Cheers to Habits and Organization!

It has been almost a whole week of my entire family creating new (positive) habits and getting organized. This is huge. I am not a creature of habit. Neither is my daughter. We just go with the flow being the hippies that we are. We are also not organized at all. We are right brained creative thinkers. To us, organizing is stacking papers, creating piles, etc. Now, to my husband and son, they ARE creatures of habit. They adapted to this without much of a problem.

So here are the habits that we all now have, it doesn't take up a whole lot of time and the kids don't complain. They seem to like it consistency.

• We all wake up and make the beds right away.
• Kids read for 20-30 minutes before breakfast (my son doesn't even come out of his room until he has finished reading, this is something he wants to do).
• Everyone washes their own breakfast dishes and puts them back where they found them. This takes no time, and you don't have crusty cereal bowls (or egg plates, or bacon grease) sitting on the sink. This has also reduced our use of the dishwasher in a big way.
• Everyone uses the same glass/cup during the day. I made a little place holder for cups out of an old picture frame. This also keeps the dishwasher from being used as much.
• We all have adhered to my new cleaning schedule, and everyone looks at it daily to see what was done and what needs done. Andrew wipes down his sink before bed every night. Jordan sweeps the kitchen daily. They take turns vacuuming, dusting, etc. We work together. It rocks. Kids don't complain because they are enjoying a clean house. I am enjoying it because anyone can stop by and I won't be embarrassed of the house. :) I may be embarrassed of my appearance though. Ha.
• Shoes are placed where they belong (we are still getting used to this, maybe not a habit yet).
• We go by my menu for the week and stick to it. Saves on groceries, eating out, and prevents unhealthy choices.

In addition to the above; the kids and I exercise together (weights, weighted hula hoop, etc), say prayers for people the moment we hear they need it, and we have all reduced our screen time by a little bit. ;-)

I am truly proud of us. Let's hope it sticks and we continue forming positive habits for a happier life.

Not the best pictures, but you get the idea. :)

Greetings and Salutations Summer!

Every year, as you know, we have made a summer bucket list. You can see last year's here (and links to previous years).We have not had time to do that list yet..though it will be made this week.

That being said, while I was working yesterday, I decided it was time for the TV to be turned off and made a list of 20 questions for the kids to write in their answers to. This was right before they played SWAT team for an hour. Yep.

Reading their answers, as I knew would happen, made me smile.

Jordan's Summer Goodness:

1. What is one thing you want to learn this summer? How to play guitar

2. What is something that you could do every day that we have been doing? swim






3. What is something that you would like to see? a baby dolphin
 


4. What is one new food that you would like to try? spicy tortillas






5. What is one new drink that you want to make? raspberry lemonade






6. What is a book that you want to read? The Girl The Queen The Castle





7. What is one thing that you would like to do with MiMi (grandma) or Dee (great grandma)? make a new recipe with them




8. What is one thing that you would like to do to make someone happy? help them



9. What is one skill that you would like to learn?  cooking



10. What is one thing that you want to do to make you a better person?  keep the earth healthy



11. What is something that you would like to make for dinner for the family? Poppy Steak (her grandpa in heaven made a mean steak)



12. What is something that you would like to do with a friend? Make a special treat for everyone



13. What is one thing that you are looking forward to this summer? Getting a hammock



14. What is a healthy snack that you would love to keep around the house? chickpeas



15. What is one way you would like to make money this summer? help the earth and dance for people (this made me snicker)



16. What is one thing you wished we did as a family? donate stuff to an orphanage



17. What is something you can do instead of watch TV? meet someone new



18. What is something you want to do that is fun for the whole family? make a crazy outfit and wear it



19. What do you think would help mommy around the house the most? dust and laundry


20. What is your summer dream? To take a trip to Haiti and help them

Andrew's Summer Goodness

 

1. What is one thing you want to learn this summer? how to ride a dirt bike




2. What is something that you could do every day that we have been doing? mudding



3. What is something that you would like to see? Legoland



4. What is one new food that you would like to try? spicy buffalo burgers



5. What is one new drink that you want to make? banana/strawberry/blueberry smoothie



6. What is a book that you want to read? Wonderstruck



7. What is one thing that you would like to do with MiMi (grandma) or Dee (great grandma)? take a trip with both of them



8. What is one thing that you would like to do to make someone happy? take them bowling



9. What is one skill that you would like to learn? basketball


10. What is one thing that you want to do to make you a better person? be a man



11. What is something that you would like to make for dinner for the family? eggs and bacon



12. What is something that you would like to do with a friend? go to Gamestop and get a game or visit an arcade



13. What is one thing that you are looking forward to this summer? hoping to see my friend Christian in Houston, going to San Antonio, and church camp.



14. What is a healthy snack that you would love to keep around the house? protein energy bars



15. What is one way you would like to make money this summer? mowing yards



16. What is one thing you wished we did as a family? Rangers Baseball Game



17. What is something you can do instead of watch TV? play outside, go mudding



18. What is something you want to do that is fun for the whole family? football game



19. What do you think would help mom around the house the most? dusting



20. What is your summer dream? my very own mini refrigerator for my room (dream on buddy!! ha)




 

XOXO

XOXO

Simple but very me.

It is how I show my affection, my love for friends, clients and family.

I signed my love letters to my husband with those letters.

Then to my children.

Now my daughter uses XOXO in her mushy moments.

The past year I have learned that hugs and kisses are so very important.

To friends...

To Family...

To my husband...

So

I got a tattoo to remind me.

TaDa!

XOXO

Kandice

P.S. It has been almost 20 years since my last tattoo... a little butterfly representing me spreading my wings when I moved out on my own. Hehe.

The Mermaid In My Life....

Grew up tonight. She has always gotten life. Her lessons in life have been treated with respect by her, and she has never taken advantage of my trust in "life lessons"  in her. As much as some moms may think that our choice was too mature for such a little girl, in my heart I feel so ok.

You see, my 7 year old blond daughter has grown up with blond hair...on her head. My lovely and confident daughter grew up with black long and thick hair on her legs. She has been a rockstar on her own. She never asked me or voiced her concerns about her dark haired legs...until last summer. Had nothing to do with her trying to be a big girl. She simply saw that her legs were sooooo hairy and dark and thick.

I am all about confidence, so I spoke this her about this. I am a boudoir photographer! I get it. But, I am an all natural girl.
Tonight, as any night for the past 2 years, my daughter put on her brave smile with the dress she picked...saying "I pray mommy that noone sees my hair.".

I saw her soul. She is confident, she is lovely, she is smart, she is good.

I tried  her daddy's razor.... we shaved her calve and shin. She cried as she said "mommy, thank you for getting me. I will always respect you". She followed this with prayer.. "Thank you for my mommy understanding me, Lord. I pray she always gets me, I pray I always get her... I pray for all of my friends....amen."

Love Day.... The Good Stuff

A year ago, my husband and I were so very disconnected. We let ourselves let go of communication and just....be. Not good in a marriage. It almost ended us. Truth.

Fast forward one year. A year of us constantly remembering to communicate, a year of gaining back control of how we stand as a family, a year of seeing the woman of one of the strongest couples I have ever known say goodbye to her soul mate (my mother in law), a year of being there for my husband as he let his dad go and promising to be there for his mom in her time of need and beyond, a year of our children learning to see us kiss again, a year of kissing my husband goodbye again daily as he leaves for work, a year of being brutally open to my friends who have prayed for us over and over, a year of being the new and improved couple for only ourselves, a year of rediscovering each other and forgiving along the way, and a year of both of us remembering why we fell in love in the first place.

What a year.

Thank the good Lord we decided to fight this out. It took two. Not everyone has two to fight, so I know how lucky we are.

I have not shared much of this out in the blogging world. Because we were still healing. We were dealing. And we only trusted those closest to us the struggle we had endured.

And here we were yesterday. Valentine's Day 2012. Buying funny cards for each other that are a tad bit tacky and we have to hide them from the kids. We were covered up in Valentine Parties, not only for our own kids, but being there for my niece and nephew who are new at our school (awesome post for another day, my cup runneth over). I was exhausted and could not think and had a car in the shop and was just keeping my head above water with work and the house and awesome kids. Romantic, huh?

Yesterday at 6pm or so, we left both kids home for a few so we could take the niece and nephew home and I could get my car back. While hubby dropped off kids, I went home to get the house cleaned up. The kids were in their rooms, being very sneaky. Those boogers were making me a card. The best kind to get.

My daughter made a sweet card, but we talk all the time of our love and appreciation of each other. My son, he is more quiet. His little card was so simple yet so heartfelt. Tears.

After a fabulous dinner by my husband, we all sat on the sofa together. One by one, we told the other what we loved about each other. I half way expected this to be a total fail. The kids fighting, refusing to be nice to each other. Instead we got love that had us all tearing up. We heard our children say things to the other that we never thought we would hear, so very awesome. Our children said things to us about their love for us, and we realized that we were doing it right. Raising awesome adults who truly enjoy the good stuff. It isn't all about how we look in other people's eyes or how we are thought of. It is about us, our hearts and souls truly "getting" it. Life, and how the people around us can keep us inspired and good and real. Then came my words to my husband. Funny, it came down to how we met. He danced with me, led me, and made me feel safe. Still stands strong today.The words to me from my husband were surprising....he called me the glue to the family. What a statement.

So while I saw people mad at what they got for V-Day, or what they didn't get, or what they wanted, or how they don't believe in it....I just have to say:

I enjoyed my day. I enjoyed the holiday. I got pretty flowers, I got handmade cards, I got a naughty card, I got to spend time with extended family, I got to enjoy a meal made by my hubby (although it wasn't cleaned up haha), I got so very much. Some that some people would roll their eyes at. But I have my husband. I look at my mother in law mentioned above who celebrated her first Valentine's Day alone (although she spend most of the day with us and at parties, so she was with people who loved her beyond belief) in who knows how long. I can not imagine how she felt.

So I will say that I will take my simple and beautiful day into evening over diamonds, trips, crazy expensive flowers, and fancy dinners. Because the words I heard my family say to the other was....wow....

Just wow.

A Few Of My Favorite Things: 2011

Inspired from my previous post and this post from 2008,I decided to share my favorite things at the moment (or they have been for a long time). Warning, several may revolved around food...but not all! Hover over links to get details on products and such.

Tahitian Gardenia Perfume: I have found this once again after our local natural food store stopped carrying it. Found it at Sprouts. This is a lovely subtle perfume that does not overwhelm, but I am often stopped to ask what I am wearing when I dab it on. ;-)


Roasted Chickpeas: These are also my daughter's fave snack ever. There are a gazillion ways to make it, but our fave variation is this.

Bison: Thanks to my dear friends, Jeff and "DonnaDear", we are sold. Although I can never ever ever recreate Jeff's meals (oh how I want his mustard sauce)....they turned on my entire family to bison. Read about the good stuff that bison has to offer here because I am too lazy to type it all out.  This is our fave way to make it. I need Jeff and DonnaDear to help me with more creative uses of it.

My Wonder Woman Coffee Mug: It makes me smile. Although the mug sees more tea than coffee, the attitude of the mug wakes me up.

My New Car (Buick Enclave in Cocoa): Something else that makes me smile. Funny how your fave things can make you smile. :) But this one can carry around my nieces and nephews and friends this summer. This being said, my fave car dealership is THIS ONE

Candied Bacon: NUFF SAID This is coming from a girl who doesn't like sweets

OnStar: Because it is cool and I feel like a VIP when I use it!

Pintrest: Duh

My 85mm 1.2: Several years later, it is still my fave lens ever. Especially for boudoir!

Salon LaPage: There are times I can't get in with the stylist I ask for. This being said, I am never ever let down. Now I don't know who the hell to go to. Ha.

MPIX: I have used MPIX for years personally...but totally impressed with print orders this year, plus reasonable prices! .

My Boots!  I love these even over a year later. I will always eye more boots, but these go with everything!

My Gym: They never let me down, no matter how naughty I have been.

Last Minute Holiday Craft

Most people that know me KNOW that I am not super crafty. I have tried sewing, didn't love it. Never attempted scrapping, was never interested (although I adore looking at other's). I don't make cute templates or canvas prints. Not crafty at all.

But I AM creative...AKA I rock at coming up with something creative at the very.last.possible second in a select few occasions. .

Last week I had that "oh crap" moment. I am room parent for my 9 year old son's class. That meant class party. Like planning a craft and such. I had a week.

 I came up with a theme: A Few of Our Favorite Things.

Basic plan was:

• For each child to bring their favorite treat or snack (my son picked my homemade cornbread).
• I will bring my fave holiday drink (ok, safe for kids)...Apple Cider (I totally winged this too, and although I expected the kids to dislike it, we had to ration it instead). 
• Come up with a craft that has something to do with one of the child's fave memories.

And so this "craft" was created.

I love using the clear glass bulbs for gifts each year. In the past I filled them with a special photo. But this year I did these as gifts..... so I took this idea and ran with it, on a smaller scale.

What you need:
Mini Glass Ornaments (Hobby Lobby)
A Thin Strip of Paper
A Few Strips of Shiny Ribbon

Have your child write your fave memory (depending on recipient of gift, it can be a fave memory with that person...thanks to my friend Evea for that idea). My memory was celebrating Christmas for the first time as a mommy. Twirl the paper with something small, like a wooden skewer or toothpick, and place inside ornament. Fill with ribbon (you can twirl it around the skewer or just let it curl inside bulb as you place it in).

Simple as that.

Now you take this idea and run with it. :)