Newest Obsessions

So as I have been shopping for everyone for Christmas I have come across a few things I WANT and a few things I want to share because they are awesome!

www.thegivingkeys.com

THe giving keys is officially the best thing I've heard of in a while. You get a key and give it to someone either on a necklace, bracelet, ring, whatever, then once they either "live that word" or find someone else who needs it they pass it along. I love it, but I feel like it would take a lot for me to give it up.

www.theskimm.com

Just read it and you'll get it

www.fightingpretty.org

I bought this for my mom when she was sick. And by bought this, I had one sent to her and I donated money so one could be sent to someone else too. It sends a nice package to women fighting cancer to help them still feel pretty. and they get awesome pink boxing gloves too! Look into it and do it if you know someone who could use it.

www.fabfitfun.com

I have to admit, I'm obsessed with subscription boxes. I have never gotten this one, probably because it's $200 A YEAR! but doesn't mean I don't want it :)  I like boxes that give you full size products and different varieties of products

Amazon Prime

Yeah, I know that is so 3 years ago, but how nice is it to keep finding gifts and not have to worry about shipping every time. I recently learned Amazon has yet to make a profit because they lose so much on shipping costs. I'm still questioning the logic but I have a feeling they are smarter than me.

www.hellofresh.com

I have yet to make a meal i've hated. I'm excited for the holiday travel schedule to be over so I can get another box and make it easy to make at least 3 good dinners in one week.

www.Dancember.tv

I am one of the millions who is obsessed with YouTube and vlogging families. I would love to do it except I work too much, i'm not that interesting, and I know nothing about videography/producing etc.  It's Judy's Life is a vlogging family, but every December they raise money for a good cause. I wish I could donate more.




So New Years Eve I am having several families over to celebrate the New Year! I am excited but also a little nervous to hope everything goes well. I'm sure it will, I just like to make sure everyone has a FANTASTIC time whenever they are at my house. May be a little bit of a pipe dream because you can't always make everyone happy, but it's worth a shot.

Subject Change

I think I have asked myself the same question for the past 3 days now. "Do I think of my mother every day?"  I think that is a weird question to actually ask myself. Like, am I a bad person if I don't think of her at least one time every day. For the record, I actually do think that I think of her probably 46 times every day, but that won't last forever. I've had at least 3 dreams about her since she passed away.  Last night was dream #4. I had a dream that my father was going to pick her up from Chemo. He was saying it was a really bad day and she wasn't doing well that day. During the dream DH and I lived in a house where a tiger had recently taken shelter in so I told my dad we were going to move in because we couldn't live with a tiger and we wanted to help him out with my mom. He was actually a little hesitant but said if it would help us out so we didn't have to live with a tiger than it was fine. Dream Meaning???? No idea. - HA!

I recently received a letter from a dear old friend. Her father passed away maybe 7 years ago give or take. She wrote very kind words and gave me three pieces of advice:

#1 - Keep reliving the good memories. It's ok to think about her all the time and to think about memories.

#2 - Holidays are hard, so eat lots of chocolate to help. (She included a batch of some of the most delicious brownies I have ever eaten)

#3 - Relationships will change. Some won't know how to deal and will push away but some will realize what is truly important and will try to connect closer so be open to everyone.

She was always smarter than me. The story gets better too. As I was texting her for a second time about how good the brownies were she wrote back the next day saying "sorry I couldn't reply, I was being asked a very important question"....... and now she's engaged :)

Life still goes on.  Life is good.  I miss my mom.  Life would be better if she were here.  Breathing helps.

Oh yeah, and I tried my hand at some new crafting

Not too shabby.

This is why...

Monday Morning wake up at 1am to a crying baby.  Doesn't need food, doesn't need changed, just needs his momma to hold him while he falls back asleep.

2am back in bed to wait for the 5am wake up from big girl who is awake and doesn't want to be alone.

6am starts the day with showers, breakfast snacks and out the door to get to daycare and back for the 8am work day.

Workdays consist of inconsistent meetings and deadlines and sporatic phone calls that make "lunch gym time" impossible.

5pm workday over and time to make dinner.  As the children get home, 545pm starts crazy dinner time or really just individual food fights between my children and the floor.

630pm starts bathtime and bedtime routines. Baby boy goes down around 730 after his bottle and big girl goes to bed around 8pm.

9pm regularly consists of a wail from big girls room because she needs 1 of 4 things:

needs to go potty even though she went before bed
needs water like she hasn't had a drink in weeks
needs to be covered with her "special" blanket, then throws it off after you put it on
needs a hug (alright I guess that one's ok)

10pm consists of strict bedtime as DH & I need at least 5 hours of sleep to function as a human most days.

In between these crazy times, the house needs cleaned, laundry needs done, groceries need bought, christmas decorations need to be hung, presents need to be bought, visits with family need to happen, yards need to be taken care of. (By both DH and I)

- This ladies and gentleman is why parents of small children can't work out!!! - Any advice as to where we can fit it in would be great!