It's about time...for snow, not fraud.

I am so friggin' excited! We are supposed to be getting snow and maybe some ice. I cannot wait to wake up tomorrow morning to see what Mother Nature dumped on us overnight. I am like a little kid with snow...I bundle up and face it with excitement! Love Love Love It!!!

Saturday, on our way out the door, we get a call from the bank. They wanted to make sure we authorized five charges within ten minutes for $14.04. Ummm, nope. We are getting the money back in the bank and a new debit card is on the way. For you locals, what happened is a local business was hacked into. So, if you have used your debit card there, you are at risk too. They didn't say what business, but a lot of account holders at our bank was affected. Check your accounts online and make sure all is good!

We found a house to rent!! It is literally less than a block from MJ's school and one block from my work. Awesome! I can sleep in later now!

The news is on...gotta watch the weather. "Pretty significant storm...heavy amounts..." YEAH!

Hurry up before he gets home.

I am off to do some more packing and then we will be out to Olive Garden. We got a $30 gift card for Christmas we have yet to use. (Free pasta!)

After that, I really want to go get a new coat at the mall. Then we will be off to Sam's to get a $15 membership! If you don't have a membership, they are worth it to us. Boneless, skinless chicken breast is the cheapest there, as is the organic spinach they carry. If you know me, you know baby spinach is a necessity in our home...it gets put in everything.

Jeremy is working today so it has been a lazy day. Those are great every once in a while...dontcha think? He gets off at 5:00 so I have got to get busy to make him think I have been go, go, go all day.

I hope you have a great weekend!

A Friendly Reminder...

Isn't it funny how sometimes things just happen in perfect timing? God sure knows what he is doing...

As I was going through my blog list, I read a post Drea wrote made me think and re-think immediately regret my post from yesterday. I recommend you check it out.

Tonight, I am going to try to be a better parent and thank God for what I have, instead of vent about what I don't have. Thanks for the reminder, Drea.

I'm off to eat some food, pack and workout!

Routine...

We are still sticking to P90X! Does it seem as though once you get your routine down something always comes up to change everything? Our routine is getting ready to change. Sunday, we got an offer on our house!!

Now, our routine will involve packing, packing and packing. Maybe Jer and I can just do some cardio while we pack. That would be comical!

We close on the 12th of February. The plan is to rent for now until we decide what to do. We have four acres to build on, but now I am second guessing the location. We will just have to wait and see.

We are thrilled, as we have had our house on the market for roughly two and a half years!

Until next time...

Maybe we are destined to love a cold, cold life.

Let me set the stage:

Once again, I am downstairs doing P90X. I did cardio, alone, while Jeremy was playing basketball. Cardio = hot and sweaty. (Or shweaty as MJ used to say.) I go upstairs, start dinner and hop in the shower...you guessed it.

No. Hot. Water. Again. And again.

Seriously. We have replaced the wiring, the heating elements, the coils?, checked the breaker...everything.

What's the prob, Bob?

It is only four years old. It's not like we have had it for years and years. We don't need to put out any more money now, especially after MJ's birthday present.

Any ideas on what it could be?

So much for that...

This morning, Jeremy and I were up at 5:00 to do Plyometrics. It is the first day since starting this last week that we have worked out in the morning. Plyometrics is the "Mother of P90X" and, to put it bluntly, a sweat-fest. Hard stuff, let me tell ya.

We finished at 6:20 so I go to hop in the shower. Once again, NO HOT WATER! I thought I could just take a cold shower, it can't be that bad, right? Wrong! I decided to just put my head under the faucet, wash my hair and see if it will warm up.

Negative.

I fix my hair and I am out the door in my pajamas, headed to my dad's. Showering was not optional after this morning.

On top of that, my back is still sore from last week's workout and all I want it a massage and a hot bath.

Maybe this is a sign we should stop P90X.

Just kidding!

It's that time again...and shopping!

Macie officially starts kindergarten first grade tomorrow. I cannot believe how fast life is moving along. I don't think I will cry this year - unlike last year - but I know it will be just as hard. First grade sounds so much older than kindergarten.

Zoa is still plugging away at anything she can get her hands on. She has not hid anymore...hopefully, we taught her the lesson about hide and seek - make sure people know you are playing!

The last few weekends have been super busy with the open house and preparing for it. Friday night, I got a wild hair and decided we should paint the living room. My mom came up Saturday and helped Jeremy (I cannot paint!) and it looks so good. Thanks mom and dad! There are still a few spots to touch up, but that won't take any time to do. Sunday, we just finalized everything for the open house. I cleaned everything that suffered while we were busy on Saturday while Jeremy mowed the yard.

The open house went well. No offers so far, so I might as well not go into it. The realtor said the house shows great and there is really nothing more we can do. Just wait and see. So, we wait...

Tonight, I am off with the girls to hit up a few stores and then heading to the mall to find MJ some shoes. We need black, brown, navy and a pair of tennis shoes.What do you think of them?

I found these from JCPenney. I think they are all cute! I love picking out shoes for the girls. I think I'm diggin' the top and bottom ones. They look like a good mix of dressy and casual.




These are from Payless. And they have their BOGO sale right now. I thought the navy mocs would be cute with her navy skirt we got her. The argyle shoes are so preppy and fun! They would be good with khakis...oh...I love having little girls to dress up!

I try to pick out cute shoes and fun socks to spice up her school uniform a bit. Jeremy thinks she can just wear tennis shoes everyday...he is such a guy!

Have a good day!

Umm, yeah. My kitchen called. They want their table back.

New carpet sounded fabulous last week. The price was right and it was a nice neutral shade but dark enough that it could cover any spills, drips or crayon marks. I guess I forgot how in order to get new carpet, the old carpet must be ripped up. In order for it to be ripped up, everything has to go out of the room.

our kitchen table area

view number two

our living room
But, you know what? It will all be okay. Because I get to go to bed on this tonight. Nice, right?


On top of that, has anyone else's children been hyperactive this week? I don't think I have ever disciplined them more than I have this week.

I hear a glass of wine that is calling my name.

What If?! (Part 2)

Our realtor called last night. She spoke to the family's realtor (let's call him Joe) and they feel this house, our house, is the one! Joe will be out of town for a few days. During this time, the family will be getting a few things in order. We should be expecting a phone call by the end of the week...which I assume to be an offer.

I am still not getting my hopes up. Sigh. We have been close before, but never this close.

We have not started looking where we will go if it does sell. We have a few ideas in our head but that is about it. We do know once I graduate school (in about two and a half years), we will build. This next house will be temporary so we will not be too particular.

Changing subjects, our life has been somewhat slowed down lately, which is something that can be a good thing. We have been busy at home - constantly cleaning and keeping up with the laundry - just in case someone pops in wanting to show it. I am amazed how we can keep a clean house after all. Jeremy and I have a system down as to who cleans what when. It has worked thus far and I have so much more time in the evenings.

I am loving the menu planning. We are saving so much money already and it really is a relief to know what I am cooking that evening. I am trying to make them healthy meals, which since I can actually take time out to plan them, doesn't always mean it is grilled chicken.

I will keep you updated on the house situation.

What If?!

We had a family look at our home on Thursday night. The feedback our realtor said was they really liked it and wanted to show it to their parents. They saw it again on Saturday and once again on Sunday. Sunday they were there for over an hour! I am really hoping this turns into something much larger but it will be a let down if it doesn't. With that said, we are trying not to get our hopes up but...what if?!

All of the Above

This past weekend, Jeremy and I took the girls to see Horton Hears a Who. It was a cute movie and the ending was the best part. The girls are now obsessed with chanting, "We are here...". Speaking of movies, Enchanted comes out today and personally, I can't wait. I have to say that is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I want to give it to the girls for part of their Easter baskets, but I want to watch it before then!

We have decided to put our home back on the market. Our realtor is coming on Thursday to take a peek at the house and talk numbers. That should tell you what I have been up to the last few days. Cleaning out closets! Sounds exciting...yeah right! I have tried to do deep cleaning the last few days so that will leave me with just my normal cleaning to do tomorrow night. Fun, fun. Hopefully, it will sell quickly. We have some ideas on what we want the next step to do and I am hoping it will all work out. If I have told you what this step is, I ask you to pray that it will all go smoothly, granted it is God's will. (Mom, remind me to tell you something! Ha!)

I was smart to take pictures of Zoa in her ballet outfit. She lost all desire and insisted she was not going to participate in ballet on Monday. Sigh. ( Sorry Jessica, it was fun while it lasted.)

A drastic change is coming up for me....pictures to follow.

The After

As I was getting the girls ready for bed, I had the camera out and realized I have not posted their "new" bedroom.

Macie's Bed


Zoa's Bed



These blocks are on their dresser:











Their nightstand. Ignore the missing picture in the picture frame. Macie had to take the picture to school and it has not made it's way back in the frame. I know...I am a slacker.




These words are on the wall, obviously.


The comforter for the beds.




We purchased the furniture and blocks from Ashley Furniture. The bedding came from Wal-Mart. After searching the internet and all the stores around here, I finally found something I liked enough to buy. Who would of thunk it? The words on the wall came from Words Anywhere, which I found to be the best all around site online. We still need to purchase some new curtains, along with a set of blinds. But all in all, we think it turned out well.

This is my last post today, promise.

Step Two:

The basement is done! We hauled off a truck load of items, chaged the storage area from a corner to under the stairs, swept, and finished our gym. Jeremy put together a bench we boughts months ago for it also. Now, all we have to do is fix our StairMaster and we will be in good shape....no pun intended.

Our next project will be to finish some of the basement. We at least want an office space...somewhere I can go to do my homework, pay bills, etc., and a play room for the girls with some toys. The goal will be to occupy them while Jeremy and I work out.

Zoa's fever came back. She is sleeping on the floor as I type this. I have not taken her temperature yet today, but if she does have one, then I have to take her into the doctor. I called them and they said since today will be Day 6 with a fever, they would need to see her.

We'll see...

Heat, anyone?

I mentioned in my last post that we were in the middle of a ice storm. Well, that ice storm has cause us to be out of power since Monday night around 10 or 11. We went to bed with power, and woke up Tuesday morning to 54 degrees. After bundling up the girls in clothes and covering them with blankets, I began searching for some food for breakfast. Have you ever thought about how much you use your microwave and stove? I was a bit scared to give them anything with milk since our refrigerator had been off for several hours.

Want to know what we at for breakfast yesterday?

That's right...potato chips. (I just know realized my last 3 posts have had something to do with potatos.) After that very nutritous and filling breakfast, we snuggled up some more, waiting for our power to be restored. We were told it should be back by noon. Tick, tock, tick, tock.

Around 12:30, Jeremy came and picked us up. We went to his sister's house and lounged all afternoon, watching movies. It was such a relaxing afternoon. Around 7:00, we ventured back to our house only find that we still had no power. We packed up to go to my parent's house, or tired to anyway. Have you ever tried to pack with a candle for your light?

This morning, I called our power company and they told me power is back in our subdivision, but a few houses in it are still without power. Uh-oh...you watch, it will be us!

To top it all off, Macie and Zoa are both running a fever. Not sure what is going on, but last night Macie had a headache. I took her temperature and it is 103! Zoa's was a mild 100.5. Macie is down a bit and Zoa's is gone for now, and hopefully it will stay gone! Looks like another day with no school for them tomorrow. Gosh, I miss childhood!

You say potato, I say tornado.

We had some bad storms at our house last night. I was driving home from voting when I heard that annoying sound come over the radio.

"If you are in.....seek shelter immediately....tornado 3 miles south...."

I raced home as fast as I could. Which actually was not very fast at all because the rain and winds were so bad. I walked into the house and told the girls to come downstairs. Once we were settled in the basement, the tornado sirens went off for the city. About 2 minutes after that, the power went out.

Zoa started crying and said, "Mommy, I am scared of the potato." I consoled her then started laughing. All night long, she asked if there was going to be a potato.

One advantage of having to go to our basement was us making good use of our time down there. We went through a bunch of storage boxes, made a pile of things we need to haul off (Anybody need a broken bicycle?), and tried to organize as best we could. We have everything you would need for a home gym - a whole set of free weight, a StairClimber, a treadmill, an excersise ball, a weight bench, a medicine ball, and who knows what else - and we would like to get that all set up and looking more put together.

But, there was no tornado. Thank God! I just hope Zoa is not scared of potatoes for the rest of her life!

Just breathe....

Yesterday afternoon, some pretty bad storms came through our area. I was on my way to pick up Zoa from day care, when I got a phone call.

Whitney: Where are you?

Myself: I am picking up Zoa, why?

Whitney: Mom wants you to come over because (insert city where I live) is getting hit with hail right now, along with a lot of wind. It is pretty bad up there.

Myself: What!? Okay, I will be there after I get Zoa.


Just as I was pulling into my parent's garage, the hail starting falling. It was not too bad there, but once I got home, we had shingles banging on our roof. I looked out on our deck. More shingles. There was not too much I could do at the time, as far as assessing the damage. Jeremy was not home yet and I was a little nervous about a tornado, plus both of the girls were asleeep. I refused to put them in their bedrooms, for fear of having to make a mad dash to the basement.

Come to find out, there was a F1 tornado abouyt 5-10 minutes from where I live. A little scary when you are home alone with 2 children under the age of 6.

Repairs are on the way. A tarp is over our roof now. The insurance adjuster is coming by tomorrow. (Cross your fingers.) Hopefully, we will not have any problems at that end.

On the flip side, I took the day off of work today. Jeremy and I did quite a bit shopping. I got a new purse...something I can always find! Jeremy got a lot of new clothes...which I can explain later. After lunch at Olive Garden (Yummy!), I went a got a manicure. My nails deperatley needed one and I mentally needed to unwind. It was a win - win.

Now I just have to get through Thursday and Friday.

Step 1:

Dana, the writer of a blog I read, Think Pink, shares one of the same New Year's Resolution as me. Oragnize! She posted a link to a Decluttering Calendar, that makes sense! Each day, you complete a small task. I will do this this year.

After I signed up for the email newsletter, which I hope will keep me that much more on track, I recieved my first tip. I will write these on here as I get them.


1. How do you want to feel this week? What is one action you can take.
Accomplished. I need to get my house back in order. Not in depth, but just visually.

2. Identify one time waster you can decrease.
Collecting laundry from throughout the house. It just needs to go in the laundry room.

3. You are enough. Write down 5 accomplishments from today.
1. Called Dance Extensions.
2. Got my thoughts together.
3. Put together the calendar for the year.
4. Printed pictures for the toy bins.
5. Semi-cleaned my desk.

4. Calm yourself down with deep breathing during stressful situations.

5. Make a list of things you would like to finish up from last year.
1. Painting the inside of our house.
2. Finish the girls' closets and dressers.
3. Organize the garage.
4. Finish decluttering the basement.

6. Do one task that has been on your to do list since 2007.

7. Do something you are passionate about.
Read!

Going Green

I have added a couple of New Year's Resolutions. I don't expect to get them fully done and checked off anytime soon. I realize that I cannot organize my car, desk, home, basically life, in one day. So instead, I take it one day at a time. That's all I can humanly do.

My new resolution is to start being more 'earth friendly'. I have put a lot of thought into it and everything around us, we take in. Chemicals we clean with, we breathe in. Preservatives and chemicals for food, we eat. The list goes on and on. I have always tried to buy organic food when I see it. I don't think that because our children are just that, children, that they should eat chicken nuggets and french fries every night. They get their side salad with Jeremy and I when we go out to eat. I have not always felt this way about my girls. Jeremy and I have always tried to eat healthy. I have not always been a stickler about it with the girls. We were blessed with children who will try anything and 99% of the time, they will like it. So, my theory on this is if they like healthy choices, then why not give that to them over other food?

So back to the resolution, I have organized the toy room. We had these open stackable bins for all of the toys. I bought new ones so for the old ones, we will use for our recycle bins. I have been doing some research on how to start a home recycling program and never realized how in depth it is. The are quite a few different types of plastic. You can recycle paper, but not envelopes because of the sticky part. That is just a few of the tips. You can visit Earth 911 to find a center close to you, plus their contact information. Our location does not have a pick-up service, but it is just a few minutes from our home, so we can drop it off.

Our other going green move was to start buying "Family and Earth Friendly cleaning products". Thankfully, my mom and dad bought Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products for us for Christmas. They smell so good! It is not outrageously priced either - nothing more than we would have spent at Wal-Mart for all of it. I bought Method products at Target about a month ago and they work great also. These are all non-toxic and green friendly!

We also have started purchasing these light bulbs. They are a little more expensive than regular light bulbs so instead of re-doing our whole home in them, as a bulb goes out, we will replace it with an energy saving one. That way, we are not out a lot of money at one time.

I have been thinking about this for about 2 months now and researching all of it. Then, I turn on Oprah last week and Method and Mrs. Meyers Clean Day was on there, so I know it is okay if Oprah likes it! There were a lot of great tips on there and it helped us realized that if everyone did something, that it would make a difference.

On a lighter note, it is a somewhat dreary Tuesday. It is kind of scary how much it feels like spring. Here is a picture of the girls after they had baths last night. They love the new towels Ninny and Pop got them for Christmas!