Lindsalita

Diggin' in May

1. Tostitos Cantina Chips.  Makes me feel like I'm in Phoenix at a Mexican restarant at home.  Almost as good as the real deal!

2. Dailys Margaritas.  Oh so good.  And with warmer weather I can see myself going to my very own Margaritaville a few times! (of course have the tostitos cantina chips and salsa in the other hand)

3. Daring Greatly.  Oh this book.  This author.  I think everyone should read it.  I listened to it in the car.  Loved it.  Thanks to the Montana Library 2 Go.  Also adored The Help.  

4. Getting my hair done REGULARLY.  It really helps me love my hair rather than just accept it.

5.  Genealogy.  I'm officially addicted.  Like stay up all night searching for dead people.  It's a scavenger hunt and I love it.  Plus I get to spend time with my Gram which is even cooler.

6.  Traveling.  Man we did it up this month!  From Great Falls to Billings, to Denver to Stevensville, to Missoula.  Josh was ready to get off the ranch and he wasn't kiddin'!

Diggin' in April (belated)

1. Arbonne.  My friend started selling it and I have fallen in love.  I have been trying to go more natural and this company has got it!  I love the nude lip gloss, chocolate protein powder, smoke eyeshadow, and the detox spa (helps with my back breaking out after massages and being slathered in oily lotion).  Josh used the post shave gel and didn't have any breakouts, which never happens.

2. How to Cook Everything.  This book was given to me from a friend and my go to for 'how do you cook this!?'.  And has helped me perfect the Creme Brulee.  This would be my second go to cookbook after The Pioneer Woman Cooks, thanks Tina.

3. After light.  This App has changed what pictures I share.  Normally photos with more in the frame than the usual instagram square would not be shared, but with the instant film add on (they are polaroid type frames) I can't get enough of sharing my rectangle photos!

4. Studio Calico Classes.  I love to learn and these classes have gotten me to try things I normally would not.  Love that.

5. The-Lilypad.  After almost halfway through the year and not really doing anything to document it in a scrapbook I realized digital might be the way for me.  A lil work on the computer, slip in into the page protector and bam, done.

6. Envirosax.  Trying my darndest to not bring in another plastic sack to our home.  Man it's tough.  I keep forgetting my reusable grocery sacks in the car.  Gotta get better at this.  I am sick of taking all the plastic sacks to get recycled.  I want to recycle but man, Montana makes it a pain!

I Want to Remember....

I want to rememeber how you walk with your hands in your pockets.

I want to rememeber how you pat us on the back when you give us a hug.

I want to rememeber how you flail your arms walking around almost falling you're moving so fast.

I want to rememeber how you will not go to sleep unless Daddy is going to bed too.

I want to rememeber how you wake up so chipper ready to start the day.

I want to rememeber how you make mmmm and yum sounds when you are eating.  Josh has started this too, it's really great if you're the cook.  

I want to rememeber how you watch our every move.  From putting on deoderant to scolding the cat when she's naughty.  You mimic it all, good and bad.

I want to rememeber how you light up a room immediately upon entering.

I want to rememeber how you really investigate things.  Down to the teeny tinest of details.

I want to rememeber how independent you are now.  You can do it, no matter how frustrated you get.

I want to rememeber how much you love to be with people.  You want to meet everyone and really soak them up.

I want to rememeber how you lay back with your arms behind your head.  So funny.

I want to rememeber how lucky I am to be your Momma.

Diggin' in March (belated)

1.  Nerium AD, for age defying results but helped my breakout in ONE day.  Might be into it.  I have a before photo and will share an after if it is worth sharing.

2.  Pinto beans in a water table to entertain Eli while it's been too cold outside!

3.  Yes to Blueberries brightening wipes.  Used these bad boys to remove my makeup before swimming lessons with Eli.  I'm not a big blueberry fan, but liked them to clean my face.

4.  The Silhouette Cameo- I'm in love.  A digital die cutting machine that has no limits.  I had the original machine and it was like rats chewed out the shapes compared to the new Cameo.  AND, I got it for half off.   Makes it even better!

5.  Mentha Supreme 2X is what I want on my lips ALL the time.  Pepperminty for your lips and breath. 

6.  Bolthouse Mango Lemonade....yummy!

7.  Warmer temps which have got me and the E outside and enjoying the sunshine.

 

His and Hers: Muck Boot Edition

Our boots hang out together in the mudroom.  They probably spend more time together than Josh and I do!  Eli is the center of our universe pretty much everyday.  And if it's not Eli, it's the cows (those pregnant ladies are SO HIGH MAINTENANCE!).  Nurturing our relationship is just as important if not more than Eli or the Ranch.  Don't get me wrong they are at the top of the priority list but sometimes it's alright to let them slide to the second and third postion.  And, since Eli is the center of attention he's gonna photo bomb this post!

Trying to get more photos of the three of us since we are changing all of the time!  So bad hair day, naked, whatever I'm gonna snap a photo!

Diggin' in February

1. Lacy Young's instagram feed for healthy recipes.  She is @lacylike on instagram.

2. I have embraced my vitamix once again but this time for me (we initially bought it for Eli's tube diet).  And now that I think about it, maybe needed a break after that emotional time.  Lacy Young, my number one this month was the motivater for that!  

3. Tried a sample of the Starbucks VIA  Refreshers Cool Lime and Berry Hibiscus.  Oh so refreshing!  And love having a Starbucks in my home.  VIA packets are the way to go in rural America.  But after reading the site that they are caffienated I might be dialing it back.

4.  The Northridge Media's Create Series featuring Stamping Magazine.  And again while making this list realized I can order past issues at an extreme discount or even in digital format!  With shipping, it's still a steal, compared to the orignal $17.95 cover price.    

5. Suits.  Man, Josh and I fell in love with this show this past summer.  It runs in real short seasons but totally packed with lawyer goodness.  And when I say goodness, I mean Harvey.  YUM!  Plus their intro song ROCKS!  Josh cannot skip through it on tivo, Eli and I have to have a lil dance session.

6.  Print Clearly font,  I have used it on 3 of my latest projects.  Adore it because it's so, well, CLEAR.  It's a keeper for sure. 

7. My new Ray-Ban's just like Josh's.  This was my Valentine's gift from him (basically so I would stop wearing his).  I've only ever had cheapys so I'm stoked.  Bought a fancy case at Ross for 3 bucks so they don't get scratched up too.  Can you say fancy and three bucks in the same sentence?  Well, I just did thanks to Ross!

For the LOVE of Deanne

Every year right before someone's birthday I always think I need to make them some extravagant gift that takes a ton of planning and time.  Of course at the last minute.  Well in my 'get my butt in gear and observe birthdays' goal this year I thought to myself- I'll plan!  I scared myself a little bit though, but totally worth it.  

My aunt Deanne turned 60 this year.  We live in a time where if you see something you like or want, you just buy it.  So buying a gift for someone especially my aunt is difficult. She treats me like royalty and will be there in a blink of an eye if I need her or offer up her house for me to live with her for 10 months.  She's incredible.  So I always wanted to do a book of our inside jokes for her.  We laugh, cry and ponder the world's problems.  But after a bit of research, seems she's like that with everyone in her life.  

After attending the funeral for my great uncle Ron and hearing the amazing eulogy given by his son, he opened the floor for anyone else to say a few words.  This older cowboy stood up and he said 'I would like to share a story, I know there has to be about 3000 stories in here about Ron'.  That got me thinking.  A book about my stories of Deanne would be cool, but a book with her WHOLE FAMILY would be amazing!  Seriously, so many folks don't know that they are loved until it's written in the eulogy.  So I did just that.  Lots of planning and proding my family to answer the question 'Why do you love Deanne?'

The love that was felt for her was overwhelming.  Some gifted with words and others sturggled to find the right words to tell why she was so incredible.  I was amazed by what a fabulous woman my aunt is.  She is someone to aspire to be for sure!!

I'm going to say it here, I will never do a book for someone who is so outwardly loved again in my life.  She is like a living Mother Teresa and I'm lucky to know her.

Currently: Family Edition

Eli is:

mooing as we drive by all the cows

enjoying driving his cozy coupe and the feed pickup

learning to swim after a getaway weekend with gram and great aunts and uncle

talking up a storm in his own little language along with a few random clear words (bread, da da, mama, eat, mooing, barking, hi, bye, up, down)

wanting to be more and more independent

sleeping in his big boy bed for most of the night (hooray!!!)

Josh is:

feeding the cows daily

checking the cows multiple times a day

calving (ha! well the herd is and he's the midwife)

embracing a little bit of yoga

watching HGTV for ideas on our basement

enjoying the opportunities to be outside and active

I am:

drinking water like it's my job

creating gifts for family and friends

laughing at big bang theory

getting a handle on the monstor we call our laundry

doing the 1130pm checks

driving Eli to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays

 

Focus 2013: Daily Yoga

Honestly the 'Daily' part hasn't been happening.  I found myself doing it at 11pm or 7am.  But I am more conciously trying to add it to my life.  Whether I am in my bed or playing on the floor with Eli  just doing some simple stretches or I am setting aside and hour to practice a routine.  I feel stronger.  More flexible.  And most importantly more at peace which is what I was lacking and my main purpose for this challenge.  

I have been running on Tuesdays and Thursdays while Eli is at school and being mindful as I do my pre and post run stretches.  Changing how I think about stretching.  Thinking of it as a mini yoga session.

Focus 2013: Crankin' Out #30days30bags

I have need to really go through things for YEARS.  MANY YEARS.  Well, this challenge from Becky Novacek was timed perfectly.  I was feeling suffocated by our 'stuff' and ready to make the change.  I have been making frequent trips to the local mission with donations but nothing like this.  The 30 areas I chose were...

DVDs, guest closet, guest room, freezer room, scrap room, filing, eli's room, holiday stuff, lean to, pantry/snack cupboard, deep freeze, lazy susan, jackets and scarves, in progress projects, laundry room, nailpolishes, magazines, frames, eli's clothes, games, basement, shoes, packaging/mailing, fridges, electronics, tools and paint supplies, sewing/mending, inspiration, junk drawer, computer/harddrive, plants

That whole idea of 'everything has a place and everything in it's place'.  I've loved that quote for a long time but finally getting around to implementing it.

I am horrible with plants.  In attempts to save what I had I did a bunch of repotting hopefully to promote more growth, but for some it will be syonara soon.  

Embarrasing to find so much outdated and stale food.  Paring down what we eat and ridding of the excess should help.

Having like items together really brings to light how many duplicates I have.  Heck quadruplets!

This was the toughest space to date.  Are we going to have more children?  Should we keep all this stuff Eli has grown out of!?  How do you organize toys when he would rather play with a wrapping paper tube, the phone and a box!?  Overwhelming to say the least.  Currently we don't know where we stand on the idea of more children so we are storing the baby stuff in the attic.  I'm sure over time this will pare down and eventually disappear.