Soda Stream

 This is my newest obsession! Chad got me a Soda Stream for Christmas, and I have used it every day since. I of course love the Diet Dr. Pete (Dr. Pepper). I also really like the lemon aid and diet root beer. The only flavor I don’t like so far is the diet cola. 

Back to the Gym

 

I finally went back to the gym today. I keep saying that I’ll go and change my mind at the last minute. Today, Chad encouraged me to go with him. I almost canceled on him because I didn’t want to go out in the cold (it was 5 degrees outside). I’m glad I didn’t let the cold keep me from going, though. It felt good to get on the treadmill and run then do a bit of weight lifting. I hope to talk myself into to going more often. 

The Food

 

I joined a weight loss plan through my insurance. It has been a great way to make small weekly goals that help me work towards my larger goal. I understand that creating small habits will help me get where I want to be if I concentrate on those habits rather than the end goal. 

One of the things this program came with was a booklet with meal plan ideas as well as recipes. So far everything I have tried has been really good and filling. I made substitutions when I feel the need, but I make sure that those substitutions will not derail me. 

Today for lunch I had one of the suggested meals with a substitution. The suggestion was a whole wheat pita with romaine, tomato slices, Canadian bacon, and an egg. I cooked my egg different, and I had a sandwich thin instead of pita bread. That actually saved me about 20 calories. This sandwich was really good! I can't wait to try more meals!

Time With My Girl

Noel has spent most of the month working hard in her schoolwork. I promised her that if she kept up on her classes, I would take her to a movie the last weekend each month.

 Today, we saw Missing. It was a great movie! It was done completely through social media, phone calls, security cameras, and a computer screen. I thought it would be distracting, but it gave it a different element that drew me in even more. 

After dinner, she and I spent more time together. We sang karaoke in the living room for about an hour. 

Noel and I have needed this kind of time together. I can’t wait until next month to do this again. (I know she will earn another movie.)

Mitten Update

Remember the gnome mittens I started not long after my birthday? Well, I procrastinated the thumb in the first mitten for a little while. Once I sat down with the video, I was able to work through it. I did have to stop and rewind it a few times. There were very clear instructions. It just took me a bit to catch on as I knit along. I am happy to say that the first mitten is completely done, and the second mitten only has the thumb left. Then, they will need to be blocked before I can wear them. I’m d so excited! They should be ready just in time for the temps to cool plummet again.  I’ll post a picture of the final product when they are ready. 

The Nails

We gave Noel gel nail polish for Christmas, and she has been asking to do my nails with that kit for a few weeks. We finally sat down for her to do them a few nights ago. She did such a great job! I love them!

Newest Socks

 

I finished another pair of socks last weeks and wore them today. I was sad that they looked so different. I ordered two skeins in a kit. I assumed they would be from the same due lot. Apparently, that was not the case. I delayed wearing them because it frustrated me that one was mostly dark while the other was mostly light. When I put them on this morning, the frustration was gone. I love that they as similar but not the same. They are so pretty. I will have to order from this company again. 

The Small Dog

Sometimes I think this little dog is my spirit animal. She is not a fan of being cold. When I lay down on the bed, she will curl right up to me (see the picture above). On days like today when I feel particularly cold for apparently no reason (the heat is set to 74), she seems to be cold as well. She will even climb under the covers with me. I love this sweet little doggy! 

Girls' Trip to the Temple

I got to go to the temple again today. This time it was with other ladies from church. There were five of us in the car, and we went to the endowment session together. I love going to the temple with my husband, but there is something about going with other women that gives me an experience that is enjoyable in a different way.

Since I started going back to the temple sometime after Chad and I were married, I have always done work for names that were submitted to the temple. This time I felt the need to find a name from my own family tree. Last night, I went online and found a name that needed work done. I printed it this morning before I was picked up. Alice M. Wilmot was the wife of my first cousin three times removed (the wife of my great-grandma's cousin). Even though I had not seen or heard her name before it came up as I was searching from someone who was ready for this step, I felt a connection to her that I have not felt other times when I have done endowments. This experience has given me the desire to find more ancestors to help in this way. 

Reading Preferences

I seems to go though different reading preferences during different times of my life. There was a time when I absolutely loved Mary Higgins Clark. The mysteries were intriguing, and the books were not full of sec and foul language like other mystery novels. Then, I discovered Nicholas Sparks. I could finally read romance that wasn’t raunchy. I would check out his books from the library, and the ex would give me a the newest Nicholas Sparks novel for Christmas each year. Then, I moved on to quick, easy reads that I could read on my Kindle as I went to bed. Lately, I have been liking nonfiction. It takes a bit longer to read it because I want to soak in all of the details. I don’t get a lot of time to read outside my schoolwork, but I try to put aside time to read for pleasure. 

Caramel Corn

 

When the kids were little, I often made treats for the kids. They thought it was fun. I mostly saw it as a way to have snack foods in the house. A little while ago Sean and I talked about how I used to make caramel corn. He missed me doing stuff like that. Since that conversation, everyone has been asking me to make it again. (Chad wasn’t around at the time, and Noel was too little to remember.)

Today, I finally made the caramel corn when Noel asked so sweetly. It wasn’t the same recipe as I used before because I don’t have that recipe book anymore. I found one online that was easy to follow. 

I loved the process, and everyone liked it. I will definitely be making it again!

The Pantry

 

Yesterday, Chad and I got in a fight because…I’m not going to say on here (cyber stalkers may use it against me). Afterwards, we went out separate ways and cleaned. He cleaned the bathrooms, and I cleaned and organized the pantry. 

I have been saying I would organize the pantry for a while. We had small appliances on shelves and everything else was just shoved in there wherever a spot was found. It was ridiculous and made it impossible to find anything. I knew it was going to be a difficult project, so I kept putting it off. 

Yesterday, as a way to channel my anger, I got to work. I pulled everything out and whipped down the shelves. Hearing the cans clink together, Noel came out of her room to see what was going on and decided to help. She checked expiration dates and organized everything into groups (veggies, fruit, pasta, beans, etc.). I put the appliances (ice cream maker and triple crockpot) on the floor and cans on the shelf. I am very thankful for her help and happy about the end result. 

The next step is can organizers so we can keep it organized and fit more in when needed. 

“Running” in the Snow

 

I promised myself that I would run 3 times this week, and I prefer running Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. That meant I needed to get out today. Of course, I waited until it started snowing to get out the door. Did I have fun? A bit. Was it hard? Kind of. Honestly, if the snow blowing in my face was the worst part. It slowed me down a bit because I couldn’t see. I am just so glad I got out and tried. 

Trying Again

After spending another $350 on groceries for the week, all I could think was how there has to be another way. I don’t want to have to get a second job just to be able to buy groceries for the family. Once I sat down in a quiet room alone to do homework, I got an idea. We can go back to getting freeze dried food. 

We tried it in the past but couldn’t really afford it because we weren’t really integrating it into our diet and couldn’t afford it with everything else (there is no way that we could have afforded this kind of grocery bill back then). The food that we did eat was good, but the kids wouldn’t touch it. 

Times have changed. We make more now, and we eat better. Also, I understand better how to order from the company we used to make sure we get food we will actually use. 

I am excited to have started my monthly shipments again. I hope we will be able to maintain it and learn better how to integrate into our diet. 

Temple Day

Chad and I went to the temple to do sealings today. We were able to seal his grandparents together as well as some other ancestors of his. It was such a special experience! I have not done this often enough. Most of the time when I go to the temple I do endowment sessions. I like doing them, and I can do it with or without my husband. I could technically do sealings without Chad, but there is something special about doing it with him. I love that I can be reminded of our marital covenant. I love the feeling of renewing our sacred commitment as we help other have this eternal bond. We will be going back again in February as part of our anniversary celebration. I am so excited! 

The Day After Shots

Yesterday, I went to see the doctor for another thyroid check. While I was there, I decided to get my flu shot and COVID booster (one in each arm). I don't have adverse reactions other than a sore arm with most shots. I forgot that COVID shots seem to be the exception. 

The first COVID shot I got was the J&J shot that they stopped using for the most part a few weeks later. I had the worst reaction I have ever had to that one. I was in bed sick the rest of the day as well as the following day. 

Since there was no booster for the shot I had originally, I was given the Moderna booster about this time last year. It made me light headed and nauseous for a few days. It was so much better than the reaction to the first one that I didn't even think about it this time. 

This time around, I was given the Moderna booster in one arm and the flu shot in the other arm (I have never had issues with the flu shot). Last night, I had no issues other than not having much of an appetite. This morning was a different story. I woke up very nauseous and light headed. I even considered calling in sick (something I haven't done since I started working from home). After I had a bit of ramen, I started to feel better, but it came back. By the time we had dinner, I felt just as bad as I did this morning. I am hoping it passes quickly like the first time. 

Knitted Socks

I am loving knitting socks lately. For the most part the are the same stitch over and over again. This means I can knit while reading and watching videos for school and when I have to be on conference calls tor work. I have to pay a bit mor attention when I do the heals and toes, but they can be done easily while watching tv. The best part about knitting socks is that when I am done, I have really warm socks that fit perfectly. 

I know that I will eventually get tired of knitting socks and move on to something else. For now, I will enjoy knitting colorful, warm, perfect socks. 

He’s 21!

 

My Eric is 21! I am so proud of the man that he has become and is still becoming. He is thoughtful, sweet, kind, and smart. He loves deeply and gives the best hugs. I am excited to see how he shapes his future. 

Faith Over Fear

The world can be a scary place. There are murders, natural disasters, riots, and more. I have to admit that I let the fear get to me lately. It has affected my mental health. I have done my best to try to not let it affect me. I keep myself busy with friends and family (going to parties, baptisms, doctor appointments, etc.). I listen to conference talks and chapters in the Book of Mormon on a regular basis. I have jumped into my studies. These have all been great distractions, but when I lie in bed at night, I worry about so many things that I don't get to sleep until after 11pm most nights. Through all of this, I do my best to hide it from the people around me. Do they really need to hear about my problems when they are going through so much more? 

This morning, I listened to President Nelson's talk from the Saturday morning session of the last General Conference. In this talk, he addresses the fears of the people. He quoted Matthew 11:28-30: 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me,...and ye shall find rest in your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

I needed this message today before I sink down in the depths of depression I was in a few years ago. The world is not going to be an easy place to live in, but we do not have to get sucked into everything. I need to concentrate less on the news and more on my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. I can over come the problems of the world. 

What is going on?

This year has started off a bit crazy. There was flooding in California, police attacked in Times Square, a celebrity ran over by his own snowplow, a football player who collapsed on the field after a tackle, and a family taken out by a father who killed himself as well. I really hope that this is not an indicator of the year to come. I fear for the future of this country and the world. 

My mind has been all over the place with the events of the week so far, especially the murder/suicide in southern Utah. A former friend of mine that I still have contact with was friends with the mother of the family killed. This lady is devastated from hearing that someone she was close to was killed in this manner (as I am sure everyone else involved is). How does one come to terms with this? I have lost family members and friends in car accidents, but at least I knew no one chose to end their lives. These were true accidents that left a hole in my hearts as well as others. I could not imagine having to come to terms with the idea that not only had I lost a loved one, but someone chose to take them from me. I imagine that I would be mad and confused. How does this just happen? 

I do not know this family. All I know about them is what the lady I know has said and the little bit in the news. Yet, somehow, this had deeply affected me. I just don't understand how a father could kill his children. I guess I will never know because I have not known that kind of evil in my life. 

Work in Progress

As I was reading Atomic Habits, I realized I had too many habits that I was trying to change and track at one time. For the new year, I have decided I am going to concentrate on the four areas we teach the youth to work on: physical, spiritual, social, and intellectual. Within these areas, I have identified two things to concentrate on to help me grow into the person I want to be. In doing so, I rated myself on a 1 to 10 scale. My plan is to reevaluate myself at the beginning of each month. Thankfully, I was able to find a planner that has a monthly page to assist me in this endeavor.