Resolution: Home Project

When I take the time to look around my house, I notice a lot of things I dislike and want to change.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE our house, but we've been here over 2 years and it still looks like we just moved in.

The people that lived here before us had a huge thing for wood trim.  It wouldn't be such a problem except I'm assuming the man of the house did it himself.  He spent huge amounts of money on very nice trim.  However, that's where the niceness wears out.  It's honey oak in color (which I'm finding hard to match with paint colors) and he did a crappy job of installing it.  He obviously didn't have the tools or know how to join the trim properly.  He used decorative pieces of trim to butt the boards against instead of cutting them to fit properly.  This makes the trim look clunky and interrupted.

When we moved in we removed most of the trim and wainscoating.  It was a huge improvement, but I'm still irked by what's still left.  So, I'm painting it white.  I've started in the bedroom to see how it looks and to gauge how hard it is.  So far it's been pretty easy.  I have the primer up and I already see a huge improvement.  Once I see it with paint I'll know if it's something I want to carry out throughout the rest of the house.  I've always loved white trim and it will be a lot easier to match paint for the walls since almost everything goes with white.

I think it will be a good winter project.  Once that is done, I plan on painting the family room and FINALLY getting some pictures and art on the walls.  By the end of spring it should look like a family lives here instead a hodge podge of bare walls and miss match.

Before and after picture soon to follow.

Keeping Busy this Winter

Summer is so full of parties and get togethers, bar-be-ques and vacations.  Normally I use the winter time to relax and take it easy.  It's cold out and I generally like to stay in and hibernate.  In an effort to keep some form of sanity and not die of boredom this winter, I have joined so many activities that I find myself going a bit nutty.

We have swim lessons, breast feeding group, another mommy/baby meetup group, babies and books at the library.  Those are constant every week.  Add on top of that mom's nights out (meeting up with other moms for dinner and drunks or Bunko) and other random play dates and I'm keeping pretty busy.  Grocery shopping, laundry, paying bills, cooking dinner every night, and keeping the house clean(ish) and my plate is getting very full.

But... I've been able to meet so many other great moms.  It's nice to be able to vent, ask advice, and talk about poop, boogers, and sleep schedules with no judgment.  We can show up with no makeup on, hair in ponytails, wearing spit-up perfume.

I thought I might get to relax a little bit before summer, but looks like our dance card is full until spring.

New Years Resolutions

1.  Eat better.  I hardly eat breakfast and eat WAY too much sugar.  My snacking is out of control.  It's effecting my moods and my energy level.  I want to do better.

2.  Stop watching so much TV in front of Madilynn.  There are days when I'm exhausted and my DVR is overflowing and I sit and watch TV all day.  Not literally sit and watch while my daughter gets neglected, but it's on in the background while I get things done around the house or play with Madilynn.

3.  Stop cursing all together.  Or at least in front of Madilynn.

4.  Complete a home project.  Paint the family room.  Tear down the kitchen wall.  Refinish the kitchen floor.  New carpet.  Whatever.  Something needs to get done.

5.  Stick up for my daughter more.  I find myself biting my tongue a lot when it comes to my baby only to get home and beat myself up for not saying anything.  People aren't shy about voicing their opinions or "concerns" about Madilynn or our parenting choices and for the most part it doesn't bother me.  However, there are times when I want to speak up but don't because I think I'll come across as rude.  Madilynn doesn't have a voice yet, so this year I plan on speaking up more and taking less crap.  I also want to stand up and be proud of my parenting decisions (going organic or how long I plan to breastfeed) instead of making excuses or skirting around the real reasons I have for making my choices.

6.  Stop spending so much money on things we don't need.  I buy a lot for Madilynn because I find great deals.  However, because I buy so much, things don't get used (clothes) or she gets too overwhelmed with everything (toys).  She has way more than enough and I need to keep that in mind.

7.  Get better at photography.  I take SO MANY pictures in hopes to get a few great shots.  I want to get better so that I can take less photos, but have more come out great.

8.  Spend more quality one on one time with Jordan.    We do get to spend alone time together, but it's often spent watching TV or just zoning out.  I want to connect more and now that Madilynn is older I don't feel so anxious about leaving her with friends and family.  We got a TON of movie and food gift cards for the holidays and I plan on using them.

9.  Keep a journal.  Not one to vent or fill with negative things, but one that I could share with Madilynn one day.  Or maybe a guided, fill in the blank, memoir/journal that I fill in and pass down to her.

10.  Be better to myself.  I need more time alone.  Time that's not spent running errands while Jordan watches Madilynn at home.  Since Madilynn's been born I've been alone at the house twice.  Each time for only about 30 minuets.  Sometimes Jordan keeps her downstairs while I craft in my room but I can still hear her and he still brings her in or asks me questions.  I need him to leave with the baby more.  I also want to feel more comfortable in my new body.  Pregnancy and childbirth made such significant changes to my body and I'm still coming to terms with it.  I need to accept what has happened and work on changing the things I dislike.