so I can check later!

 

The time is now...

Thinking about life...upcoming changes and just important decisions to be made.

Times are tough right now.

Are you prepared...for anything that may will come your way?

I'm talking about everything.Water, food storage, warm shelter, clothing, fuel and wood. These are the basic neccesities that you need to survive. Do you have any of these items? It is best to start now if you don't, if you have some, work on getting more.

I have been wanting to talk about this for a long time now...

now is the TIME.

Especially since I just received a new calling in church. I am the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator...as much as I thought it fit my husband perfectly{all he thinks about is the future, and how we can be more prepared}, it is meant for me. I know this because as soon as I got home, I told him...then he got his own confirmation shortly after, and he knew that this was definitely for me. Levi said that he knows that I am suppose to reach out to many people. That night I went to sleep, and then woke up in the middle of the night. It was so clear what I heard. "food storage is for everyone." Right then and there, I remembered that I said that...a couple years ago. Well, I posted it, on facebook...

"says food storage is not just for "mormons" it is for everyone...and everyone should be prepared."

It came into my mind then, to post it...and now I know why. I am here to help everyone...to educate, inform, and to get people going on theirs. Years ago, I had wanted to express my feelings and concerns on how this world is falling apart, and that we need to be prepared. But then, I just couldn't. We had too much going on. We were barely getting by as it was. But Levi was persistant on getting all of our food storage. I struggled with it at first. But then later...I accepted it, and moved on. I am so grateful that he listens, and just does what he is supposed to do.

More on our story...later.